Then I wonder what your take on this is:
From August GKR newsletter...
QUOTE
The Tradition of Rei
by Stacey Scully
On entering a dojo for your first class, you may well have observed some behaviour that is unusual in western civilization, the first being the bow. This can seem a little strange to the newcomer. However, after training in karate for a while, we realize that it is more than just an odd action. It in fact has elements to perfect, just as does any technique we learn in class. And as we progress on our own karate journey, we also begin to realise the importance of the meaning of the bow.
‘Rei’ is the ceremonial bow in, which courtesy and good manners are demonstrated. It is the display of humility, respect and sincerity, particularly when addressing another person. Without sincerity, the bow is meaningless, therefore you must put your heart and soul into the bow.
“The very act of taking time to recognise another, and showing that you recognise them and appreciate their being, is an act in humility all in itself” (Terry Bryan). In order to earn respect for yourself, you must first show respect to others. You must first give, in order to receive.
The traditional standing ‘rei’ is not only given to other people in your class, but also addressed to the training area, known as the dojo. Again this seems particularly odd to the newcomer – bowing to a room! To understand this idea, let’s take a quick journey back to the origins of karate.
During the early part of the 14th century, Okinawa was an island ruled by feudal lords all vying to gain supremacy over the others. In 1477 however, the country was unified under the king Sho Shin, who put a stop to feudalism and banned the wearing of swords. He also made illegal the private ownership of large quantities of weapons. This put an end to the fighting and allowed 200 years of peace. Meanwhile in Japan, which was ruled by military governors, soldiers were trained to become ferocious and fearless in battle. These men were often referred to as Shimazu Samurai. In 1609, the Shimazu invaded the Ryukan Islands, including Okinawa, and imposed their government on the local people. They also kept the weapons ban in place in Okinawa. It is believed that karate was invented in this time, as a means of unarmed self-defence, building on some pre-existing weaponless combat techniques practiced before the invasion. (From an original article by Mark Bishop.)
The Okinawan people were a very religious race, and at their places of practice (dojo), they often had a small shrine where they would pray. After a run-in with the local Samurai, they would return to their dojo and give thanks for their life, before continuing with their training. The dojo became not only a place for physical development, but also a place of worship, and a refuge in times of need.
For these reasons, we in more modern times, pay our respects to the dojo as we enter and leave, in deference to the practices and beliefs of the founding fathers. And while it is by no means a shrine for us, it can often be a place of refuge for us to forget about out daily problems.
Humility, respect, and sincerity. The foundations of character embodied in karate-ka through the ages.
