Reiho: bows and conduct
Reiho (礼法) is the etiquette that makes keiko possible. It is the bow to the dojo, to the sensei, to the partner, and to the shinai. In a Hong Kong grading, a correct cut with a confused entrance still loses trust. Learn the order your dojo uses, then read the etiquette page before a first visit.
The main moments
Bow at the entrance. Bow toward the kamiza or the front your dojo indicates. Bow to the sensei. In seiza, the shinai is placed as you were shown, then you bow to the partner. At the end, the order reverses. Sonkyo in shiai is the same spirit in a match.
What grading watches
Examiners notice a missing bow, a shinai dragged on the floor, and a person who starts cutting before the command. They also notice whether you help the line move calmly. The exact commands on the day follow the association and the examiners in the hall.
HKKA exam note
This page follows widely published FIK and AJKF practice. Eligibility, which kata are set, the place, and the scoring in Hong Kong follow the current notice of the Kendo Association of Hong Kong, China.
Common losses
Bowing to the wrong direction because you copied another country video. Talking in the line. Adjusting the men after sonkyo has started. Forgetting the bow when you are nervous is human; practising the entrance ten times in the week before is the remedy.
Before a first visit
Read the Hong Kong dojo etiquette page, write to the dojo, and arrive early. Watch one class before you ask to join the line. Do not film unless you were told you may.
Frequently asked questions
- Standing bow or seiza?
- Both exist. Your dojo and the exam hall decide which moment uses which.
- What if I forget?
- Stop, bow, and continue. Do not hide it.