Dojang Etiquette

1. No jewellery is to be worn in the Dojang.
   
2. Smoking, chewing gum/tobacco, eating, and drinking are prohibited in the Dojang.
   
3. Everyone must remove their shoes before entering the Dojang. Shoes and other personal belongings are to be kept neatly in the dressing rooms or designated area and NOT left in the school lobby.
   
4. Students should bow toward flags when entering and leaving the Dojang.
   
5. Students should always bow before and after speaking to the Instructor or senior students, and use terms of respect such as "Yes, sir (or ma'am)", "No, sir", "Pardon me", etc. Any Instructor's commands or corrections should be answered with "Yes, sir!" or "Thank you, sir!" (or ma'am as appropriate). If a command or correction isn't understood, wait for an appropriate moment, then politely ask the Instructor to clarify or explain.
   
6. All Black Belts will be addressed formally as Mr., Mrs., or Miss. Instructors are to be addressed as "Sabumnim" or Mr., Miss, or Mrs., and Grand Master Kwang Choi as "Dojunim". Students should memorise the names of their Instructors.
   
7. Students should bow and say "Pil Suhng" as a formal greeting or farewell and not simply say "hello" or "good-bye".
   
8. If Grand Master Choi enters the Dojang, the senior student will call attention, and everyone should turn towards the flags.
   
9. Students should not face the Instructor or the flags when adjusting their uniforms.
   
10. Students should observe common standards of hygiene, such as keeping one's uniform (Do Bok) clean, keeping one's own body clean so as not to be offensive, and keeping nails short and clean.
    
11. Students should move quickly to line up and should stand at attention in order to await the Instructor's commands.
    
12. Profanity, obscene gestures or actions, unnecessary roughness toward a fellow student, loss of temper, or other actions unbecoming a martial artist are strictly prohibited.
    
13. If accidental contact is made during training, students should stop and bow to one another as an apology, and for the other to show acceptance.
    
14. Loud conversation, laughing in excess, and other horseplay has no place in a Choi Kwang-Do school.
    
15. Leaning on walls or rails, sprawling on the floor, and other slouchy behaviour will not be tolerated.
    
16. Never be disrespectful towards the Instructor. Though a student is allowed to disagree with the Instructor, the student must first follow the Instructor and then discuss the matter later.
    
17. All belt promotions must be authorized through your Chief Instructor, Regional Director, International Headquarters, or Grand Master Choi only.
    
18. Always remember that what you are learning is a potentially deadly martial art. Choi Kwang-Do students are never to initiate violence and must conduct themselves in a responsible and courteous manner both inside and outside the Dojang.