In many karate schools around the world the traditional practice of bowing is being continued regardless of the country of origin and of whether the bow matches that country’s particular culture. The very act of stepping into a karate dojo or a Taekwondo dojang often means that you have entered into a mini-cultural experience that you never expected.

Some people find these practices quaint and educational, others find them downright offensive. This article attempts to explain the primary reasons for bowing in traditional Japanese culture and therefore in your Japanese style of martial arts. If you study Korean or Chinese styles it won’t hurt to read on as many of these customs are relevant to most Asian countries and martial arts.

Karate originated on the island of Okinawa, part of the Ryukyu archipelago, which now belongs to Japan. In Japan bowing is as much a part of formal culture as the handshake is in western culture. Although the Japanese are increasingly using the handshake because of international business, the bow is still a very important part of Japanese etiquette. Bowing is therefore an integral part of a Karate lesson. We begin and end each lesson with formal etiquette including several bows and we acknowledge our opponent before and after each encounter with a bow.

As Karate is part of traditional Japanese culture many instructors believe it is only fitting that they continue those traditions and make their lessons a reflection of how a lesson would be led in Japan.

Generally the rule of thumb for bowing is that the more senior the person to whom you are bowing, both in age and rank, the deeper the bow. So for example, if a 14 year old bows to a 40 year old then the bow should be lower than

