In Martial Arts we set specific boundaries in the environment we create. We do this for our own benefit and growth. The very first boundary we set relates to entering the dojo (studio.) There is nothing special or mystical about the boundary of the studio, but it is the entrance to the environment we create. So, we bow out of respect as we enter.
Just like the entrance to the studio, so it is the same with our family. When our children were first developing, soaking up information left and right, Diana and I began taking their hands and we held them together and would yell "Holcombs forever." That may seem like a Marvel Universe childish action, but I would tell you that we created a tradition. Our girls knew two things as we repeated that phrase over and over. They knew they were Holcombs and we were a team forever. As people we want to belong and we want to know we are strong. Creating traditions comes in many forms. This family tradition was not to keep others out, but to build us up as a team from within.
Another reason for bowing before entering the dojo (studio) is to create a safe environment. It gives us the ability to see someone entering our dojo that looks or acts differently. When someone comes in the door and doesn't bow, it simply gives us a heads up that they are unfamiliar with our traditions, our methods and thus we automatically approach that person with a certain measure of caution. Not good or bad, just caution. Boundaries within our families help us prepare for the unknown that come our way each and every day.
This is the Martial Arts of Life!
