Edmonton Taekwondo Class Expectations

Preparing for a Positive Martial Arts Experience

What To Do Upon Arrival

  • Take shoes off & place neatly on the racks provided
  • Change rooms are available as you enter the reception area from the boot/shoe room
  • It is important to take out your card in so that your attendance can be entered into the computer for reference
  • Put your card in the box provided so that it can be stamped for your reference of what classes you have been to
  • Enter warm-up gym/viewing area and wait to be ushered in. You may do warm-ups or practice while you wait
  • Running or horseplay WILL NOT BE TOLERATED
  • Know the regulations and follow them (see dojang regulations)

Student Behavior

In addition to these students need to practice simple etiquette that enhance the atmosphere, communications and show respect to follow student.

  • Show respect to others
  • Respect your instructor and higher ranked students
  • Respect the dojang
  • Respect your opponent
  • Enter the dojang properly
  • Bow to the flags, higher ranked students, and instructors
  • Clean hands, feet, short nails
  • Always wear a clean white Dobohk (uniform)
  • Don’t wear sharp things like rings, earrings etc.
  • Don’t drink, smoke or eat in the dojang (This is a SMOKE FREE facility. All food and drink should be consumed only in the Kitchen area for easy clean up)
  • Behave correctly at all times (This means being respectful and polite AT ALL TIMES)

Class Schedule

Spirit Taekwondo prides itself on providing flexibility in time slots offered each day, elements to be worked on will vary each day (i.e. Monday may be sparring Thursday may be patterns), classes are geared specifically for the level the student is at i.e. Children beginner, Children Sr. belt.

Taekwondo Speaks

Words used in the Taekwondo dojang (gym) will sound very different (see counting and terminology and commands to help you understand the language)

Regulations of the Dojang

  • When entering or leaving the dojang, all students must salute the National and Association flag, then bow to Instructor or Senior Black Belt
  • When entering or leaving the dojang, students must bow to instructor, whether or not he sees you, and Black Belts in order of seniority. You must always bow to any senior belts
  • When bowing to instructor or Black Belts, you must always stand at attention, never from a sitting position
  • Students will maintain a serious attitude at all times
  • No profanity or loud talking is allowed in front of the Flags, Instructor, Black Belts, or anywhere in the dojang
  • Students must address Instructor and all Black Belts as “Sir” or “Ma’am”
  • Alcohol, drugs, smoking, chewing gum or candy is forbidden in the dojang
  • Personal hygiene is essential. Fingernails and toenails must be kept trimmed
  • All higher belts are expected to help lower belts and answer any questions
  • Permission must be given by Instructor or Senior Black Belt, before sparring is allowed
  • Members are expected to attend classes regularly
  • No jewelry will be worn during class
  • Uniforms and belts must be worn in the dojang during training unless permission is given by Instructor or Senior Black Belt
  • Uniforms must be kept clean and school crest worn
  • During class you must never face the Instructor, Senior Black Belt or Flags while adjusting your uniform
  • Members should offer to clean the dojang from time to time
  • During class, permission must be given by Instructor or Senior Black Belt before leaving class

Counting in Korean

  1. One – Ha-na
  2. Two – Dul
  3. Three – Set
  4. Four – Net
  5. Five – Dha-sot
  6. Six – Yoh-sot
  7. Seven – Ill-kob
  8. Eight -Yue-dul
  9. Nine – Ah-hop
  10. Ten – Yul

Terminology & Commands in Korean

  • Attention – cha-ryuht
  • Back to attention – bah-row
  • Belt – dee
  • Begin – she-jak
  • Bow kyung – rye
  • End keu – mahn
  • Flag – guk gi
  • Form – poom-se (or) hyung
  • Kick – chagi
  • Instructor – sah-bum-nim
  • Practice hall – do-jang
  • Rank – gup (color belts)
  • dan – (black belt)
  • Ready Stance – joon-bee
  • Relax – she-ut
  • Return to joon-bee – barro
  • School (where TKD is taught) – kwan
  • Start – si-jak
  • Thank you – kam-sha-hap-ni-dah
  • Turn around – di-row-do-rah
  • Uniform – do-bohk
  • Yell – ki-hap

Tying your Belt

The following is for the new students who are still learning the art of belt tying, and those of us who require a refresher. Remember: right over left and under, left over right and under!

  • The belt color depends on the grade the student has reached.
  • The belt is wrapped twice around the waist before being tied into a reef knot.
  • The belt end in the right hand passes overtop the left hand belt end.
  • The right hand belt end then passes under the left hand belt end, with the belt wrapped around the hips.
  • The belt end that passed under the belt in step 4 (now in the left hand) passes over the belt end in the right hand and the passes under this end to create a knot.
  • The end product is a reef knot.