Bowing

Between Bowing

It's a good idea at this point to quickly cover the sorts of positions a jitsuka will be in before they bow. Jitsuka frequently find themselves standing in the dojo in queues waiting to perform techniques, watching techniques being demonstrated or the like. One of two positions will typically be adopted. If the jitsuka is standing (see photo on the right) then they should be stood with feet roughly shoulder-width apart and hands cupped at roughly waist height with thumbs interlaced - its kind of like those bird hand-shadow things, but with the palm of the left hand cupping the back of the right hand. If the jitsuka is kneeling down (see photos below) then a formal kneeling position (sieza) should be adopted. Unless you spend a lot of time sitting like this, it can be particularly uncomfortable for extended periods. This does have the advantage that it will keep you quite alert. If you find it becoming uncomfortable it is often acceptable to assume a cross-legged position. Anyone who sustains a knee strain during a session should also be advised to sit in this position - or if that is too uncomfortable a straight-legged position a safe distance from any 'action'.

These positions ensure that everyone is taking up a minimal amount of space when standing / sitting around and that there is a defined safety zone - people don't leave arms or legs out that could be caught accidentally by someone being thrown, etc. The seiza position has the benefit that it is relatively difficult to attack from. For this reason it was always used in Japanese courts - people even had to walk around in this sort of position (sometimes wearing huge hakama style garments to make it even more difficult). This knee walking action is called shikko.

Standing Bow

A standing bow is the most frequently performed bow in Jiu Jitsu and is known as ritsu rei. The jitsuka begins the bow with toes and heels together, and legs straight. This particular stance is known as su dachi which simply means standing with feet together (see photo on the left). With his arms at his sides and palms against the side of the thighs, the jitsuka bends at the waist to a comfortable position where the torso is between about 30° and 60° to the vertical (see photo on the right). After a moment's pause, the jitsuka returns to an upright position. This completes the bow.

My advice is to find a respectful middle ground. When bowing aim to look a couple of metres ahead of you. Do not make eye contact, but try to maintain an awareness of your surroundings and (if present) opponent. Hopefully this will get you through friendly and unfriendly rei-ings alike.

The What Bow To Use section below provides additional details of when a standing bow might be used.

Kneeling Bow

Step 1 When jitsuka line up they should adopt the attentive stance thay would when standing around at any other time on the mat (see above). The jitsuka should line up on the sides of the mat opposite the instructor, with the most senior students to the instructor's left, and the most junior to the instructor's right as he faces the class. More details on the positions assumed may be found in the dojo section of this site.

Step 2 The instructor will then give the command to assume the horse stance - kiba dachi. This is obviously not the stance of a horse, but rather a stance that is more given to riding a horse - a common position for Samurai. All jitsuka should slide their left foot out to assume this stance. This convention ensures that everyone moves the same way and do not stand on one another's feet. Knees should be bent with feet pointing forwards - as though set in stirrups. Hands should be relaxed and in front as though holding the reins of a horse. The instructor(s) assume the same stance at the same time.

Step 3
The instructor next calls out for the students to stand with feet together - Su dachi. From kiba dachi, each jitsuka slides his left foot to meet his right, and arms are placed down at the sides. This is shown in the left most photograph below. Again the instructor carries out the same movement.

Step 4
Next the instructor calls out su waru. This is the command for the jitsuka to kneel down. This assumption of a kneeling position is shown by the last three photographs above. Firstly the jitsuka turns his left knee out and begins to bend his right knee. The jitsuka continues to bend down and places his right knee on the mat. Once the right knee is down the left knee follows, and the jitsuka assumes the seiza position as described above. Kneeling down in this manner allowed the samurai to draw their sword quickly should they be attacked as they were kneeling down.

Once the students are all settled, the instructor then kneels down in an identical manner.

Step 5 The instructor will then indicate to the most senior student to take the bow. The senior student (sempai) calls out sensei ni rei to initiate the kneeling bow - za rei. Because a dojo could be huge, or some students may have hearing impairments, the student gives a visual signal by taking his left hand to his right shoulder, and then sweeping it out to the left side as the call to bow is given. The sempai and kohai (more junior students) then bow together. Bending at the hips, the jitsuka then reach forward left hand first then right to make a triangular shape with the hands - index fingers form two sides and the thumbs the base of an isosceles triangle. As with a standing bow, the jitsuka should look slightly ahead when performing a kneeling bow.

The hands go down left then right to again allow a samurai to still draw his sword for the longest possible time whilst performing the bow. The position of the hands was also important so that if someone tried to drive the samurai's head into the floor, the head would be somewhat cushioned by his hands.

Once the bow has been completed the jitsuka return to seiza. The instructor then performs the same bow back. If there is more than one instructor they give the same hand signal as the sempai, but instead call out otagi ni rei - bow to everyone / each other.

Step 6 Finally the instructor will call for the students to jump to their feet. If this is the start of the session, the instructor will typically call it out in English ("on your feet"). At the end of a session, the instructor would call out yoi. Both of these commands infer that the instructor wants the jitsuka to jump into the fighting stance. If the command was yoi, then the jitsuka should kiai loudly as they jump to their feet. The fighting position is with the leading hand and foot out in front, and the trailing foot set behind the hips to give a slightly triangular stance (for greater stability). The other hand is kept closer to the solar plexus or groin area to allow for better potential to block low attacks whereas the leading hamnd should serve to make the head a difficult target. Once the students have jumped to their feet, the instructor should do the same - in the same manner.

Fo anyone who has problems with this ... practice just compressing your body in a kneeling position and expanding to try and get a little jump off the ground. Keep practising until you get high enough to sweep your feet underneath you - into a kiba dachi position (this is often required at the end of a kneeling ukemi kata). Once you have this perfected, its time to try twisting your hips in a clockwise direction as you go. With a little bit more practice you should have a perfect yoi position! Don't expect to get it straight away - martial arts are a discipline for the dedicated and the patient.

What Bow To Use?