do i need to bow?

Question

i take taekwondo classes, and I see all the people bowing to the flag when they entered the class and when they leave the class
is that really necessary? cause we would bow after the student creed at the beginning and after the lessons
i don't wanna bow but i feel like i have to when i enter the class with the peers cause they're doing it

Answer 1

The bow is to show respect to the land which has nurtured you. To refuse to bow is to show profound disrespect to the benefits that you have been given. Even if you don't agree with the politics going on now, it is the land which has formed you and provided you with nourishment, and refusing to acknowledge that is extremely rude.

Answer 2

Bowing shows respect, martial arts teaches respect, therefor to be good at martial arts you should show respect. I have 14 years experience with judo and we bow to enter and exit dojo and on and off mats and before and after class, when running we have to run on and off the mats and we will even bow then. Its a respect thing and if you cannot do something as simple as respecting the traditions of your sport than you might as well quit

Answer 3

Well being in martial arts most of my life. I would say this you need to do anything your sensei tells you to do. Its half the point of martial arts. To have discipline at all times. Now if you have a question for your sensei take him to the side and ask him. Most will listen and answer you fully. Bowing to the flag also shows respect for your country or the country of origin the style came from.

Answer 4

Bowing to anyflag is a sign of a miltaristic based system.

You should be bowing to a picture of your grandmaster.
Your master's master.

To remember your roots, and who made this possible.
To remember ALL of those WITH and BEFORE you.
To honor the common goal of having control.
To show you are respectful of where you came from.
With out those before you, and those you practice with, You and your "art" are nothing.
You cant be an art by yourself.
You need to show it to someone.
Even if its only once, and to your master.
Thus, It MUST have came from somewhere else.
Sure Sure, you can be, and exist by yourself without people once your alive and nurtured. Couldnt be born by yourself.
So "Some" traditional martial artists, keep this in mind when bowing. Some do something I dont understand. Practicing a martial art, without showing respect to the teacher, is blasphemy.
Its a slap in hte face. BUT FLAGS and countries however, can exist through a UNION of supporters. America exists because of AMERICANS. Do martial arts exist because of a country?
No. It exists from the practitioners. They can ALSO be members of a country, but the art cant be part of a counrty.
Why? Because countries only exist because of MULTIPLE people.


Simple.
We bow because they say so.
They teach us because we lack control, or the ability to kick a-s.
We came ot them because we think they know more and can teach us. We better honor them. They might stop teaching us, and kick our ***.

NOTE:
you can bow with total lack of respect.
be assertive and Physically bow good.
but when you get home, you can scoff.

IF that is your choice.
but I think it would be robbing oneself.

Answer 5

Absolutely. Bowing isn't just a custom, it is a sign of respect--for your peers, the space you're training in, your instructors. Bowing is a key part of martial arts because it teaches individuals to respect others as well as themselves. Rule of thumb--better to bow too much than not enough!

Answer 6

in taekwondo you have to bow to 4 things:
your master
all other black belters/poom belters(below 16 years)
the direction of korea
your national flag

its basically like saying hi to the country when you bow to the flag. you need not bow too low, sometimes i just bend my head a bit. just like you nod when u need someone you know.

Answer 7

Bow and show respct to your art, the land it came from and most importantly your school and instructor

Answer 8

I'd say.. u should follow the culture there.. If u're in india and the people are eating with their hands, maybe u should follow, and when u're in asia when u enter temples, u should take off ur shoes.

Answer 9

i guess so!! it is probably a sign of extra respect!!