Etiquette

Etiquette is a very important part of Hapkido. The respect shown for each other, to your instructor, to your Dojang and to the art of Hapkido itself is what distinguishes a martial ART from a martial SPORT.

It is important to respect your fellow students and your instructor. Other students are not in the class for your own personal target practice. They have the same personal aspirations and hopes as you do. They partake in the same art of self-defence and thus a certain comradery is developed.

Instructors are not superhuman. They have gone through many years of hard work and effort. Thus, respect should be shown to your instructor in recognition of their rank and skill.

Your Dojang is a place where many people have trained, it represents the tradition and continuity of the practice of Hapkido.

Once you enter the Dojang, problems of work, schools, differences of race, religion or anything that could interfere with your training should be left outside. This is how you show respect to your Dojang.

Humility is also a very important part of learning Hapkido. This does not mean that you should grovel to your instructor. It just means that when you are humble, your mind is not full of your own opinions and thus is flexible enough to accept the lessons of Hapkido.

The following are not rules, they are merely suggested and traditionally accepted ways of showing respect.

• Bow to your Dojang before entering and when leaving.

• Bow to the flags before and after the class.

• Bow to your instructor before and after class.

• Bow to your partner before and after training together.

• Bow to your partner before and after sparring. If a clean point is scored during sparring, pay respect to your partner by bowing in recognition and resume sparring.

• Don't lie down or slouch around the floor of the Dojang. It is a place of discipline, not your lounge-room floor.

• Always wear your uniform fully. Don't train or walk around the Dojang with only half of your uniform on.

• Don't wear shoes in the Dojang and ensure that visitors don't either.

• Don’t wear a watch during class. There is a clock on the wall.

• No smoking, drinking or eating in the Dojang.

• Ensure that your uniform is always clean and tidy.

• Ensure your nails and toenails are trimmed and any jewellery that could injure your partner have been taped up or removed.

It is also expected that the sense of respect that you develop and exhibit in Hapkido does not stop once you leave the Dojang.