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THE DOJANG

As we mentioned earlier, dojang is the Korean word for taekwondo school. If you’re serious about learning taekwondo, you’ll probably spend a lot of time at the dojang and with your sabumnim, so be sure to choose a dojang that you feel comfortable with. Not all dojangs will look the same, but let’s go over some of the things you can probably expect to find there.

DESCRIPTION

All dojangs will consist of a large open room, usually with a hardwood floor but sometimes with a padded or carpeted floor. There will be separate changing rooms for boys and girls, and maybe even a separate room where you should leave your backpack and shoes. There usually won’t be many decorations in the room, though each dojang will probably have a Korean flag and your nation’s flag on the wall. There may also be mirrors or some training equipment around and possibly trophies on display.

Whether your dojang is big or small, modern or traditional, there are rules of behavior that they all share.

RULES AND ETIQUETTE

Your dojang is a special place, and you should think of it as your second home. Because it is the place where you learn taekwondo, you must always treat it with great respect. You should never run around inside the dojang, or yell or be rowdy. You should always listen to your sabumnim, as well as to the students who are more advanced than you. But these are just the general rules. Let’s go over some of the rules a bit more closely.

The first thing you must do upon entering the dojang—even before you bow—is to take off your shoes. This is because you will practice in bare feet, and you don’t want to track in dirt and small rocks that might cut up your feet while you’re training! The floor is kept very clean. It takes a lot of hard work to make sure that you and the other students have a clean, safe surface to practice on, so be sure to keep your shoes off and not to bring in anything that might make a mess, such as food or drink. If there isn’t a place to store food or drinks at the dojang, keep them in your backpack—that way other students won’t accidentally uncover them or knock them over, which could cause a big mess.

When you line up for class, be sure to leave plenty of space between yourself and the students around you. The rows should all be neat and even. This is important for two different reasons. The first reason is that lining up in straight rows helps you stay centered and focused—try concentrating on your moves when you see students jumbled all around you! The second reason is that staying in neat rows ensures that you won’t accidentally hit another student while practicing.

Training Tip

Your dojang is more than a gym—it is where you learn taekwondo, and therefore a place of great respect. You must be on your very best behavior in the dojang.

Be sure to listen carefully to your sabumnim and to the students who are more advanced than you. You will need to know how to do each move exactly; otherwise, you will have a very hard time advancing. So be sure to give the speaker your full attention.

When you’re in the dojang, you can’t just come and go as you please. This means that you must ask permission to leave early. If you’re not feeling well, if you have an appointment, or if you need to leave before the end of class for any other reason, you must talk to your sabumnim first. This is so that he knows exactly where you are, and it also shows that you are a responsible person.

Finally, the most important rule. You’ll hear this a lot—both in this book and from your instructor—but it can’t be stressed enough: Never practice your kicks, punches, or other moves on your friends, or on other students who aren’t prepared or aren’t as advanced as you are. Your sabumnim will pair you with a partner who is appropriate for you, and you should respect your sabumnim’s choice, even if you’d rather practice with one of your friends. If you are caught using your taekwondo moves outside of class in a way that is not appropriate, you could face very severe penalties, which might include being banned from the dojang. You should always keep in mind that taekwondo students try to live with honor and respect, and they never use their moves unless they have no other choice.

HOW TO ACT TOWARD THE TEACHER

Your taekwondo teacher, or sabumnim, is someone to whom you should show the utmost respect. This means that you should bow to him, pay close attention to what he says and does, never interrupt him when he’s speaking, and address him as “mister” or “master” (for example, “Mr. Smith” or “Master Smith”). While you should feel comfortable asking your sabumnim questions, you should try to approach him only when it’s really important. If you have a question, ask the other students—including the most senior student—before asking your sabumnim. This is also a way of showing respect to your

sabumnim; by only going to him with the most difficult or important questions, you’re showing him that you understand that he is busy and that he should only be consulted on important issues.

Training Tip

You should never ask your sabumnim to teach you new moves—he will instruct you at his own pace, and when he feels you are ready.

HOW TO ACT TOWARD OTHER STUDENTS

When you are just beginning taekwondo, the students with more experience will look out for you and help you practice and perfect your techniques. You should show these students great respect, but you should also consider them as older brothers or sisters— people who want you to do well and will be there to help you, but who will also challenge you and expect you to work hard.

Once you have been at the dojang for a while, new students will join, and suddenly you will be the one showing others how to do things! You should take your role as a leader seriously; help these students learn the proper etiquette inside the dojang, and assist them when they are struggling with the stances, kicks, blocks, and punches that you once struggled with.

All students who practice taekwondo are part of a special family. You must treat the students around you like brothers and sisters. This also means that you are responsible for one another’s actions. When one student in the class is not behaving properly, all of the students feel bad and are punished by doing at least ten push-ups. And if one does something especially well, such as winning a tournament or receiving an A on a test at school, everyone feels proud. Therefore, you should always be on your best behavior in the dojang, and you should try to help others be on their best behavior, too.