Etiquette & Rules of the Dojang

It should be understood by members that the purpose of these rules is primarily to ensure maximum benefit for the study of Taekwondo. These rules have been part of Taekwondo from its inception.

  • Bow to your instructor when entering and leaving the school. This is to show respect and your modesty.

  • Do not enter or leave the class without permission from your instructor.

  • Students must always bow before speaking to the instructor and use words of consideration such as yes or no Sir, pardon me, etc.

  • All students are expected to be courteous and understanding. Advanced students are to set an example to new students and to assist such students whenever necessary.

  • Loud conversation, laughing in excess, smoking and chewing gum have no place in a Taekwondo school.

  • Your uniform should be clean and pressed at all times.

  • Exchange greetings between students to create a friendlier atmosphere.

  • Any substitute teacher shall be treated as would your regular instructor.

  • When standing in line, stand to the left or behind a student of a higher grade.

  • Do not engage in any activity that might degrade the code of Taekwondo ethics or the reputation of the school.

  • Do not talk to other students while your instructor is teaching or speaking.

  • Ask questions to your instructor to clear up any difficulties.

  • When returning after a period of absence, the student must seek the permission of the instructor before commencing training. Students who cannot attend class for one week or more should notify their instructor.

  • When seated on the floor, knees should be tucked and hands should be on the knees.

  • Students must remove all jewellery from their person before entering the Dojang to begin practice.

  • Fingernails and toenails should be clipped short to prevent any injury. All students must observe a high degree of personal hygiene.

  • Tuition, grading fees and license fees must be paid on time.

THE BELTS

White

Represents the INNOCENCE of the beginner who does not yet have any knowledge of Taekwondo

Yellow

Represents the EARTH in which the seed of Taekwondo is planted, symbolising a student's latent abilities.

Green

Represents a GROWING SHOOT, symbolising the student's abilities as they start to develop.

Blue

Represents the HEAVENS or SKY towards which the shoot is reaching, as the student attempts to reach beyond competence to excellence.

Red

Represents DANGER, a warning to the student to exercise self-control and for opponents to beware.

Black

Represents MATURITY, the opposite of the innocence of the White Belt.

PATTERNS (POOMSAE)

Patterns are prearranged sequences of attack and defence moves against imaginary opponents. They are designed to improve power, accuracy and speed and to make techniques reflex actions rather than the result of (slow) conscious thought. The names of the patterns for the coloured belt grade (kup) students is from the TAE GEUK (Tal Chi, in Chinese), the ultimate principle in oriental philosophy. TAE means "great" and GEUK means "ultimate" or "eternal". Each pattern represents one of the Eight Trigrams (Pal Gwe) of the I Chin- (The book of Changes).

COLOUR BELT PATTERNS

SAJU CHIREUGI

Four-directional punching; 14 movements, for 9th kup

KIBON POOMSE

Basic pattern; 20 movements; for 8th kup

TAE GEUK IL JANG

Represents HEAVEN and LIGHT (Keon); 18 movements; for 7th kup; perform clearly and methodologically, but fluently

TAE GEUK EE JANG

Represents JOYFULLNESS (Tae); 18 movements; for 6th kup; perform gently but forcefully

TAE GEUK SAM JANG

Represents FIRE and SUN (Ri); 20 movements; for 5th kup; perform with vitality and passion

TAE GEUK SA JANG

Represents THUNDER (Jin); 20 movements; for 4th kup; perform with strength and power

TAE GEUK O JANG

Represents WIND (Seon); 20 movements; for 3rd kup; perform alternately as slow/graceful and strong/fast

TAE GEUK YUK JANG

Represents WATER (Gam); 23 movements; for 2nd kup; perform fluidly and steadily

TAE GEUK CHIL JANG

Represents MOUNTAIN (Gan); 25 movements; for 1st kup; perform with stability but free movement

TAE GEUK PAL JANG

Represents EARTH (Gon); 24 movements; for 1st Dan; perform with strength and unbending force

BLACK BELT PATTERNS

KORYO

Name of a Korean dynasty (918 - I392 AD); 27 movements

KEUM GANG

"Diamond", suggesting great strength; 27 movements

TAE BAEK

Old name of Baek Doo, highest mountain in Korea and site of mythical founding of Korea by Dan Gun; 26 movements

PYONG WON

"Plain"; 31 movements

SIP JIN

"Decimal"; 31 movements

CHON KWON

"Sky"; 27 movements

HAN SOO

"Water"; 27 movements

ILYO

"Oneness"; 27 movements

Counting

Number Command Naming
1 Hana Il
2 Tul Ee
3 Seyt Sam
4 Neyt Sa
5 Tasut O
6 Yosut Ryuk
7 Ilkop Chil
8 Yudol Pal
9 Ahop Ku
10 Yul Sip

Korean Terminology

Commands
Attention Charyot
Bow Kyong-ye
Ready (adopt the appropriate ready stance) Joonbi
Begin Seejak
Stop Geuman
Rest Shio
Return (to previous position, often joonbi stance) Baro
Sit Down An Jo
Turn Around Do Rah
Dismissed Assan
Thank you Gamsa hamnida
Referee commands
Blue Chung
Red Hong
Start matchCharyot, Kyong-ye, Helmets on, Joonbi, Seejak
Break Kal yeo
Deduction (penalty point) Gam jeom
Add one point Il jeom
Injury time Kayshi
Time out Shigan
Continue Kaysok
End of round Ku-man
Win Helmets off. Chung Sen / Hong Sen
Stances Sogi
Short walking stance Ap Sogi
Long walking stance Ap Kubi
Attention stance Moa Sogi
Ready stance Choonbi
Cat stance Bom Sogi
L stance (left / right) Dwi Sogi (Wen / Oreun)
Sitting stance Juchum Sogi
Parallel stance Naranhi Sogi
Back stance Dwit Kubi
Kicks Chagi
Front kick Ap chagi
Front raising kick Ap cha-olligi
Front Turning kick Ap Dolryo chagi
Side kick Yeop chagi
45 Turning kick Bit chagi
Twisting kick Bituro chagi
Axe kick Chiko chagi
Back kick Dwit chagi
Reverse turning kick Bandae dollyo chagi
Crescent kick Bandal chagi
Hooking kick Golcho chagi
Jumping kick Twimyo chagi
Punches Chirugi
Obverse punch Baro chirugi
Reverse punch Bandae chirugi
Turning punch Dolyo chirugi
Upset punch Dwi jibo chirugi
Double punch Du chirugi
Side punch Yeop chirugi
Back fist Dung jumuk
Spear hand Sonkut
Knife hand Son-nal
Ridge hand Son-nal dung
Blocks Makki
Low section block Arae makki
Middle section block Momtong makki
Upward rising block Ilgo makki
Knife hand block Son-nal daebi makki
W shape block San makki
Forearm guarding block Palmok daebi makki
Wedging block Hecho yo makki
Inside forearm block An palmok makki
Outside forearm block Pakat palmok makki