Warning: These may change without prior notification. Please check constantly.
PARENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES
Please come in and sign your child in and out of class.
If your child does not go to school because he/she is sick, etc., please notify us by text message or email.
There will be no adjustments for days not attended unless classes were cancelled by DSA.
Please ask permission to interact with your child while class is in session.
Check our lost and found weekly if your child has lost any items.
Please be sure to write your child’s name on the inside waistband of the pants, and the collar of the top of their uniform. All equipment and belts must also be marked.
If you wish to cancel the program, 30 days notice before the next payment is required.
No refund is granted once payment has been processed.
RULES FOR STUDENTS
For your safety, avoid getting too close to the mirrors and walls.
Follow all instructions and directions that are given by your Instructors.
Bow upon entering and leaving the dojang from the door. Also, bow to your Instructors before receiving instructions.
Always obey and respect your Instructors, Parents and senior/higher belt students. Always bow and greet the Masters and Instructors whenever and wherever you meet them.
Address your Instructors by their last name (e.g. Mr. or Ms. Andaya, etc.).
Arrive for class on time. If you are late, you must do push-ups before joining your classmates.
Keep your dobok (uniform) clean and presentable. You cannot enter the dojang without proper uniform or a belt. Respect your uniform and belt by not throwing them on the ground.
Students with long hair should tie up their hair.
Always place your outdoor shoes under the cubbies. No shoes allowed on the mats.
Line up according the ranking from the right to the left and the front row to the back. Late arrival should line up to the back regardless of their ranking.
Students should not enter or leave the class without obtaining permission from your Instructor. Wait inside the dojang for pick up. Do not linger outside the dojang.
No horseplay when on the mats. Use inside voices and absolutely no talking when the instructor is speaking.
To prevent injuries, jeweleries and watches are not to be worn during training. Finger and toe nails should be kept short.
If you have any injury, tell your Instructor before class begins. If you are injured during class, report it to your Instructor right away.
Food, alcohol, tobacco, chewing gum, loud conversation, negative behavior and foul language are strictly prohibited in the dojang.
During sparring classes, you must wear a full sparring gear (including mouth guard and groin guard however uncomfortable they may be) as they are for your safety and the safety of your sparring partner.
Do not touch any of the dojang equipment without asking permission.
Students are expected to be polite, honest, and humble and always follow the rules of Taekwondo.
Never forget that you learn Taekwondo for defensive purposes and never to offend or bully anyone. No bad language or name-calling is allowed at any time.
Never use Taekwondo outside the dojang, unless in self-defense or in defense of someone weaker – and then only use the least force necessary.
Do not brag or boast of your Taekwondo abilities inside or outside the dojang.
Outside of class time, do not TOUCH, PUNCH, HIT, KICK, PINCH (or any other form of contact) another student or instructor.
Remember the first rule of self-defense is to avoid conflict wherever possible.
Seniors must behave and set a good example for the juniors. Juniors must respect senior belts and elders. Acts of dishonesty, deception, deceit or other improper behavior shall result in the student’s termination from the program. This is a ZERO tolerance policy.
GRADING PROTOCOLS
Gradings are generally scheduled approximately once every month but may change as needed.
Attendance requirement. Students must complete a minimum of 3 months and 24 sessions to be eligible to test (6months and 50 sessions for Red to Black Stripe, 12 months for Blackstripe to Black Belt ). You may want to wait and train longer and that is perfectly alright.
In order to fully prepare the student for the test, a Pre-grading tutorial may be requested at least 2 weeks before the event. There will be a pre-agreed upon fee to pay for your tutor’s time and if needed, rental of the space. Your tutor may help you with everything you need to prepare including doing a “mock-Test” if you require it. This tutorial will be provided by the assistant instructor that you prefer.
Gradings will be on the following area: THEORY, FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENTS, ALL PATTERNS, SPARRING TECHNIQUES, SPARRING, BREAKING. As your examiner knows that nerves can be a factor in forgetting some items, you are allowed a maximum of 3 Strikes, except for theory. These 3 strikes can be re-tested once you are ready or at the most, at the time of the next scheduled grading. A strike is not a small mistake, it is something big enough that it warrants a re-test at another time. Should the examiner find that more than 3 items need to be “RE-Tested”, the student is deemed unprepared and must retake the test after a minimum of one month. Test fee must be paid again. UPDATE: If the student does not know their theory (including past theories), the test ends there and they have to retest. This is to emphasize the need to know their theory and not forget them after each test.
SKIPPING. If a students performs really well that they earned a skip to the next belt level, they are still expected to test for the belt that they skipped. This is to ensure that they still know everything they need to know for that level. There is no skip from blue belt on as this is a critical time for training. Do not aim to skip, but rather aim to perform well both physically and mentally.
FEES: Your test fees pays are not payment for your promotion. The fees pay for the facilities, the examiners time to grade you, to evaluate the results of your performance as well as to give feedback on how you can improve for the future.
PATTERNS are our best tool to check that you are retaining what you learn. Inability to perform ALL your patterns perfectly is a huge sign that you are not ready for the next level. Practice ALL your patterns as you will be randomly asked to perform them during the test.
SCORES: A Passing mark is 6.0 out of 7.0. A score of 6.9 and up merits a double promotion.
COMPETITIONS. A medal at a competition will now be rewarded “Immunity Credits” for your next grading. Theory and Patterns. may not be skipped. A gold at a tournament earns you 2 credits and you may choose to skip any 2 of the Grading Areas. A silver gives you 1 immunity credit. A bronze earns you immunity for Fundamental Techniques only. Keep in mind, that you might not be immune on these areas on your next test. Only the highest attained medal will be considered. The instructor has the option to remove these credit awards at his/her discretion. Further, anyone who decides to use immunity credits are not eligible to skip a belt.
These list may be updated without prior notice.
DO’s AND DONTS ON GRADING
· Never ask your instructor/examiner to give you a double promotion or even a promotion. You have to show that you deserve the promotion.
· When your name is called out, stand up, shout “Here Sir!”, bow, and run up to your place. Don’t just walk up as that implies laziness and a less than enthusiastic attitude.
· When doing exercises, always make sure to breathe and to keep in time with the rest of the group.
· Always perform your techniques with the maximum amount of power possible – to do otherwise indicates lack of effort and you will be marked down.
· If you are in the middle of your pattern and you suddenly forget the next move, do not stand to the side and sit out the whole pattern. Rather try and join in with the rest of your group at the next possible move. Your examiner can understand forgetting a move but will have to mark you down more for not knowing the entire pattern. Alternatively – stop, take a deep breath, and start the pattern again.
· When at ease, stand straight with both hands behind your back. Do not fidget, fix your hair, start humming a tune, look around you or adjust your clothing or anything like that, just look straight ahead with your hands behind your back.
· If you are asked a question which you cannot remember the answer to (or you don’t know) do NOT say you don’t know – rather say “I’m sorry sir, but I can’t remember.” Gradings can be stressful and cause you to forget things – the examiner knows this.
· Perhaps the most important: Observe silence during the test. Do not speak unless spoken to by the instructor. Do not chitchat with your peers. Your grading is a serious and solemn occasion. Treat it as such.