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Kusotare
Purple Belt
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 574
Styles: Traditional Japanese Karate, Koryu Bujutsu (Jujutsu, Iaido and Kenjutsu)
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 Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 2:59 am Post subject: |
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| sensei8 wrote: |
the simplest thing to learn on the floor, minus bowing.
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Just a very quick story regarding bowing...
In the west I think we have a tendency to consider bowing rather insignificant (apart from the intended display of respect and humility) and easy.
I remember a course held by a senior Japanese instructor I used to train with where, after starting with a bow in he preceded to spend about 30 minutes explaining how to bow (tachi-rei, and za-rei) - as he was appalled by the fact that, as he said - 'no one knows how to bow properly'.
The course was attended by many 6th,7th and 8th dans from all over Europe - many of whom hadn't a clue they weren't bowing properly and more importantly why!
Disappointingly however - most didn't seem to care.
K.
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Usque ad mortem bibendum! |
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sensei8
KF Sensei
Joined: 23 Feb 2008
Posts: 16420
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Styles: Shindokan Saitou-ryu [Shuri-te/Okinawa-te based]
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Kusotare wrote: |
| sensei8 wrote: |
the simplest thing to learn on the floor, minus bowing.
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Just a very quick story regarding bowing...
In the west I think we have a tendency to consider bowing rather insignificant (apart from the intended display of respect and humility) and easy.
I remember a course held by a senior Japanese instructor I used to train with where, after starting with a bow in he preceded to spend about 30 minutes explaining how to bow (tachi-rei, and za-rei) - as he was appalled by the fact that, as he said - 'no one knows how to bow properly'.
The course was attended by many 6th,7th and 8th dans from all over Europe - many of whom hadn't a clue they weren't bowing properly and more importantly why!
Disappointingly however - most didn't seem to care.
K. |
Solid post!!
To the bold type above...
That is sad, but not surprising. They missed a great opportunity to increase their MA, as well as their personal, betterment.
Whilst I say that kiai and bowing are about the easiest thing to learn for a beginner, there's more that meets the eye with either of them.
Do both right sincerely, or just get off the floor!!
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**Proof is on the floor!!! |
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singularity6
Pre-Black Belt
Joined: 26 Jun 2017
Posts: 958
Location: Michigan
Styles: Jidokwan Taekwondo and Hapkido, Yoshokai Aikido, ZNIR Iaido, Kendo
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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I'm fairly certain that we don't bow properly in our school. Not much emphasis was put on bowing. Essentially, if someone needs to be excused, any attempt at bowing is accepted (and not necessarily expected.) We bow at the end of class, but again, it's pretty much learned by sight, not by instruction.
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5th Geup Jidokwan Tae Kwon Do/Hap Ki Do
(Never officially tested in aikido, iaido or kendo) |
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RobertAslin2
White Belt
Joined: 22 Jun 2017
Posts: 15
Location: Kansas City, KS
Styles: American Ed Parker Kenpo, Shotokan, Taekwondo, Arnis
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Also on the topic of bowing, I've always been torn between either keeping my head down or facing whomever I'm bowing to.
I've been told by some to keep my head facing whomever I'm bowing to, similar to how Bruce Lee taught to never take your eyes off your opponent, however I've also been told to keep my head facing the ground out of respect.
My school also taught the Bao Quan after a bow, but we mostly just use it for an informal bow.
_________________
"I come to you with only Karate, empty hands. I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles or my honor, should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong; then here are my weapons, Karate, my empty hands." - Ed Parker |
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bushido_man96
KF Sensei
Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Posts: 30188
Location: Hays, KS
Styles: Taekwondo, Combat Hapkido, Aikido, GRACIE, Police Krav Maga, SPEAR
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Kusotare wrote: |
| sensei8 wrote: |
the simplest thing to learn on the floor, minus bowing.
|
Just a very quick story regarding bowing...
In the west I think we have a tendency to consider bowing rather insignificant (apart from the intended display of respect and humility) and easy.
I remember a course held by a senior Japanese instructor I used to train with where, after starting with a bow in he preceded to spend about 30 minutes explaining how to bow (tachi-rei, and za-rei) - as he was appalled by the fact that, as he said - 'no one knows how to bow properly'.
The course was attended by many 6th,7th and 8th dans from all over Europe - many of whom hadn't a clue they weren't bowing properly and more importantly why!
Disappointingly however - most didn't seem to care.
K. |
I can see both sides of this. Its cultural. In the west, we tend to the handshake as a form of greeting. In the east, they bow a lot more, and for a lot more things. Its natural that they are going to understand it more than westerners.
In doing Karate or some other Martial Art, we really only get a very small sample of the culture where it came from. So, we just won't be as adept at it unless we decide to really immerse ourselves in it, and spend some time living in the culture.
Now, as for the Kihap or Kiai. I hear it vocalized more now in a word form or a vocal yell than I used to. I hear a lot of people yell without bringing the air up from their abdomen, and that really defeats the purpose of it; at that point, your just trying to be loud. It should be a short, forceful exhalation of air from the abdomen that causes the trunk muscles to tighten, and ideally, the yell should peak at the completion of the technique.
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www.aikidoofnorthwestkansas.com |
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