Lesson One: Bowing

[Ryuji]

Hello, Class. My name is Mr. Ryuji, and I will be your karate teacher for the duration of your time here. I hold a sixth degree black belt in Matsamura Seito Shorin Ryu Karate, and was trained on the island of Okinawa. You may address me as Mr. Ryuji, Master Ryuji, or Sensei. In this class we will cover the basics of Karate, or open-hand combat. As you advance we will move onto sparring and specific exercises that will help you most in the hidden arts. Let’s begin.

Lesson one: Bowing

The first thing you must learn is how to bow. For now, let’s focus on the standing bow.

Standing Bow:

Stand with heels together, feet pointing slightly outward in a 45 degree angle. Hands in tight fists at your side. I’ll tell you how to make a proper fist next lesson, but for now let’s just focus on the idea of it. This is called fudo-dachi, and is one of your basic stances. Bow at the waist about 35 degrees and then return to fudo.

You should bow before entering and exiting the Dojo (facing the dojo) and before entering and exiting the mat. Bowing entails respect. Bow when you meet a black belt (for the first time that day) and before bowing off the mat (to the person one rank above you and one rank below you in line; you will be lined up according to rank), before sparring (to your partner), and twice before class and after class, but more about that later. Yes, you bow a lot in Karate.

*side note: in an actual fight (not sparring) you would not bow – just attack, or defend!*

Homework:

1) Why is bowing important to Karate? (5 pts)
2) Why bow when greeting a black belt? (5 pts)

Extra Credit: Write a short paragraph or essay telling me why (or why not) you are interested in Karate, and what you intend to get from this class. (10 pts)

I expect complete sentences and well thought out responses.

"Arigato. Thank you, Class!"
- Sensei

[Dacey Roberts]

Homework

1) Why is bowing important to Karate? (5 pts)

Bowing is an indication of respect. It promotes order and respect in the dojo.

2) Why bow when greeting a black belt? (5 pts)

They are the highest ranks, and deserve the utmost respect for their years of training.

Extra Credit: Write a short paragraph or essay telling me why (or why not) you are interested in Karate, and what you intend to get from this class. (10 pts)

Karate is interesting to me because I have not realy been trained in any form of physical fitness. I used to love stretching and enjoyed watching the gypsies and acrobats when they came through my town, but my father thought that that was an improper fascination for me. He preferred me to do math or business, or at least to act ladylike. I am looking forward to seeing what my body is capable, and I think that Karate could help me to understand that.

[MeiMei]

Homework:
*She pulled out that noteook of hers to record the assignment.**

[Later...]
She opened her notebook "Wow I got lucky just this assignment tonite.." The Teal-eyes girl sighed, reading over the questions, pondering on her anwsers.

1) Why is bowing important to Karate? (5 pts)
"An indocator of respect to both people, and the dojo"

2) Why bow when greeting a black belt? (5 pts)
"They've been tere for the longest and are due the most respect one can give"

Extra Credit: Write a short paragraph or essay telling me why (or why not) you are interested in Karate, and what you intend to get from this class. (10 pts)

She left the extra credit blank, she was tired anyway. this new school was harder than her anticipated and she was asleep before she even braided her hair so it'd stay tamed.

[Aaralyn]

Aaralyn bowed and then left the Dojo. That night, she got out her notebook and did her homework.

1) Why is bowing important to Karate? (5 pts) Bowingshows respect and teaches dicipline. It promotes order and has hundreds of years of tradition behind it.
2) Why bow when greeting a black belt? (5 pts) Black belts are Yudansha, and deserve respect for their years of training. You are of a lower rank, and should bow to the upper rank to indicate respect.

Extra Credit: Write a short paragraph or essay telling me why (or why not) you are interested in Karate, and what you intend to get from this class. (10 pts)
I have been taking Karate for a long time (11 years) and have just reached the level of 3rd Dan, or a third degree black belt. I came to this school mostly for the opportunity to use my Karate training outside the realm of teaching. I intend to advance my training in your class, and learn even more under your tutelage.

[Harem Del Villar]

harem writes on a paper and hands it to you. you read:

1. Bowing is a form of respect.

2. Bowing to a blackbelt shows your utmost respect. they are stronger and more experienced than you.

Extra credit:
I am not intrested in Karate beacsue in order to be a master spy or theif, you must not get caught in anyway there fore fight is a waste of time durring a mission.

Also.... I bow to NO one.

She waits for the next lesson.

[hide]

1. Bowing is a form of respect.

2. Bowing to a blackbelt shows your utmost respect. they are stronger and more experienced than you.

He opted not to anwser the extra credit, dropping the assignment on a table on his way out in an 'I could care less' gesture.

[Ai]

1) Why is bowing important to Karate? (5 pts)
Bowing is a form of respect.

2) Why bow when greeting a black belt? (5 pts)
As they are a higher rank bowing to them gives them the respect that they earned through hard work

Extra Credit: Write a short paragraph or essay telling me why (or why not) you are interested in Karate, and what you intend to get from this class. (10 pts)

I am interested in Karate as it is intresting and looks like a fine thing to do to work out and at the same time learn how to defend and attack. Learning some of the fine arts could also be a benefit. I intend to learn how to defend myself. I also hope that I can make what I learnt be useful. I hope that what little that a learned of Karate can become more.