Bowing practices

[blitzcraig]

personally, I think its respectful to look in the eyes when bowing. And its good before a match too. But it might be up to the instructor.

[wado_lee]

can i take this one step further on etiquite please ive travelled to different dojos within my style and while in seiza normally instructors do not bow on sensoneri and bow on taganerei with everyone else although at a very repultable club the instuctor bowed on sensoneri and not on taganerei why would that be when sensoneri is bow to sensei and instructors and taganerei is bow to dojo and all present do i understand this right

 

PS SORRY ABOUT THE SPELLINGS

[kotegashiNeo]

I understood you wado lee, you are talking about shomen ni rei, sensei ni rei and otaga ni rei. The bow in at a traditional dojo. I always bow at sensei ni rei ( bow to your instructor) when I am instructing a class because while I may be teaching the class my instructors are quite often the students. I always bow during otaga ni rei (bow to a fellow student), because I am student as well as an instructor. I sure different dojo's have different ways of doing things but that is why I do it that way.

[wado_lee]

sorry you are correct that is the way we do it in our dojo but i have known other clubs not bow on otaga ni rei but on sensei ni rei even though they have been the senior rank

[delta1]

Most Chinese arts/artists don't look down when they bow, though you don't necessarily look the person in the eye. I've always been taught that you bow to an object and salute a person. Both are a sign of respect, not subservience, though teacher, student, and style are servant to each other.

[wado_lee]

is it true in japan the more respect you have for someone the deeper the bow

[ramymensa]

In our dojo we don't look in the eyes of the one we salute. In competitions, we do the same. If the guy hits you while you bow, he's disqualified. On the street, if you have a "martial" encounter you don't bow at all

[wado_lee]

while sparring we look in the eyes when bowing generally we look down

[blitzcraig]

Do you all bow when going on and off of the mat in the dojo? we kinda do...i thiink its respectful

[White Warlock]

Yes, i always bow before going on or off the mat. A standing bow, directed at the instructor, even if the school i am at doesn't practice bowing or the instructor doesn't acknowledge. It's become a quiet habit of mine, a sort of reminder to maintain respect.

 

I have noticed a lot of misunderstanding on standing bows. You are not supposed to expose your back, or the back of your head, to the person you are bowing to. Doing so is actually interpreted as an insult.*

 

Traditional - With those you know, or your superiors, bowing so that the top of your head is seen is acceptable, with your eyes focused around their navel. For those you don't know, a standing bow should be done with your eyes generally focused on their neck or collar.

 

Modern-day 'hello' and 'goodbye' bows are short and sweet.

 

* I had one instructor apologize this way, by doing a full-bent standing bow, not realizing he was actually insulting me. It was clear to me he didn't know what he was doing and was sincere in his efforts to apologize for being an * to me during our last session, but i understand this is a good way to get your teeth kicked in.

 

I anyone would care to correct me, by all means.

Edited March 22, 2004 by White Warlock