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Old 03-30-2011, 07:49 AM   #295
makuchg
 
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Dojo: FL Aikido Center
Location: Spring Hill, FL
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 84
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Re: To bow or not to bow

Quote:
Carsten Möllering wrote: View Post
Hm, there ar some lutheren pastors I know, praciticing aikido. Also some roman-catholic priests. Some friends are muslims. Some are jews.
I never met someone on a tatami, who didn't bow for religious beliefs.
I lived and trained in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and they do not bow due to their faith (of course this is the center of Islamic law.) I did, but I was the only one. When asking someone else to train with them, instead of bowing they touched their heart and extended their arm toward an area of the mat. This was a sign of open heartedness, a request from the heart. Bowing or the lack thereof was not significant and yet the Aikido was spiritual and powerful.

Last edited by makuchg : 03-30-2011 at 07:52 AM.

Gregory Makuch
Wandering Ronin
Spring Hill, FL
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