Comments for Different Bowing Methods During Training

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Apr 03, 2009
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by: Anonymous

Thanks for your detailed reply !

If I understand your explanation :

Only motodashi lowers their sword diagonally to the right (kamae wo toku) and bow.

Actually in my new dojo located in Europe, when I'm Kakarite, I reply to motodashi's bow in doing the same bow in lowering the shinai to the right (kamae wo toku) and bow.

It's a trouble for me, because when I practiced in a traditional dojo (the sensei was Japanese and had a translator to talk to us !), Kakarite did ritsu rei with shinai. I remember this fact thanks to your precious explanations.

So, it's more correct for Kakarite to do ritsu rei with shinaï (take chudan, put their sword back to the taito position, then lower the sword in the sage-to position and bow).

Kendo-Guide.Com: You?re welcome! Good to be a help.

Yes. You are right.

?Rei? is very important in budo. Rei is a bow and also means ?courtesy? and ?politeness? and it is the way to show our appreciation. It is a very important part of kendo so we want to do the proper rei unless instructed ?not to?.

Even though your motodachi turns around to receive the next kakarite after you, you want to take chudan, put your sword back in the tai-to position, and sage-to. Then bow to the motodachi.

Motodachi receives you. That means you hit him/her for your own improvement. Motodachi sacrifices his/her body and take the pain from your strikes. Thus, we should bow to the motodachi.

This is very important to remember. :)

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