Suchy Kensei Shihan
Okinawakan Goju Ryu Karate Do Kobujutsu Hozon Kai
Nakamoto Kiichi Hanshi
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REISHIKI CEREMONY
Reishiki is the bowing ceremony that open and close class. This is where Deshi (students) line up according to their particular rank and pay their respect and thanks for what they are about to learn or have learned.
A highly structured class in any Budo, that includes karate do, begins on time with the senior student or instructor calling the beginning of class by ordering everyone to line up.
'Seiretsu' or 'Shugo' [line up]
'Kiotsuke' [attention]
'Seiza' [kneeling bow]
'Mokuso' [begin meditation]
'Mokuso Yame' [stop meditation]
'Shomen ni rei' [sitting bow to front] or 'Shinzen ni rei' [if at shrine or temple]
'Shihan ni rei' (if present) - [sitting bow towards instructor 'Onegai Shimasu Shihan']
'Sensei ni rei' [sitting bow towards instructor 'Onegai Shimasu Sensei']
'Senpai ni rei' (if present) [sitting bow towards instructor 'Onegai Shimasu']
'Otegai ni rei' [sitting bow towards each other 'Onegai Shimasu']
'Kiritsu' [stand up]
'Rei' [standing bow]
To end class the senior student or instructor will call everyone to line up. (Soremade - Class is now finished).
'Seiretsu' or 'Shugo' [line up]
'Kiotsuke' [attention]
'Seiza' [kneeling bow]
'Mokuso' [begin meditation]
'Mokuso Yame' [stop meditation]
'Otegai ni rei' [sitting bow towards each other 'Arigato Gozaimashita']
'Senpai ni rei' (if present) [sitting bow towards instructor 'Arigato Gozaimashita']
'Sensei ni rei' [sitting bow towards instructor 'Arigato Gozaimashita']
'Shihan ni rei' (if present) [sitting bow towards instructor 'Arigato Gozaimashita Shihan']
'Shomen ni rei' [sitting bow to front] or 'Shinzen ni rei' [if at shrine or temple]
'Kiritsu' [stand up]
'Rei' [standing bow]
COMMANDS
Sensei gives the following commands:
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Seiretsu. The students are called to line up in grade order. This is the time when you have to address your position in the dojo and let go of external roles which become unimportant in this context.
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Seiza. The students sit in a formal kneeling position. In some Dojos the students may be sitting opposite the Shomen or Shinzen (shrine). In Dojos that meet in a school gym or other temporary ‘dojo’ the students may face a symbolic Shomen i.e. face a direction that sensei points to. Other Dojos may miss this stage out altogether and just face sensei.
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Mokuso. The students close their eyes and observe a few moments of meditation. Zazen is Meditation or state of the Mind of Calm and fullness, the idea of this is to let the students clear their minds of distracting (outside) thoughts and prepare for the training ahead.
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Kaimoku or Mokuso Yame. The students stop meditating and open their eyes.
The senior student (or a student chosen by sensei) will then give the commands:
a. Shomen ni rei. The students bow to the Shomen in order to remember and show respect to their founder. In clubs where there is no longer any connection or communication with their Japanese origins this step may be omitted altogether.
b. Sensei ni rei. The students bow to sensei to show their respect to him/her and show that they are ready to listen and learn.
c. Otogai ni rei. The students and sensei bow to each other in a mutual display of respect and courtesy. Remember, in martial arts bowing is about showing respect not subservience.
At this point the students may say words such as onegaishimasu. This basically means "please let me train with you." It's an entreaty often used in asking the other person to teach you, and that you are ready to accept the other person's teaching.
Sensei then gives the following commands:
5. Kiritsu. The students stand up with feet together and arms by their side.
6. Rei. The students perform a small standing bow to end the ceremony.
The whole ceremony is then repeated at the end of the lesson with the gesture Arigato Gozaimashita Sensei, which means thank you Sensei.
Though each class begins and ends with Reishiki it must be remembered that good manners, courtesy and respect must permeate throughout the class.