St. Louis Division
Respect flows in multiple directions, instructor/student and student/student. Treat everyone with respect. "Yes, sir" and "Yes, ma'am" are expected.
This is your dojang. Treat it as something special!
Gear and spectators may be located along the side or back of the room and the instructor only in the front of the room. If you are a spectator, please watch quietly while the instructor is teaching.
Bow upon entering and leaving the dojang. If you must leave during class, bow out. Please ask permission unless you have an emergency or are sick, then you may leave immediately.
If you are late to class, please warm up quietly and quickly enter class by bowing to the instructor. You should wait for acknowledgement from your instructor unless he or she is obviously occupied.
Line up lowest rank on the left and highest on the right, facing the instructor.
If you have an injury or ailment, please notify the instructor. If something hurts while training, notify the instructor immediately so he/she can help you make appropriate adjustments or provide alternate techniques.
When moving around during class, walk behind others. Be alert to the movement and kicks of other students.
Good personal hygiene is a sign of respect to others: Clean bodies and uniforms, no jewelry, no strong perfumes, no gum or candy. Please have short fingernails and toe nails.
Please wear your uniform and belt to every class. If you don’t own one, loose athletic pants and a sleeved t-shirt are required, no leggings or tank tops. If you are not wearing your gi top, please wear a martial arts or blank t-shirt. No shoes may be worn during partner drills that involve kicking and no training in socks for safety reasons (either barefoot or athletic shoes only).
There should never be conversations of any kind while the instructor is teaching. When training with a partner, please keep conversations to an absolute minimum. Never argue about techniques, ask the instructor.
It is inappropriate for a student (including Black Belts) to offer instruction when he or she is not formally teaching the class or has not been specifically requested to assist by the instructor. Don't try to teach a new technique to another student else unless the instructor asks you to.
If one of your family members is in the class, please treat them like any other student and allow the instructor or his/her assistant to teach.
If you believe that a technique is being interpreted incorrectly by the instructor, never interrupt class to point it out. The best approach is to ask the instructor, privately, during or after class, for clarification.
Always act respectful to other students in class regardless of rank. If etiquette is violated, it is the responsibility of the highest ranked student to make a respectful correction while avoiding embarrassment of the student.
Never interrupt another student's training to ask for assistance. Wait until the instructor is available to help or until the other student is finished with his/her technique. If you have a question, please alert the instructor.
Allow other students plenty of room to train. Sometimes classes can be crowded. It is the higher rank’s responsibility to make sure they do not collide with lower ranks, adult’s responsibility to make sure they do not collide with children. Everyone should be aware and avoid collisions regardless of rank and age.
Please avoid injuries to yourself and to your fellow students. Injuries mean time away from training. If another student is too rough with you, please tell them or the instructor.
When doing partner drills that require close body contact, please be respectful. Please let the instructor know if you feel uncomfortable with any technique.
Always treat a person who once was your senior as if he or she still is, even if you pass them up in rank eventually.
Never request to test for rank. Each instructor will have his/her own procedure for students to follow to determine when they are ready to test. If you think your instructor has forgotten about you, you may respectfully ask him/her to let you know what specific things you should be working on to get ready to test.
If you get it out, put it away.
Do not leave water bottles around the dojang. Throw them away or take them with you.
If you use or borrow gear, clean it.
If you want to use a target or training weapon, please ask the instructor first. Wipe it down before putting it away.
If a student decides they want to skip part of class, they may be asked to remain out the remainder of class to watch.
Mobile phones are a convenience. Silence ringers unless there is an urgent issue that would take you from class. Please hold conversations outside. If you must talk on your phone inside the dojang, please expect us to participate!
Please do not take photos/videos of other students. Some students do not consent to have their photos/videos released.
Prepare for class. Practice all your forms prior to class.
If you need extra time to warm up your muscles before class, please arrive early and do that on your own.
If you would like the instructor’s help or want to ask questions before or after class (5:30 – 6:30), please make arrangements ahead of time, if possible, so the instructor can plan accordingly. Shrewsbury black belt training on Thursdays starts immediately after class (6:30 – 7:00), questions and assistance may have to wait until another time.
If you have any questions, please ask your instructor.
Contact Us
Master Fernando Borrego
6th Dan
Head Instructor - STL Division
email: younwhastl@gmail.com
