R-e-s-p-e-c-t

[Please visit our sponsor:]

[Randy Sexton]

I have been learning martial arts for most of my life. I started Aikido in April 2007. Since that time I have been very fortunate in having an excellent instructor teaching me the way of Aikido. I also have read many Aikido books and so many articles! I have thoroughly enjoyed the Aikido discussions and banter on this marvelous website.
Through all my Aikido experience one of the attribute that I have seen emphasized is respect. Recently, I have noticed that I am paying closer attention to how I bow or pass off a bokken to my training partner or ensure that we bow before and after a technique. I find that paying attention to such details does drill respect for others in my head but I've noticed that it has begun to change me! I'm finding that I as I pay closer attention toward respecting others that I am creating a sense of dignity and self-respect for my self. I know theoretically that it is supposed to do that but it is cool to find that it really does it!
Have you found that to be true for you? Any stories about learning that sense of respect from your Sensei or someone else?

Dpc:)

[Stefan Stenudd]

I started aikido as a teenager, and quickly got into the habit of bowing to people. It was not always well-received.

In senior high, I was the Chairman of the school board (a joint board for students, teachers, headmaster, and so on, in a radical Swedish democratic experiment at the time). When I bowed out of aikido reflex to the headmaster, my fellow students complained that I had become a willing slave of the establishment, or something like that.
The headmaster was amused.

[Mark Uttech]

Onegaishimasu. My take on bowing is something Suzuki Roshi said: "Bowing is a serious practice. You should be prepared to bow, even in your last moment". It is not kowtowing to anyone or anything; it is a most wonderful response/technique. In the West, people 'hug' rather than 'bow', but I am of the opinion that lots of sexual hijinks begin to make themselves appear with the 'hug'. What saves students and teachers is the 'bow'. (of course, if the bow involves 'cleavage', that is another story/topic).

In gassho,

Mark

[Amassus]

A sincere bow is a wonderful gift.

[Ketsan]

I started aikido as a teenager, and quickly got into the habit of bowing to people. It was not always well-received.

In senior high, I was the Chairman of the school board (a joint board for students, teachers, headmaster, and so on, in a radical Swedish democratic experiment at the time). When I bowed out of aikido reflex to the headmaster, my fellow students complained that I had become a willing slave of the establishment, or something like that.
The headmaster was amused.

Yeah, done that. I've walked into a class room and bowed, called lecturers Sensei, bowed to lecturers.

[C. David Henderson]

Onegaishimasu. My take on bowing is something Suzuki Roshi said: "Bowing is a serious practice. You should be prepared to bow, even in your last moment". It is not kowtowing to anyone or anything; it is a most wonderful response/technique.


I really like this quote, and Mark's gloss. Bowing practice provides a form in much the same was as kihon techniques provide a way to train (other) martial principles. IM(hopefully-someday)HO

DH

[Randy Sexton]

Thanks for sharing your stories! As an American I was not raised to bow but to shake a person's hand. Although there is a certain art to shaking hands I have not experienced any personal changes from the practice. However, after training in the martial arts (and especially in Aikido) I find that proper attention to dojo etiquette and in particular bowing protocol has had an emotional and psychological change in me and has altered my sense of perception toward myself and my "opponent". After developing the "habit" have you noted any internal changes?

Doc

[Harm-ony]

respect should came from the soul (sincere), bowing is only an indicator, smiling too...
We can shake hand with respect, and someone we shake will know that we respect him/her....
Internal changes will occur if we really do the bowing, hugs, etc with sincere respect, not only 'seems respect'...

i think so.... :)

Peace and Love

[Lyle Bogin]

Although I have been called a lot of things, in the end everyone concedes that I am respectful. That kind of softens the blow of my various character flaws. I learned that from my mom, by the way, not any sage warrior type.