Student Etiquette
Entering the Do Jang
Upon entering the Do Jang, pause by the entrance, face the flags and salute by making a fist with the right hand across the chest with palm facing the heart and bow in the direction of the flags. This demonstrates respect and appreciation for our country, our style, our training, and the country that produced the development of our style. You should perform this discipline upon entering and leaving the Do Jang.
General Rules of the Do Jang
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to class starting. Arriving early will give you time for stretching before class.
No jewelry is to be worn during class, with the exception of wedding rings, religious items, and medical identifiers.
There are no shoes permitted in the Do Jang (training room) for any reason, they must be removed prior to entering. This applies to anyone entering the Do Jang, not just students.
There is no food or drinks allowed in the Do Jang(training room). This also means no eating or chewing gum during class.
Do Balks should be clean and pressed at all times. It is important to give a good impression of our art and a neat appearance is important in this respect. A high degree cleanliness should also be maintained among members. Members should take care to pay respect to their bodies and keep themselves clean. Fingernails and toenails should be clipped and kept short to prevent injury while fighting
If you are late to class, wait by the entrance for the instructor to allow you in. When allowed to enter, fall into the back of the line and join the class in progress.
When you enter and leave the Do Jang, turn, face the flags and salute.
Pay attention to your instructor during class.
There should be an absence of unnecessary noise in the training hall. Students should remain silent, try to quiet yourself mentally and physically. Turn your thoughts to training, create an atmosphere of Jung Sook (internal peace).
While seated on the floor members should keep a proper posture conductive to health. Hands should be placed on the knees with the back straight and legs should be crossed in front with the feet tucked beneath thighs.
Salutation – Much importance should be attached to salutation. It is an integral part of Tang Soo Do. While training, one should esteem and pay respect to one’s instructor, senior members, and opponents. One should not lose prudence, self control, patience or composition. Before and after exercise or contests, the participants should turn around, adjust their Do Balks, and make a correct salutation to their opponent or instructor.
During practice members should observe decorum and orderliness. The training hall should always be kept clean in order and well ventilated.
Warm-up exercises should be practiced by member prior to training in order to prepare the body and mind. An unprepared body could be strained under the rigorous Tang Soo Do exercises. When training is terminated students should relax themselves with a series of exercises to help them return to a calm and normal state.
Basic Actions – in order to promote improvement in skill one must learn the basic actions and practice them constantly until they are perfected. Concentration and work must also be expended by students to master the various forms in order to promote themselves. Through forms and basic actions, precise and accurate techniques will result. It should be remembered all Tang Soo Do techniques depend on basic actions and forms; learn them properly and apply them in your free-fighting.
Class Information
Starting Class
Students should line up according to rank and seniority with the highest ranking member to the right.
The highest ranking member in the class will call the commands.
During class, proper respect and discipline shall be maintained at all times and Tang Soo Do ritual should be followed in a uniform manner.
When the chief instructor enters the training hall the highest ranking member in the class should call the class to attention and have the class bow. After respect has been paid, the class should return to training or warming up, whichever the case may be.
When a student comes to class late he should wait until he is recognized by the instructor, then approach him, bow, and get permission to join the class.
When a student must leave the training hall during training, he should first receive permission from the instructor.
If a student has to ask the instructor anything, he must first approach a senior member to gain permission. A chain of command should be instituted and not breached for any reason. A member should never approach an instructor directly.
Dismissing Class
Students should line up by seniority and rank and the highest ranking member should call the commands.
Turn to salute the flag.
Meditation.
Turn to bow to the instructor.
Entrance of a Sa Bom Nim
During the class, upon the entrance of the Sa Bom Nim or the chief instructor the most senior member of the class will call the class to attention “Cha Ryut” and command * “Kyong Ret.” The class will then recognize the Sa Bom Nim with a bow.
A respectful relationship between instructor and student or between senior members and junior members is always maintained regardless of location (in or out of Do Jang) or dress (in or out of Do Balk).
Entering the Sa Bom / Kyo Sa Nim’s Office
Never walk into your instructor’s office unannounced. Always knock first at the door and wait for instructions.
Upon seeing the instructor the student bows from the attention position.
Student stands until recognized by the instructor (if asked to be seated the student may sit) then student begins conversation.
Student remains standing at attention during conversation unless otherwise instructed by the Sa Bonn/Kyo Sa.
It is the instructor’s responsibility to show respect to his student by extending the courtesy to him to be seated before the conversation begins.
When the conversation is concluded, the student thanks the instructor and proceeds to walk backward (not showing his back to the instructor) until he reaches the door. The student bows before exiting.
No student should seat himself at the instructor’s desk at any time (whether in the presence or absence of the instructor).
The conversation between the instructor and the student should always maintain a tone of respect, and of words “Sir/Madam” should be used regardless if you are in or out of your Do Balk.
Test Days
What to expect and what is expected of you
On test day, students and family should observe the same rules of etiquette as they would for a normal class day
Punctuality: Please try to arrive on time for test days as it is scheduled for a time and that there are many people, some from other schools, testing that day and that interruptions in the test for students arrive late is a distraction and inconvenience for the students and judges.
Test day can be a nervous one for students and family alike. The school will seem extra busy with many people coming in at the same time and finding seats and preparing for the test. That is why it is even more important that we take the time to remember the etiquette rules so that school and everyone who trains there receives the honor and respect they deserve.
Make sure to inform your guests of the school’s rules so that they are not caught unaware by them.
Noise: It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of watching the test, but we ask that spectators try to keep conversations to a minimum and at a low volume - the students are testing and that can take great focus and concentration. Unnecessary and loud noises can be distracting to them and could cause them to lose focus and make crucial mistakes. This includes electronic devices (which should be turned off or on silent mode for the duration of the test).
Photos/videos: While we understand that everyone loves to have photos or videos of their student taking the test, please be discreet about it during the test. We ask that spectators please not encroach upon the testing area in order to take photos - it is distracting to the students and could be potentially dangerous for both student and spectator. Also remember to be courteous while taking photos/videos to make sure that you are not blocking other spectators attempts at getting photos of their student(s).