Rei

One of the first things anyone will notice when training karate is the custom of bowing, called the “REI”. The custom of bowing in karate is traced back to its origins, which includes both the fact that it originates in Japan and due to it being a martial art which has foundations in budo. The Japanese word for “rei” 礼 literally means “an expression of gratitude” but its use in martial arts has deeper levels of meaning. Bowing is an integral part of Japanese culture which relies heavily on showing respect in the appropriate situations. The importance of this can Read more…