Rules of the Chimo Dojang

Respect

• Show respect to your dojang. Remove street shoes at the front door. Always bow to the flags when entering or leaving the workout area.

• Greet the Master and Head Instructor with a bow as soon as shoes are off and before any other conversation.

• Show respect to all Masters, Instructors and Black Belts by bowing to them upon entering the dojang. Say Sir or Ma’am when addressed by your Master, Instructor or by another Black Belt. Proper bowing should be done to show respect.

• No horse-play (running or wrestling) before or after class or during breaks. This is a time to focus your mind through meditation, rehearse forms or other techniques or to warm up and stretch.

• A positive attitude is expected from all students at all times, no other attitude or behaviour will be tolerated. Saying “I can’t” or “I won’t” will not be tolerated in the dojang, they are defeatist and disrupt effective training. An enthusiastic approach to training and learning is expected and will yield the best results.

• Instructors assigned to teach all or part of any class have the same authority as the Head Instructor and are to be obeyed in a similar fashion.

• Behavior outside of the dojang is expected to be of Taekwondo nature, realizing that the student is an example of their Instructor, dojang, and martial art.

• A student should not stand with their hands on their hips or arms crossed in front of their chest, this is a sign of disrespect and/or improper attitude.

• Students will refrain from idle conversation while practicing. All commands by the Instructor will be answered with a loud “Yes Sir / Yes Ma’am”

• No student is allowed to teach techniques unless given approval in each case/class by the Instructor.

• Students should always (each class) ask permission to use any equipment that does not belong to them, before using it.

Sparring

• If you leave your sparring gear in the club it must be kept neat and in its gear bags at all times. Unattended gear will be claimed as “club gear”.

• No sparring before or after class unless supervised by an instructor.

• Safety is very important while training, competing, or whatever the function, and must be applied at all times.

• Absolutely NO head kicks without express permission and supervision by Master Large.

Uniforms

• Always wear a clean dobok (uniform) and keep finger nails and toe nails clean and trimmed. Come to practice with a clean mind and body.

• Always bring ranking belt to class.

• No jewelry (watches, chains, rings, etc.) while working out.

• Uniforms are not costumes or play clothes and are to be worn for Taekwondo functions only!!

• Students may only wear a clean t-shirt under their dobok, no street clothes or sweats are permitted. Exceptions are allowed for religious and cultural reasons.

• Your belt is a sign of achievement and respect. Your belt should never be discarded or used as a toy and you should make every effort not let your belt touch the ground.

General

• Put trash in proper place. Empty drink bottles and cans are to have caps removed and placed in blue recycling bins. Drinks and snacks are not allowed on the training floor at any time. Students and visitors are expected to clean up after themselves and put trash where it belongs.

• Always respect fellow students by observing the following: Never laugh at or make fun of a fellow student. Never display a bad temper toward a fellow student. Bullying or intimidation of fellow students will not be tolerated and will result in suspension of training privileges.

• No foul language is allowed or tolerated in this school.

• No candy, chewing gum, food or drinks on the workout area.

• Taekwondo is for self defense ONLY!! Any student found to be using any martial arts skills inappropriately will be disciplined up to and including expulsion from the club.

• Students that come in early for class, should stretch out quietly, practice quietly, or go over notes quietly, and not disturb the class that is already in progress.

• Master Large and Master Berakos, in consultation with appropriate Instructors, will assess when each student is ready for their next exam.

• Chimo Taekwondo is a family centered club and welcoming to any and all who wish to join and be a part of our family. Discrimination, intolerance, rudeness, or disrespect of any kind, for any reason, will not be tolerated and the offending party will be required to leave the club immediately.

Parents

• Parents are asked to encourage regular attendance at class.

• Parents are asked not to coach or call out to their children while class is in session. It is the responsibility of the Master or assigned Instructor to encourage and teach the students. Commands or calls from those observing confuse the students and distracts their attention from the Instructor. If you have a concern or question, please feel free to discuss these issues with Master Large or Master Berakos at a break or following the class.

• Please feel free to discuss your child’s behaviour and needs, including those experienced outside the club, with Master Large or Master Berakos at any time.

• We maintain an open door policy at the club and encourage parents and students to ask any questions or discuss any issues that will enhance your experience at Chimo.

Tenets of Taekwondo

COURTESY is the behavior that comes from a respectful attitude. Respect is the attitude that stems from humility. Each student must recognize how much there is to learn and that it is necessary to have someone teach the way. It is respect that will enable the student to be open to learning that comes from the instructor and from the deep places in the heart from where spirituality is nourished. This is why I bow to my Instructor; this is why I bow as I enter and leave the dojang; this is why I bow to myself whenever I practice alone before the wall of mirrors in the dojang or in my basement.

INTEGRITY is the completeness one attains from adhering to a code of values, i.e. sincerity, honesty and loyalty towards oneself and others. Wrong doing can lead to a path of personal deceit and destruction and the feeling of guilt is the conscious mind allowing one to see the error of his ways.

PERSEVERANCE is the nectar of sweat that yields the honey of accomplishment. The martial arts are a lifelong venture. This venture can be begun by the timid; but it can only be continued by those who discover perseverance within themselves. This quality can be learned as long as the student simply says "one more try." Perseverance means that one has learned the art of living with adversity while still keeping one’s sights on goals.

SELF-CONTROL, mastery over one’s behavior, is a vital component in the maturing process. So many children have benefited from their experience with martial arts because they have learned self-control. This enables them to direct their energies in creative ways as attaining better grades in school, more respect and acceptance of responsibility from teachers and parents, and develops a circle of friends based on the positive human values of gentleness and caring rather than rowdiness or intimidation.

INDOMITABLE SPIRIT is the will to do one’s best with all one has, against even the most insurmountable odds. It reflects a personal desire to achieve, through setting goals and living with the results, and resetting goals with the values appreciated through failures.

In the final analysis, it is these five qualities of spirit that will keep the martial artist on a lifelong rewarding journey, regardless of the body’s physical limitations. To develop and to cherish these qualities and then to practice them, will enable the martial artist to face any and all challenges.