Club Rules

Our clubs are part of a group of other local TaeKwon-Do clubs under the banner of Revolution TaeKwon-Do. We are all members of the International TaeKwon-Do Council (the ITC). Membership of the ITC includes vital insurance cover,  without which students cannot spar, compete or grade; membership of the ITC is obligatory for all students. For further details of the insurance policy, please ask us.

During training sessions you will see students ‘lining up’ or doing ‘line work’. Students line up in what we refer to as ‘grade rows’, with the most senior black belt student at the front right of the class, and then moving down through the grades until you get to the white belt (beginner) students at the back of the class. This is a traditional way of training and is used by most martial arts – it also means that less experienced students can watch and learn from the more experienced students in front of them! Don’t worry if you can’t remember where to stand to start off with, higher grade students will always be happy to help out and point you in the right direction – they don’t bite! (Well, generally!!).

There are some other formalities that will be expected of you as a Tae Kwon-Do student (again, we don’t expect you to remember all of this straight away!):

It is traditional that instructors and higher-grade students from blue belt and above should always be referred to as ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’ during training sessions. This reflects the military foundation of the art.

Students are also expected to observe the following conduct in the dojang (training hall) in order to maintain an orderly and effective training hall:

  • Bow upon entering.
  • Bow to the instructor at a proper distance.
  • Exchange greetings between students.
  • Bow to the instructor upon forming a line prior to training.
  • Bow to the instructor upon forming a line prior to dismissal.
  • Bow before leaving the dojang (training hall).

Again these formalities are a tradition that reflects the art’s military foundation, and you may feel a little odd doing it at first, but you do get used to it!

Now we come to the official club rules. Please read through them, I won’t test you on them, but these are things you need to know!

The Rules

  • 1. All students must have applied and paid for their yearly licence after their first four weeks training.
  • 2. Subscriptions must be paid by the 15th of every month. Failure to do so will incur a penalty fee. The build-up of arrears is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
  • 3. Only undertake activities under the direction of the Instructor to ensure the highest possible safety for yourself and others in the class; incidents arising from inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in expulsion.
  • 4. Always act according to the Instructor’s directions in class.
  • 5. Stopping to take a break, have a drink or leave the dojang for any reason without the instructor’s knowledge or agreement is unacceptable unless in an emergency.
  • 6. Mobile phones must be turned off during all classes unless by prior agreement with the instructor.
  • 7. All students should arrive 5 minutes before the start of the lesson. Avoid arriving late to a class if at all possible; it is traditional for the instructor to give a student who arrives late 10 press-ups for every minute that they are late, unless the late arrival has been authorised prior to the lesson.
  • 8. Attendance—students should achieve at least 75% attendance, based on training twice a week as 100%. Less than 75% attendance will either double your grading time or disqualify you from grading altogether.
  • 9. An instructor approved dobok must be worn during training in the dojang. The wearing of tracksuits or other clothing is not permitted, unless prior permission has been obtained from the instructor.
  • 10. Suits (doboks) should be clean and ironed for each training session.
  • 11. Belts should be worn to every lesson. Students who forget their belt must wear the purple belt of shame.
  • 12. Where appropriate to the grade, sparring equipment should be brought to every lesson.
  • 13. Finger and toe nails must be kept short and long hair should be tied back.
  • 14. No eating or wearing of jewellery (rings etc.) is permitted during training.
  • 15. No smoking is permitted whilst wearing a dobok, regardless of the place (dojang, tournament, demonstration etc.).
  • 16. Your belt should be removed if eating or drinking whilst you are wearing your dobok (at the discretion of the instructor).
  • 17. Let the instructor know upon arrival to the club and prior to training if any medical circumstances have changed at any time, or injuries occurred within everyday life that may affect your ability to train (no matter how minor).
  • 18. Entry into gradings will depend on a student’s attitude, attendance and the Instructor’s discretion, as well as technical ability.