Rei / Etiquette (3)

In Japanese Budo (martial arts), Rei (礼) is a concept encompassing bowing, respect, gratitude, and politeness, signifying the proper etiquette and mindset for training and life. It begins and ends all Budo training, demonstrating respect for the dojo, the instructors (sensei), training partners, and the martial art itself. 

Actualizing Engagement with Self and Environment

In a dojo, you arrive, and even if you don’t see anyone right away, you enter and you say in a clear voice, “Good evening!” or “Konbanwa!”. Why? You announce yourself. You don’t sneak in quietly. Remember, you’re practicing this understanding that your actions convey something to others. We are interconnected. In martial arts, a lot of etiquette is for safety, to communicate to the other people that you are safe to them, that you are attentive and in control, not negligent or with ill-intent. So greetings is a part of dojo behavior. When you leave, you say in a loud voice, “Thank you!”. You announce and you let people know where you are. And this touches upon some spirituality and virtue. So finding opportunities to express gratitude and appreciation is important too.

And back to, does the outer form convey the inner substance. Does how you say “please” and “thank you” convey properness or sloppiness? That you care and are present? Or you don’t care and you’re spacing out? So these ways that we bow for every partner change, every time we start or finish practice, we practice proper outer form. And hopefully pay attention inside to whether we mean it or not. Does it have substance or not.

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In many situations, people can tell if something is rushed and sloppy or just quick and efficient. In practicing martial arts or any self-growth endeavor, it's important to be careful and pay attention, otherwise the sloppiness slips in and it ends up being rushed. So as a normal, usual practice, please do the proper bow. Not some abbreviated thing. Use this time, this place, this opportunity for polishing the self, not to practice sloppiness and rushing.