Rei (bow)

There is no religious significance in bowing or in any other movements in karate. Bowing is the manner in which traditional martial artists express their appreciation and respect to one another.

Respect, Rei (bow)

is also owed to the Dojo (training place) where we affirm our intention to train hard.
The dojo is where we learn to cultivate both the spirit, and technique of Budo (martial way).
We must always enter the dojo with a strong and disciplined frame of mind.

The standing bow (Rei)

Stand with your heels and toes together (formal bow). This is a stand to attention stance. Keep your back, neck, arms and legs straight, stand completely still. Stand with your arms straight, hands open, fingers closed together by your side slightly in front of your thighs. Gently bow (the bow should not be a sharp, jerky motion) bend low at the waist, do not slide your hands down your legs, keep them stationary in the same position. Lower grades must bow lower than their seniors (blackbelts & instructors) to show respect. Hold the bow at the bottom for half a second then return to the initial upright position, keeping the eyes straight ahead. During the bow look down, looking up indicates mistrust. Failure to bow or failure to bow low or not standing still when bowing is seen as very disrespectful. You must stop, stand to attention, wait for a moment take a deep breath in through the nose then bow with a loud oss through the mouth.

When to bow

Yoy are required to bow when entering or leaving the dojo (always bow facing into the dojo). Bow at the beginning and end of a class, before and after engaging in any partner work. Bow before and after kata, and when greeting a blackbelt or an instructor. Always say OOS at the point when the head is lowered.

Seiza (to kneel)

Seiza means to kneel down. To assume the kneeling position from the standing position you turn your left foot out, bend the right knee to the floor first, then followed by the left knee. Keeping your back and head straight, sit back on your heels (instep flat on floor), knee's should be two fists apart. Your hands should never leave your sides when you kneel down. Hands and fingers together stay open resting on your thighs (left hand on your left thigh, right hand on your right thigh) with fingers pointing slightly inward (do not place them on your knees). Your shoulders and hands should remain relaxed (do not support yourself with your hands)

The traditional kneeling bow (to bow, Ni Rei)

The Sama Karate kneeling bow. From your kneeling position hands on thighs put your thumb and fingers together making a triangle shape. Breath in and still holding this triangle hand position drop your hands down gently placing them flat on the floor and breath out with a loud oss (do not touch your head on the floor). As you bow look down. Hold for one second. Return to the upright position (back straight, keep your head up and look straight ahead) return your hands to your thighs.

As well as showing respect the kneeling position can also be a used as a form of self meditation (mokuso) in preparing oneself for hard training before a class, and also at the end to relax and reflect.
The bow must be done with meaning and correctness. You must separate yourself from everything, breath in slowly and out deeply stretching your breathing away from you. Inhale through your nose before each task, and exhale through your mouth when you have completed each task.
When you are sitting in the kneeling position try to meditate for a second. There is a saying, when meditating clear your mind of all thoughts only concentrating on the motions of the breathing, "a mind like water that flows freely, ever changing".

The anceint secret exercise for "KI" (internal power & courage).

The triangle shape is one of ten most secret signs that was said to be used by the samurai and ninja before battle.
Start with your hands together in the triangle shape as mentioned above, palms facing down with your arms straight in front of you about 2ft away from your "Hara" (abdomen) . Inhaling deeply raise the triangle shape skywards away from you finally bending fingers back so that it would be possible to see the sun through the triangle shape.
Holding this position look through the triangle shape and focus to gather energy by performing "Hara" breathing exercises (see breathing page for correct breathing techniques).
Exhale and open your arms out away from you dropping them down performing a large circle motion (when half way down arms should be like a cross straight out with palms facing outwards while performing this motion). Continue to circle the arms down till both hands meet, overlapping the fingers as they meet. Palms should now be facing upwards, this position should be about 2ft away from your body hands in level with your "Hara". Inhale deeply bringing both hands, fingers still overlapped upwards in a half circle motion towards your chest. Palms should now be facing your chest. Hold for a second then keeping hands together twist fingers turning hands over till palms are now facing downwards. Exhale deeply pushing hands back down towards your"Hara" to final arms straight palms facing original position in front of "Hara".
Repeat exercise till you feel energised.
Always relax shoulders, head and eyes straight ahead when performing the movements, only raise your head and eyes to look through the triangle. When performing the open arm movements try to imagine making the round shape of a ball.