Stenzel's World Champion TaeKwonDo/Hapkido Institute.

Common Etiquette Of Our School

  1. Whenever entering or leaving the school (dojang), execute a bow of respect.

  2. Execute a bow of courtesy upon meeting an instructor or black belts.

    Bowing represents humility. You elevate, honor, and respect the other person by humbling or lowering yourself. The lower you bow, the more you are honoring or respecting the other party. A bow should always be returned. To not bow in return is similar to refusing a handshake.

    The person of lower status usually initiates the bow, bows the lowest, and is the last one to rise. The most frequent bow is a rather informal bow of about 15 degrees and is held for one or two seconds. A deeper bow is used for a superior or for a formal occasion as in the case of greeting a black belt. It is usually about 30 degrees and is held for about three seconds. Men usually leave their hands at their sides while bowing, but women usually place them together on their thighs with their fingertips overlapping or touching. Heels should be together. If you rise from your bow and the other person hasn't risen yet, you should bow again.

    In Tae Kwon Do you bow when you get on the mat to show your respect and to announce your presence. And you bow when you leave the mat to show your respect and let everyone know that you are leaving. If it's done in sincerity, it's correct; if it's done absentmindedly, it's incorrect. It's a good thing to take your time and do it with respect.

    At the beginning of a class, students bow to the US and Korean flags and to their instructors to show respect for your country and your instructor.


  3. The title "Mister" OR "Ma'am" followed by the applicable last name will be used in addressing all instructors. When using Korean, address instructors as "Sa Bum Nim." if they are a Master or "Nim" if they are Brown belt or lower

  4. The uniform (dobok) will be clean and complete at all times, (i.e.: jacket, trousers, and belt).

  5. Each class will have a formal ceremonial opening and closing, consisting of a bow to the instructor.

  6. Strict attention is to be given to the instructor at all times. Conversation is to be kept to a minimum during the class.

  7. Proper respect will be displayed to all persons holding a higher ranking belt.

  8. Profanity, loss of temper, horseplay, loud laughing and talking, or any display of lack of self-discipline will not be tolerated.

  9. No jewelry!

  10. Practice only those forms (hyung) which have been presented to you by the instructor. Do not try to skip ahead through observation of higher belts.

  11. Do not inquire concerning examinations for promotion to a higher grade. When the instructor decides that you, as an individual, are ready for promotion, you will be invited to test. The instructor will discuss your progress with you during your training sessions.

  12. No Free Sparring (daeryun) without permission from the instructor.

  13. All free sparring is non-contact!

  14. Tae Kwon Do self defense techniques are not to be applied out of the dojang unless circumstances involving your safety, or the safety of others, are overriding.

  15. Students who are late for class should bow in, do the joy of discipline, and stand at attention until the instructor recognizes then and gives permission to join the line up.

  16. Students should inform the instructor before class when the have a tempory condition such as an injury or illness that may significantly effect their proformance in class.

  17. If a student has a problem during class regarding another member of the school and finds it difficult to settle the matter with the other student directly, the student is encouraged to seek the advice of a instructor. Confidentiality will be assured if requested.


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