Bowing

Because karate comes to us from Japan, we incorporate some part of Japanese culture into class. One of those is bowing. Eastern culture uses the bow as a cross between a handshake and a military salute - as a greeting, farewell, symbol of agreement, sign of respect, or expression of thanks.

That’s it - there is no religious significance to bowing, just as there is no religious significance to a handshake or salute.

When to Bow

When it doubt, go ahead and bow, but don’t overdo it. Some examples of when you should bow are:

• When entering and leaving the training floor.
• At the beginning and end of class.
• When beginning or ending a drill with a new partner.
• Before or after performing kata.
• When specifically told to bow.

How to Bow

How you bow depends on whether you’re standing or kneeling. Either way, hold the bow for about one second before straightening back up again.

• If you’re standing, start from an “attention” stance and bow by bending forward at the waist about 45° without bending your neck.

• If you’re kneeling, put both hands on the floor in front of you and bend forward at the waist as far as possible without lifing your behind off your heels.

Bowing properly is important, demonstrating both self-composure and respect. It’s important that you keep your neck straight and bend only at the waist. Remember, you’re not “nodding”, you’re “bowing.” If a proper bow is like a handshake, then a sloppy bow is like a “fist bump” - not appropriately respectful.