Tying Your Belt

Video Transcription

Tying your obi (belt)

First, find the center of the belt (Obi in Japanese). Place it just below your navel. Cross your hands at the middle of your back pulling the right side over the left and underneath both layers of the belt.

Use that same piece to come over and through and then pull tightly. The knot itself should be pulled tightly but the belt should sit quite loosely almost on your hips.

Now ensure that both ends are even.

Bowing

Video Transcription

Bow is Rei in Japanese

On entering the dojo say – Onigaishimasu

On leaving the dojo say – Domo Arigato Gozaimashita

When bowing to each other the senior bows first, the junior bows a little lower. The senior begins to come up first, and then the junior.

Both bow from the waist, not bending the neck.

A kneeling bow is performed at the beginning and end of the class, it is called Zarei. First sitting (Seiza, or the kneeling position), put the hands naturally resting in your lap. Begin the bow by moving the left hand followed by right, and then come up with the right hand first, followed by the left.

As with the standing bow, the senior begins first, the juniors follow, in wave like fashion. And they come up in a similar order.

The left hand moves first, and then the right. The body is kept stiff, bending from the base of the spine keeping the neck straight.

Doing the meditation of mukuso we put our hands in the Zen Mudra. This position represents the etherical body connecting the physical body, accepting our state.