TALKING SPORTSouth Devon Herald Express, UK - 5 minutes agoKnown as the Ousey Nine-Nine Millimetre, she achieved one of the Bay's most memorable martial arts feats of recent times when she out-pointed American ...England flanker Haskell
Orlando Sentinel, FL -Morris singled out a 29-page &quot;manifesto&quot; that Snipes signed and sent to US Department of Treasury in which the actor and martial-arts devotee warned of ...<br/><br/>::
Lesnar finds his callingBismarck Tribune, USA - 15 minutes agoThe grueling preparation for Lesnar's Ultimate Fighting Championship debut has been under way since he signed with the fast-growing mixed martial arts ...Entertainment brie
411mania.com, TX -With fights against Karo Parisyan, Josh Koshcheck and Nick Diaz, he definitely has fought a A whoA s whoA in the Mixed Martial Arts world. ...<br/><br/>::
Muscle and mayhemMalaysia Star, Malaysia - 13 minutes agoDavid Pacquette from England is a qualified martial arts instructor in MuayThai. Rafik Bakkouri is the French MuayThai Champion and is known to be cold and ...HDNet to Broadcast Li
TechWhack (press release), India -... NASCAR Grand National Division, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup re-broadcasts, boxing and Mixed Martial Arts through itA s new HDNet Fights initiative; ...<br/><br/>::
Huddle upSunJournal.com (subscription), ME - 9 minutes agoI remember reading a story once when I was a kid about how Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett held a black belt in the martial arts. ...Exwrestler Brock Lesnar finds his calling i
Duluth News Tribune (Subscription), MN -The grueling preparation for Lesnar's Ultimate Fighting Championship debut has been underway since he signed with the fast-growing mixed martial arts ...<br/><br/>::
Chuck Norris Charity Cheat: I'm GuiltyAuburn Citizen, NY - 12 minutes agoBack to AP HOUSTON - The former chief executive of Chuck Norris' martial arts program for inner-city children has pleaded guilty to stealing from the ...Sanctioning
Canoe.ca, Canada -In the history of mixed martial arts, only one fighter has died of injuries sustained in a regulated fight. Yeah, right. We sacrificed an entire season so ...<br/><br/>::
New Year's Chinese folk art will be featuredRedding Pilot, CT - 28 minutes ago... and will include a full luncheon with ice cream bar, plus performances by Grand Master Aiping ChengA s world-class wu shu (kung fu) martial arts masters; ..
TheCelebrityCafe.com, NY -The former chief executive of the actorA s martial arts program for inner-city children pleaded guilty Thursday to fraud. According to the Associated Press, ...<br/><br/>::
59th Republic Day celebrated across NagalandMorungExpress, India - 3 hours agoThe entertainment programme included menA s folk dance by Alahuto colony, womenA s folk dance by New Colony and the International Martial Arts. The IRCS ...Conwa
Sun.Star, Philippines -Tuason also relies on a Mixed Martial Arts, Kali, and Muay Thai background. I also chanced upon JV on my visit to ALA Gym. He sparred some rounds, ...<br/><br/>::
Chuck Norris charity cheat: I'm guiltyIdahoStatesman.com, ID - 5 minutes agoAP HOUSTON A The former chief executive of Chuck Norris' martial arts program for inner-city children has pleaded guilty to stealing from the charity, ...Former
TheNewsTribune.com (subscription), WA -AP HOUSTON -- The former chief executive of Chuck Norris' martial arts program for inner-city children has pleaded guilty to stealing from the charity, ...<br/><br/>::
Kung Fu chef helps jail gangWigan Today, UK - 8 minutes agoMatthew Andrade called on his martial arts skills to turn the tables on his assailant A despite being also threatened by another thug with a hammer. ...National Geographic HD Is
Enterprise-Record, CA -By GREG WELTER -Staff Writer OROVILLE -- A 22-year-old martial arts fighter remains in critical condition at Oroville Hospital due to kidney failure, ...<br/><br/>::
Drew McFedries makes comeback against Canadian fighter Patrick Cote570 News, Canada - 1 hour agoBefore that, his mixed martial arts fighting career was put on a hold with a gruesome staph infection that saw him lose a chunk of his leg du
680 News, Canada -Before that, his mixed martial arts fighting career was put on a hold with a gruesome staph infection that saw him lose a chunk of his leg during an ...<br/><br/>::
Drew McFedries makes comeback against Canadian fighter Patrick CoteBrandon Sun, Canada - 1 hour agoBefore that, his mixed martial arts fighting career was put on a hold with a gruesome staph infection that saw him lose a chunk of his le
The Canadian Press -Before that, his mixed martial arts fighting career was put on a hold with a gruesome staph infection that saw him lose a chunk of his leg during an ...<br/><br/>::
Mailbag: What's up at 155?Yahoo! Sports - 18 minutes agoMixed Martial Arts. Which is the future?&amp;quot; Of the 7657 responses, 47 percent chose the answer, &amp;quot;There's so many ways to win an MMA match, it's just more ...Natural medicine
940 News, Canada -Before that, his mixed martial arts fighting career was put on a hold with a gruesome staph infection that saw him lose a chunk of his leg during an ...<br/><br/>::
Roy Jones Jr. has lofty ambitions after 1-sided win over Trinidad
Ocala.com, FL -This morass allowed mixed martial arts to rise with incredible speed to a prominent place in sports. But fighters finally got the message over the last two ...<br/><br/>::
Pupils celebrate Chinese New YearHastings Observer, UK - 51 minutes agoAll of the school's pupils enjoyed learning about lion dancing, martial arts, Chinese table manners and how to write their names in Chinese. ...Pupils celebrate Chine
Montreal Gazette, Canada -Chuck Norris, the actor and martial arts expert who has been a fixture at Huckabee's side on the campaign trail, said he did not believe the 71-year-old ...<br/><br/>::
Teen overcomes odds to be karate champEast Anglian Daily Times, UK - 28 minutes agoShe now helps coach the younger members at SD School of Martial Arts in Colchester. A I'd like to think they can look at me and see what it is possible to
