TRAINING HALL ETIQUETTE
(Dojang Ye Jol)

If the instructor is late for a session, the most senior student present should line up the class and commence training sessions promptly with a warm up until the instructor arrives.

The command to begin lining up is ‘chul-sa’

Students should line up according to rank, starting with the highest rank at the front right hand side, continuing leftwards along the first row, then filling in behind. The number of students per line will depend on the size of the Dojang or class, and will be directed by the instructor. Students without complete uniforms on are outranked by those in correct uniform. It is expected that students will move along the line to accommodate higher-ranking students. When the instructor is ready and at the front of the class the instructor will call the class to attention (‘charyot’), and then bow (‘kyong-ye’).

If high-ranking Taekwon-Do people and/or special guests are in the training hall during a class, they stand behind the teacher during lining up and bowing. Guests who do not practice Taekwon-Do are asked to rise as a gesture of respect but they are not expected to bow. The guests turn to face the students when the teacher does.

Any students arriving after the lines have been formed will take the next available place at the back of the class, regardless of grade, to avoid disrupting those who could be bothered to turn up on time.

In order to determine rank, the following criteria are used:

• Higher grades are senior to lower grades
• Within the same grade, the earlier date on the grade or degree certificate determines seniority
• If two members hold the same grade or degree and their certificates were issued on the same date, the one who started practicing Taekwon-Do earlier will be considered senior
• If the above criteria are not decisive, the person with the earlier date of birth will be considered to be senior

If a student arrives late to the class or re-enters after After The Class for any reason they should bow and wait for the instructor to allow them to enter. This is not only good manners, but is also for safety reasons.

If a student needs to leave the class for any reason they should first get permission from the instructor, normally by raising their hand. They should also seek permission before breaking training, e.g. to get a drink of water.

The only exception is where the situation is drastic enough not to allow time for permission to be sought, e.g. the student is about to be sick. In this case they should alert someone else, who can then bring it to the attention of the instructor.

When the students are lined up, if the instructor calls out a student to the front they should not walk through the lines; rather they should take one step back and walk to the nearest end of their line and proceed to the front down the side of the class. On arriving at the front they should come to attention and bow to the instructor.

When re-joining the lines they must bow to the instructor, take three steps backwards, then turn and move back to their space as above but in reverse.

It will sometimes be necessary to interrupt the class to acknowledge the presence of a senior instructor or master. The protocol for this is to stop whatever the class is doing (‘goman’), turn to face the senior ( ‘sabum nim kkeh’ for an instructor, ‘sahyun nim kkeh’ for a Master, or ‘saesun nim kkeh’ for a Grandmaster), then come to attention and bow as above. When the senior has acknowledged by returning the bow, the class will either await further instruction, or be instructed to return to whatever they were doing, as appropriate.

No jewellery, watches etc to be worn during class.
No smoking or gum chewing inside the dojang.
Students must keep finger and toenails clipped short and clean.
Uniforms should be kept clean at all times, and ironed for gradings.
No horseplay, whistling or loud talking in the dojang.
Never lean on walls or lay spread out on the floor unless while exercising.
Students should behave in a disciplined manner while training. Never lose your temper in the Dojang - especially during sparring.
No talking during class except to ask a question. Before asking a question raise your right hand to attract the instructor's attention.
While in the dojang, always address the instructor and assistants as Sir or Ma'am, or 'Mr' or 'Ms' using the instructor's surname.
Respect all members of senior grade.
While fixing your dobok or belt turn 90 degrees to the right.

At the end of the class the instructor will command the students to line up, which they should do promptly and without any distractions or talking. Students will adopt a relaxed stance while the instructor addresses them if required; they will then be commanded to come to attention(‘charyot’), bow(‘kyong-ye’), and are then given the command to dismiss(‘hae-sahn’). At this point they may approach the instructor with any informal questions.

When the class has finished and the class is dismissed, students should help clear away any club equipment that has been used before attending to their own gear, and should tidy up any litter they may have created (tissues, empty bottles, etc) and take it with them to dispose of appropriately.

If there is a class following directly after training, all students should gather together their belongings and exit the hall as swiftly as possible to allow the next class to begin on time. Any questions, getting changed, idle chatter etc should be kept until the student has exited the dojang.

When leaving the hall after the class, students should bow to the instructor, or if not present to where the instructor would normally stand at the beginning of the class.