| School rules The rules are detailed in our membership packet and can be obtained from the instructor. They are about one of two pages long, yet they can be summarized into two rules: Safety Respect Etiquette |
| School Rules and Etiquette |
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| You as a Martial Artist Safety is the number one rule in the school, Dojang, because we care and love one another. When in the Dojang, please do not wear long jewelry, smoke, or chew gum. Finger nails and toe nails should not be too long as to gage others. Also, uniforms should be clean, neat, and ironed if not already pressed, and your belt should not be lying on the ground when not worn. This eqiquette refect you, the Art, and your fellow Martial art family. Also, when adjusting your uniform, Do Bok, please turn around away from the instructor. Entering class Please take the time to come early to help the instructor set up the Dojang. It will be greatly appreciated. As the Red Dragon tradition goes--"If you are early, you are on time. If you are one time, you are late. If you are late, you are dead." Because we less time than we would like together during class, please take this time to stretch and warm up to prepare yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Upon entering the class, take off your shoes and socks and then salute the flag and bow. When arriving late, please wait until the instructor acknowledges you before entering. Then bow to the instructor even if he or she does not acknowledge it. This ensures safety and is respectful to those already in the Dojang. If you must leave early, get prior permission by letting the instructor know. Setting up class The captain, the student of highest ranking after the instructor, stands at the upper right corner of the room. Everyone fills in from right to left according to rank, and if applicable, age. This means that if two people are of identical standing, use age as an indicator of rank. Also, everyone in the furthest right column, or in other words, those starting each row, must ensure that everyone in his or her row is organized. Likewise, everyone in the first row must ensure that everyone in his or her column is also organized. In addition, it is ideal that the spaces between everyone, those in front, in back, to the right, and to the left, are equal. The captain says a series of phrases in Korean. Salut the Flag, "Kuk Gue Ta Hai Yo Kyung Yet," then return to order, "Bah Roh," afterwards bow to the instructor, "Cha Ryut, Kyung Yet." Then let us begin! How to bow While keeping your feet together and avoiding what some of us refer to as "the penguin flap" by keeping your hands to your sides, bow. Also, please avoid starring at others while bowing as it gives them the impression that you do not trust them. Finally, no matter how tempting, please refrain from making funny faces at the person to whom you are bowing to show respect. During training When seated on the floor, please keep a correct posture and do not lean on anything. Most importantly, keep unnecessary noise down and pay attention to those out on floor. The other students will not be disracted by you and in return you will learn a lot. And it is best to sit either while tucking your feet behind your thighs or crossed in front. In addition, while training in class, please be attentive to others around you as to not injure your classmates. When it is necessary to leave the classmroom in the middle of training, let the instructor know and walk around the room at the edges. Especially during belt tests and competition when you are called to be on deck, please walk quickly avoiding turning your back to the instructor(s) and be in Choon Bee, ready stance. If called to be seated from on deck, please walk quickly back also avoiding turning your back to the instructor(s). Always use Korean terminology of Tae Kwon Do. Instructors and students Salutations are quite important and is an integral part of Tae Kwon Do. When the master comes into the room for the first time, the class as a whole will salute him or her as called by the captain. And when addressing the instructor, use "sir" or "ma'am." Please do not interrupt when instructors and other students, both upper and under rank, are speaking. Just like in school, when there is a question, raise your hand. This way you learn much more and frustrate less people, it's an effective system! Finally, when there's an emergency, please do what you need to do, we care and don't want anything bad to happen to you. Dismissal The ending of class is formal as usual. The students line up as they did in the beginning of class according to rank and age with the captain in the upper right corner. The Sah Bahm Nim, instructor, will be at the head of class facing the students. The captain will once again call the commands as done during the beginning of the class. Then the next senior student will have the class bow to the captain. Then, each row will bow to the row behind them until the last row is reached, upon which the students will again face towards the flags and be dismissed. Between classes Keep in mind, your training does not stop after leaving the Dojang. We greatly encourage you to practice your skills outside the class. Fellow students have suggested that watching TV is a great time to stretch and push that limit you have been trying to overcome during class that day. You can also use dressers, walls, or couches to place your foot on for more stretching. Take advantage of our partner stretches with your siblings or Tae Kwon Do friends. Also, outside the Dojang, please remember to use the name Tae Kwon Do respectively. Avoid using terminology from other martial arts since it contradicts the spirit of Tae Kwon Do. |
| Created August 2003 | Updated January 2005 Traditional Korean Martial Arts © 2003-2005 All rights reserved. | vutt@email.uc.edu |
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| NOTE: PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS OF JANUARY 2005 |