Proper Etiquette

It is important to respect yourself, your fellow students and your instructors. This respect involves maintaining a certain level of etiquette during class. Most of the following rules pertain to your safety and the safety of your fellow students and are not optional. Judo is a full contact sport, but is one of the safest due its rules.

• When you first see Mr. Kim or another black belt, always bow and offer a greeting.

• Always answer instructors with “Yes, sir/ma’am” or “No, sir/ma’am”.

• Do not talk during presentations, demonstrations or lectures by Mr. Kim or the other instructors.

• Stand unless instructed to sit. When told to sit, do so in one of the two proper ways:

• Seiza – kneeling and seated on your heals with your hands resting on your thighs

• Anza – seated position with legs crossed and hands resting on knees

• Do not leave the class without the permission of Mr. Kim or an instructor.

• Always be on time for class. If you are late, enter the classroom and wait for Mr. Kim or an instructor to speak with you. Then briefly warm up in the back of the room and join the class.

• Do not walk on the mats with your shoes on.

• No tobacco use or gum-chewing during class.

• Set mobile phones and pagers to silent alert or turn them off.

• Do not curse or use inappropriate language.

Dress

• Students should wear their judogi (judo uniform consisting of trousers, jacket and belt) when practicing. It should always be clean and in proper order for each class with no stains or tears.

• Women: always wear a white, crew-neck, shortsleeve t-shirt or leotard underneath the jacket. The shirt should be long enough to be tucked into the pants. Consider it as much a part of your uniform as the pants, jacket, and belt.

• Long hair should be tied back with cloth or elastic tie. No barettes or ties with metal clasps or bands are permitted.

• Remove eyeglasses and all jewelry. Piercings, necklaces, bracelets and rings, which can wound you or your partner, must not be worn during practice.

• Your personal hygiene should be conductive to physical training with other students. Fingernails and toenails should be trimmed short.

Greeting a Black Belt or Beginning the Class

Senior student says: “Charyeot! Kyeongnye.” (pronounced: cha-ryawt! kyawng-nyay.)

Bow as you say: “Annyeong hasimnikka!” (pronounced: ahn-yawng-ha-sim-nee-kah)

When beginning a class, the senior ranking belt will call the class to attention and give the command to bow. This is a formal way to say “hello” in Korean and the bow is equivalent to a hand-shake. It is also appropriate to acknowledge a Black Belt by bowing and saying “hello” formally. If you see a Black Belt at a distance, it is appropriate to bow without speaking.

Ending Class

Senior student says: “Charyeot! Kyeongnye.” (pronounced: cha-ryawt! kyawng-nyay.)

Bow as you say: “Daedanhi gamsahamnida!” (pronounced: day-dahn-hee-gahm-sah-ham-nee-dah)

When ending a class, the senior ranking belt will call the class to attention and give the command to bow. This is a formal way to say “thank you” in Korean. This is how you with thank Mr. Kim and the other Black Belts for their instruction. Mr. Kim will respond with “Cheonmaneyo.” (pronounced: chawn-mahn-ay-yo). This means “you are welcome” in Korean.

Formal and General Thank You

Bow as you say: “Gamsahamnida.” (pronounced: gahm-sah-ham-nee-dah)

This is a formal way to say “thank you” in Korean. Whenever Mr. Kim or a senior belt helps you, it is appropriate to thank them in this way.

Bow as you say: “Gomapseumnida.” (pronounced: go-mahp-sum-nee-da)

This is an informal way to say “thank you” in Korean. When you finish practicing a technique, it is appropriate to thank your partner in this way.