Denver Post, CO -By The Denver Post NAVASOTA, Texas A Campaigning for Mike Huckabee, actor Chuck Norris said Sunday that Sen. John McCain is too old to handle the pressures ...<br/><br/>::
Thumbs Up/Thumbs DownTimes Colonist, Canada - 21 minutes agoTo the Victoria Conference Centre, for nixing an evening of mixed martial arts fights. The battles -- which involve punching, choking, ...Carmel's Cope set for combat as mixed
Crows Nest -Respondents applauded her skilful martial arts moves, which combined with her beauty, makes a killer combination. Ranking second was Luke Skywalker from the ...<br/><br/>::
Guardian Angels recruits in Halifax start martial arts trainingCanada East, Canada - 20 minutes agoHALIFAX - Members of Halifax's newly formed Guardian Angels chapter have started their martial arts training as they prepare to start patr
CBC Nova Scotia, Canada -HALIFAX - Members of Halifax's newly formed Guardian Angels chapter have started their martial arts training as they prepare to start patrolling the city in ...<br/><br/>::
Guardian Angels recruits in Halifax start martial arts trainingThe Canadian Press - 32 minutes agoHALIFAX - Members of Halifax's newly formed Guardian Angels chapter have started their martial arts training as they prepare to start patrolling the
Dubuque Telegraph Herald, IA -The Las Vegas-based company that specializes in mixed martial arts is teaming up with Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Motor Co. ...<br/><br/>::
Canadian Sam Stout scores comfortable MMA win at UFC 80: Rapid FireCanoe.ca, Canada - 2 hours agoThe lightweight mixed martial arts bout at the Metro Radio Arena opened the UFC 80: Rapid Fire card, topped by BJ Penn-Joe Stevenson's showd
Canada East, Canada -The lightweight mixed martial arts bout at the Metro Radio Arena opened the UFC 80: Rapid Fire card, topped by BJ Penn-Joe Stevenson's showdown for the ...<br/><br/>::
Canadian Sam Stout scores comfortable MMA win at UFC 80: Rapid Fire570 News, Canada - 2 hours agoThe lightweight mixed martial arts bout at the Metro Radio Arena opened the UFC 80: Rapid Fire card, topped by BJ Penn-Joe Stevenson's showd
Press-Enterprise, CA -By DAVID A. AVILA Mixed martial arts stars BJ &quot;The Prodigy&quot; Penn and Joe &quot;Daddy&quot; Stevenson will battle today in England for the vacant Ultimate Fighting ...<br/><br/>::
scanners cut Tube and rail robberies by halfThis is London, UK - 14 minutes agoThe weapons, most of which were confiscated in London, include knives, machetes, sharpened screwdrivers, firearms and martial arts blades. ...Amazon.com Launc
Brampton News, Canada -Furthermore, demonstrations from martial arts groups and dance studios will occur before and after Dora's appearance. Shoppers World Brampton is ...<br/><br/>::
Casinos bring hard-hitting entertainment to regionPress-Enterprise, CA - 10 minutes agoBoxing has long been viewed as a Las Vegas casino-style event, and professional mixed martial arts was banned in California and limited to pay-per-vie
Wilton Villager, CT -The Calasanz physical conditioning system and Calasanz Martial Arts will help you to sculpt your body, lose weight and build strength, endurance and ...<br/><br/>::
Wu-Tang Clan hits Soul KitchenPress-Register - al.com, AL - 8 minutes agoOver these surrealistic backing tracks, the MCs rapped hard, updating the old-school attack with vicious violence, martial arts imagery, and a welcome ...Sena galla
Calgary Herald, Canada -Martial arts aficionados take note: the Alberta Taekwondo Association is holding the junior and senior provincials this Saturday (Jan. ...<br/><br/>::
Sports heavyweight Anthony Cicione joins The Fight Network!Canada NewsWire (press release), Canada - 13 minutes agoThe Fight Network is the global leader in presenting and covering all combat sports, including Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), B
eReleases (press release), MD -... the next TV star by sharing their audition videos online in categories such as singing, dancing, acting, modeling, fitness, cooking, and martial arts. ...<br/><br/>::
PR Newswire Entertainment Summary, Friday, Jan. 14, 2008StreetInsider.com (subscription), MI - 16 minutes ago... Play and Martial Artists to Join Forces During Jan. 20th Online Texas Fundraiser Hosted by Chuck Norris DC11485 01/14/2008 1
UFC Daily, PA -... we here at UFCDaily.com have selected our highlights of the past year in Mixed Martial Arts. 2007 was an exciting year for a fans and fighters alike. ...<br/><br/>::


if the 40 year old bowed to the 14 year old. Also a green belt should bow lower to a brown belt than a brown belt would bow to a green belt.

The gray area comes when you have a 14 year old black belt and a 40 year old beginner. Who should bow the lowest? Well hopefully common sense will prevail and both parties will realize that the adult is still the superior person in terms of experience and therefore should still be treated with respect. However it would also be appropriate for the adult in question to acknowledge the child’s achievement and prowess and bow a little lower than normal to show his respect.

As far as we Westerners are concerned, the complexities of the social nuances regarding the bow in Japan are far too involved for us to show any real competency, unless we have direct experience living in Japan for several years.

Therefore the best thing for us to do in the dojo is to simply follow the traditional etiquette and bow to one another in an unforced and comfortable manner and let that suffice. A lower bow can be saved for the obvious age and rank differences but other than that a bow of similar depth would be appropriate in most cases.

For more information on formal etiquette and other important information you should know if you’re planning on getting into the martial arts be sure to download my FREE Report, “Beginners Guide to Karate." You can find it at http://www.freekarateinformation.com.

Good luck and best wishes on your journey in karate.