Bowing

Bowing is ingrained in most Asian cultures. In the West, we may think of it as the same as a handshake; but, it is much more. In martial arts we often use the term reishiki to mean etiquette but literally it is the bowing ceremony. This just reinforces how closely the two are tied in budo. Dave Lowry has a excellent article on bowing. It will give you the history and reasons why it was and should continue to practiced.

"No doubt fearing that etiquette without martial skill was nothing but pomposity--while its opposite would have been barbarism--the Ogasawara were careful to transmit all of their arts in equal measure and to have at their head a man who was competent in all." - Dave Lowry

Read the two part article on bowing here.

Post your bowing etiquette in the comments.