It's pretty simple to me. But apparently it's a big 'thing' to others. Pulled this from an unrelated thread, thought it deserved its own discussion.
I study at a dojo in the USA that we call a 'traditional' Okinawan style dojo (Isshinryu is our style).
We bow when we enter the dojo floor, and when we leave.
We bow to start and end each class - to our Sensei and to the shomen (wall of honor).
We bow to our partners before we begin working with them on self-defense techniques, kata, sparring, or whatnot.
We bow to our Sensei if he speaks directly to us.
We're told that the word 'rei' in Japanese means 'respect'. It is also the word we use to indicate it is time to bow.
I see using Google translate that 礼 means 'thanks' or an expression of gratitude.
In any case, as a military veteran, I am not adverse to bowing. It reminds me of saluting, which I did a lot in the military. It serves a similar function.
When I bow upon entering and leaving the dojo floor, I am showing my respect for all those who have gone before, for the fact that the facility is there for me to train karate.
When I bow to my instructor, I show my respect for him. He returns the bow - showing his respect for me.
When I bow to the shomen, also known as the wall of honor, I am not worshiping anyone or anything, as some have said. I am once again merely showing my respect for those who put in so much effort and dedication in creating and maintaining a style of karate that is now being taught to me.
A bow is more than a handshake, but less than a military salute. It does not indicate obedience or worship or anything of that nature. It's not religious. Perhaps some in the West object to it because bowing to Kings and Queens is seen by many as subservient and therefore unacceptable. But this is not that kind of bowing. I do not think my Sensei, for example, is better than I am, or superior to me in any way. He is my teacher, revered and esteemed, and greatly knowledgeable in the art I am trying to learn. I bow to show my respect. He returns that bow to show his respect for my willingness to dedicate myself to learning what he is teaching.
Therefore, I have no problem with bowing in the martial arts.
And ultimately, even if you believe none of those things, what's the harm? Does it kill you to show a little respect?
I study at a dojo in the USA that we call a 'traditional' Okinawan style dojo (Isshinryu is our style).
We bow when we enter the dojo floor, and when we leave.
We bow to start and end each class - to our Sensei and to the shomen (wall of honor).
We bow to our partners before we begin working with them on self-defense techniques, kata, sparring, or whatnot.
We bow to our Sensei if he speaks directly to us.
We're told that the word 'rei' in Japanese means 'respect'. It is also the word we use to indicate it is time to bow.
I see using Google translate that 礼 means 'thanks' or an expression of gratitude.
In any case, as a military veteran, I am not adverse to bowing. It reminds me of saluting, which I did a lot in the military. It serves a similar function.
When I bow upon entering and leaving the dojo floor, I am showing my respect for all those who have gone before, for the fact that the facility is there for me to train karate.
When I bow to my instructor, I show my respect for him. He returns the bow - showing his respect for me.
When I bow to the shomen, also known as the wall of honor, I am not worshiping anyone or anything, as some have said. I am once again merely showing my respect for those who put in so much effort and dedication in creating and maintaining a style of karate that is now being taught to me.
A bow is more than a handshake, but less than a military salute. It does not indicate obedience or worship or anything of that nature. It's not religious. Perhaps some in the West object to it because bowing to Kings and Queens is seen by many as subservient and therefore unacceptable. But this is not that kind of bowing. I do not think my Sensei, for example, is better than I am, or superior to me in any way. He is my teacher, revered and esteemed, and greatly knowledgeable in the art I am trying to learn. I bow to show my respect. He returns that bow to show his respect for my willingness to dedicate myself to learning what he is teaching.
Therefore, I have no problem with bowing in the martial arts.
And ultimately, even if you believe none of those things, what's the harm? Does it kill you to show a little respect?