General Rules When Training for Tang Soo Do

Members should exercise care in keeping their do bohk clean and pressed at all times. It is important to give a good impression of our art. A neat appearance is important in this respect.

A high degree of cleanliness should always be maintained among members. Members should take care to pay respect to their bodies and keep themselves clean. Fingernails and toenails should be clipped and kept short to prevent injury while fighting. All do bohks should be folded properly upon entering and leaving the dojang.

Click here to learn how to fold your do bohk properly.

In order to promote improvement in skill, one must learn the basic actions and practice them constantly until they are perfected. Students have to master various forms in order to improve themselves. They must also expend their concentration and work.

Through forms and basic actions, precise and accurate techniques will result. It should be remembered that all Tang Soo Do techniques depend on basic actions and forms. Students should learn them properly and apply them when free fighting.

Proper respect and discipline shall be maintained at all times, and Tang Soo Do ritual should be followed in a uniform manner. When the chief instructor of the school or a high-ranking guest enters the dojang, the instructor on the floor or highest-ranking member in the class should call the class to attention and have the class bow. After respect has been paid, the class should return to the training immediately.

When a student comes to class late, he/she should wait until the instructor recognizes him/her. He/she shall then approach the instructor, bow, and get permission to join the class. On the other hand, when a student must leave the class, he/she should first receive permission from the instructor.

If a student has to ask the instructor anything, he/she must first approach a senior member to gain permission. A chain of command should be instituted and not breached for any reason.

In addition, members should observe proper protocol and orderliness during practice. The dojang should always be kept clean, in order, and well ventilated.

Same as with the beginning of the class, students line up according to rank. The senior member gives the same commands that are used to start the class.

When the command to bow to the instructor is given, all members should say the following to the instructor with clarity: Ko map sum ni da! (Thank You, Sir).

The class instructor or senior member then calls: “Five Tang Soo Do codes.” As a response, the entire class should recite the five codes together loudly and clearly.

Then, all members should call “Tang Soo” with their right hands raised. When the instructor dismisses the class, the senior member should take over and say: “Face the black belts.” and “Kyung Yet to the black belts.”

After giving any comments to the class or any warnings, the senior member arranges the class members for cleaning detail. He/she may then dismiss the class.