Your Dobak (Uniform) should be brought to class clean
and unwrinkled. If it becomes disheveled during class,
the student should turn away from the instructor between
exercises and straighten it, retying the belt if necessary.
It is not considered acceptable, or wise, to wear the
uniform outside of the school, for it can be interpreted as
a form of bragging, or an invitation for a challenge, or
relinquishing the element of surprise in a truly life
threatening situation.
Upon entering the dojang, a student stands at attention
with the right fist over the heart and directs a bow toward
the flag to express loyalty.
The student should then locate the instructor and, with
hands at the sides of the body, bow in his or her direction
to show respect.
In many Asian cultures, shoes worn outside are not worn in
the house. So it is within the dojang. Shoes are removed
at the door and placed in a designated area, to be retrieved
as one leaves.
The dojang is a place for serious study for all participants.
It is disrespectful and in most cases unacceptable to
arrive to class late unless the student has gotten approval
from the instructor prior to his/her class.
The student should allow enough time upon arrival at the dojang to
dress, be properly stereched and ready to begin class at
the scheduled time. Any time a student must be
exempt from part of a class or must be excused early, he or she
should inform the instructor before the class begins.
Bows are made before and after formal exercises, drills and sparring
practice, and each time the student enters or leaves the classroom area.
This indicates honorable intentions, sportsmanship and respect for classmates as well as instructors.
At the beginning of class, students line up across the
room from left to right beginning with the highest-ranking
individual, facing the instructor. The class will be called to
attention (Char-yot!) by the highest ranking student, who
will then order them to bow (Kyung-nae).
All students bow to the instructor who then will begin the class.
At dismissal time, the same observance is followed with the
addition of the phrase " Kam-sa-hom-ni-da" (Thank you
very much) as the instructor leaves the floor. The class is
finished by the senior student, who calls the class to
ready stance and releases the students with the phrase
"suop git"