Bowing to "shomen" is one of the basic manners in karate. In old time every
dojo used to have a small shinto alter on its front wall. Nowadays not many
dojos have alters, so people just bow to front of the venue for showing their
respect or thanking to the place.
In the last competition some people were bowing to strange direction.
It was not a direction to the front of the court, nor of the gym, but there was a
"Welcome to yo--kan tournament" banner on some slantwise of the gym.
Do they believe shomen means banner or flag of the club?? Its a sad thing
that these small misunderstandings spread out players and audiences,
then ended up they will become common sense.. What do you think?
