| I love karate! Always have done and always will. | | | | (heisoku-dachi), thumbs bent, hands open and placed |
| Although I am not Japanese, it is upsetting when I | | | | flat against the outside of the thighs. |
| see someone bow disrespectfully. | | | | 2. Bend from the waist, keeping the back straight. |
| Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of shotokan karate, | | | | 3. Head and eyes remain fixed, so as you bow you |
| said, 'Karate begins and ends with courtesy'. | | | | look down. |
| I used to love the fighting more than anything else in | | | | 4. The degree of bend in the body, does not have |
| karate, but the older I get, the more I realize, karate | | | | to be great, but the sincere attitude you have when |
| is more than just fighting. | | | | you bow, should be! |
| Let us get to it! People with good characters are | | | | 5. Hold the final bow position for two to three |
| liked and are content, people with bad characters, | | | | seconds, then slowly return to the straight back |
| are not liked and are not content. | | | | starting position. |
| One of the best ways to start working on the | | | | 6. Breath out naturally and silently on the downward |
| development of character through karate practice, is | | | | movement of the bow. |
| the bow. | | | | When someone first starts to learn karate, it is really |
| When a karate instructor teaches a karate for | | | | important to spend time on the basic techniques and |
| beginners course, they will always emphasize the | | | | the bow or rei, is classed as a basic karate move. |
| importance of the bow. | | | | Please remember, you should always combine |
| The Karate Bow (Rei) | | | | anything you learn online, with taking karate lessons |
| 1. Starting from the feet together stance | | | | with a fully qualified karate sensei (teacher). |