etiquette - class bow-in

All classes start with a ‘Bow-in’ where everybody shows respect and bows together.

Bowing before starting a class serves two purposes:

1. You are showing respect to your instructors, to the style for providing you the opportunity to learn and to each other for the support you each give and receive.

2. The time it takes you to go through the bowing routine gives your mind the space to let go of the day (thoughts, worries etc.) and “arrive” in the Dojo and be fully committed and ready to train.

While many times the class will start with a simple single bow while standing other times the full formal bow from a kneeling position will be practiced. Whichever routine you are doing will be called out by your instructor so you just need to follow the instructions as they are called out.

Go to this page for Japanese pronunciation.

SIMPLE BOW-IN

'Heiko-dachi'      (Shoulder width stance)

'Musubi-dachi'   (Attention stance)

'Heisoku-dachi' (feet together)

'Rei'                          (Bow) Lean forward at the waist while looking forward.

FORMAL BOW-IN

'Heiko-dachi'      (Shoulder width stance)

'Musubi-dachi'   (Attention stance)

'Heisoku-dachi' (feet together)

'Seiza'                     (Kneel) Down on to the right knee, then the left knee, then sit down onto your heels

'Mokuso'                (Close eyes) Silent meditation

'Mokuso yame'   (Open eyes) Cease meditation

Instructor will then call the bows. Lower ranks up to brown belt bow with both fists on their thighs while looking forward. Brown belts bow by reaching the left hand forward, palm flat on the floor in front of left knee. The right fist stays on the thigh, and they also look forward. Blackbelts and above bow by reaching first the left hand then the right hand forward, palms flat on the floor in front of the knees and bowing with their eyes & heads down.

The first bow is to honour the founder Kin-Shinden Malcolm Anderson and the style he created.

'Anderson Bushi Kai no te Rei'     (everyone bows)

'Naotte'     (Stop bowing)

The subsequent bows are to honour the instructor/s either by name and rank (e.g. Sensei Roscoe) or just rank if there are more than one of each. These bows are called by the next lowest rank from that being honoured.

'Sensei no te Rei'     (Everyone bows except the person/s being honoured)

'Naotte '    (Stop bowing)

The last bow is called by the highest non instructor rank and is to honour everybody on the floor as we are all training together

'Zen'in no te Rei'    (everyone bows)

'Naotte'    (Stop bowing)

'Tatte'     (Stand up and prepare to start class)

If a student arrives after class has started, they should wait patiently at the side of the training space until they are acknowledged and instructed to join the class.

If a student needs to leave a class in progress (e.g. to use bathroom) they should ask the instructor and wait to be "bowed off" the floor. When they are ready to return they should wait patiently at the side of the training space until they are acknowledged and instructed to re-join the class.