First
kanji 正 "shou" means 'right,
correct (נכון)' or 'head (as a position), main'
Second
kanji 面 "men" means 'face, side'
So
"Shomen" means 'Front face, head
side'
If
there is a "Shinzen" in the dojo, the side of the "Shinzen"
is always "Shomen". If there
is no "Shinzen", you have to look around the room and see which side
is the front of the room.
Pictures
of the master of the group/organization or emblem should be on the wall of the "Shomen"
If
there is a tournament out side of the dojo, there is usually no
"Shinzen" in the place. So you need to decide which side will be
"shomen" and the head of the organization and main judges will be sitting
in the "shomen" side.
"Shomen
ni rei" is just like "Shinzen ni rei". You will show the respect
to the organization and to the place where
you are going to use for trainings or for competition.
And
since "Shomen" means 'correct side' , by bowing to "Shomen"
you also swear that you'll face your opponent in a fair manner.
There
is a saying in martial arts:
礼に始まり礼に終わる "Rei ni hajimari rei
ni owaru."
= Start
with a bow and end with a bow.
Courtesy
is a basic idea of martial arts. You
cannot gain anything if you don't have someone to practice with. So you need to
respect your teachers and anyone you train with regardless whether older or younger/more
experienced or less. If there is no respect in training or competition, there will
be only violence.
Osu
To see all "Japanese in Karate"
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