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礼 Rei
Because the birthplace of karate, Okinawa, is now part of modern-day Japan, karate inherits the Japanese language, terminologies, customs and traditions. The embodiment of the physical karate training does not go without the embodiment of the karate etiquette.
The rei (礼; bow) is the main form of greeting in Japan just as shaking hands is in the west. Similarly, in karate, karateka (手家; karate practitioner(s)) will bow to one another as a form of greeting upon meeting or departing, and more importantly as a sign of respect.
Customarily the kohai (後輩; junior(s)) will rei first and lower than their sempai (先輩; senior(s)), and even lower to someone of higher seniority, for example their sensei (先生; teacher(s)). The sensei will normally give the instruction “kiwotsuke” (気を付け; attention) for all to ‘stand to attention’, followed by “rei” where everybody bows, then by “yoi” (用意; ready) or “kamaete” (構えて; posture) for all to stand in ‘ready position’.
正座 Seiza
The seiza (正座) is the formal traditional Japanese way of sitting:
座礼 Zarei
The zarei (座礼) is a bow from the seiza (正座) position.
