Lesley Jackson wrote:
Hello, I had an interesting issue raised in my after-school TKD class today and wondered what other readers thought on the subject.

The school I teach in has a large Muslim cohort and therefore, so is some of my class.

One little lad who started today brought up the subject of bowing in class, something we always start the formal lesson with. He pointed out that he wasn't sure if his religion allowed him to bow to another person as it could be construed as another form of worship. I haven't come across this before as none of the other Muslim students have ever mentioned it.

I said that as far as I understood, bowing was an act of courtesty and much like the shaking of hands in European culture.

So I was wondering, what does the forum think about this?

Also, have you ever come across any cultural issues in your martial arts classes?
Was hoping someone else would put their iron in the fire before me on this one.

Personally, I don't approve of bowing or salutations except as a measure of non-religious respect, like boxers 'touching gloves'.
I don't se myself as being damned to hell for doing so though.

I have in the past had to kneel and bow to the founder of Aikido's picture and such like, which grated with me on an integral level.

Surely everyone, with any religious bent should object to bowing in Asian Martial Arts.
Does the Bible not talk about 'Graven Idols' etc?