Student Handbook

Dojang Etiquette

• Bow when entering and leaving the dojang
• Address instructors as Sir or Ma'am
• No shoes on the mat
• Phones silenced
• No food or drink on the mat
• Arrive five minutes early
• Tell the instructor if you have to leave early

Uniform

• The white dobok is required for class — it is included when you enroll
• A clean, pressed uniform shows respect for the dojang
• Belt tied correctly at all times
• No jewelry during training
• Long hair tied back
• Replacement and additional uniforms are available at the school

Attendance

Progress follows attendance — the students who show up are the students who move up. Students train one, two, or three days a week depending on the plan their family chose, and the belt ladder assumes they are showing up for those days.

• A minimum of 12 classes is required for each graduation
• Let us know when a student will miss class
• An extended absence without notice may mean reviewing material before testing at the current rank
• Make-up classes can be arranged by appointment

Twelve classes works out to about four weeks of training at three days a week, six weeks at two days, and twelve weeks at one day — so students on every plan can meet it inside the three-month graduation cycle. Training more days a week simply gives you room to spare.

Stripes

Between belts, students earn stripes on their belt as they demonstrate each piece of the curriculum for their rank.

• There are 6 stripes per belt
• All 6 must be earned before a student graduates to the next belt
• Stripes are awarded by the instructor in class as the material is met — forms, technique, terminology, and conduct all count
• Stripes make progress visible between graduations, so a student can always see how close the next belt is
• See what each of the six stripes covers — creed, forms, basics, self-defense, count kicks and breaking, sparring and wrestling

Testing and Promotion

• Belt graduations are held every three months
• The testing fee is $82
• All 6 stripes and the 12-class minimum must be met before a student graduates
• The invitation to test comes from the instructor — a student tests when they are ready, not when the date arrives
• Each rank has its own time at rank and its own requirements; the belts page lays out the whole path
• Family and friends are welcome to watch

Code of Conduct

• Respect every student and instructor in the dojang
• No bullying, inside the school or outside it
• What is learned here is never used to bully — that is the whole point
• Students represent Bulsajo in the community
• Black belt candidates are expected to show leadership and give time back to the community

Your First Class — What To Expect

• Wear comfortable athletic clothes; the uniform comes with enrollment
• Arrive about ten minutes early
• Parents are welcome to watch
• The instructor will walk you through the basics — no experience needed, and everyone in the room remembers their own first day
• Tell us about any medical condition or injury before you step on the mat

For Parents

• Support from the sideline quietly — leave the coaching to the instructor
• Trust the process; ranks are earned at the student's pace
• Bring any concern to the instructor privately and we will sort it out
• Encouragement only during class

Questions

Anything not covered here, just ask — no question is too small. Call or text 561-915-0815, or see the frequently asked questions.