Aisatsu

Today was the first day back at the dojo, so there was a lot of aisatsu, or greetings, for the New Year. Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu. Kotoshimo Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu.  But greetings are very important in dojo etiquette, to show respect. And to show respect one must greet (and bid farewell) to everyone individually.  You might think greetings have nothing to do with martial arts, with strength or with combat, so it is worth quoting Shotokan karate master Hirokazu Kanazawa at some length:

“Karate, as a whole, begins and ends with the “greeting” (aisatsu), as a sign of respect for one’s opponent. In kumite, if one respects one’s opponent, there is no need for fear. And kata also begins with the greeting. When the right and left hand are brought together in greeting, this signifies the unity of ying and yang, purity and impurity, strength and flexibility, and the mind sees everything clearly without discrimination.  At the same time, the greeting is a peaceful sign indicating that one bears no weapons. On the other hand, however, the greeting is also a type of image training, showing constant preparedness to confront opponents coming from any direction.”

“In essence, the “greeting” is the feeling of being one with the universe.”