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Ritsu rei - Standing bow
to Sensei
Seiza - Sensei sits (formal sitting position),
the class sits in seiza facing shomen and prepares
for class. Head student (sempai) calls out:
Mokuso! This means "Close your eyes
and Clear your mind!" After about a minute,
the sempai student calls out:
Kaimoku! This means: "Open your eyes!"or
Mokuso Yame! This means “Finish meditation”
Zarei - Next the class performs three zarei
or sitting bows. The head student calls out:
Shomen ni rei! This means "Bow to the
front of the dojo." After the class finishes
this bow, the Sensei will turn around and face the
class and the head student will call out:
Sensei ni rei! - This means "Bow to
the Teacher!" As the class bows to the teacher,
the teacher will return the bow. As each student
bows, they recite "Onegaishimasu" which
means "Please teach me!"
Otagai ni rei! - This means "Bow to
each other!" Both the teacher and the students
will bow to each other at the same time. This is
to acknowledge that we are all students of the art
of Karate Do.
At this point the Sensei will indicate that the
class should stand up and practice will begin.
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