Chang Hon Kwan Taekwon-Do is taught as a “traditional”
martial arts class. By definition, traditional martial arts classes are very formal and function in a military manner. The
opening and closing ceremonies are also very military and follow the tradition the art is based upon. There are small variations
in the commands given, and these are almost always associated with variations in the rank of individuals instructing or leading
the class at the time.
When the class lines up, they form up in rows facing the front of the “do-jang” (gymnasium). The number of rows and the number of students in each row are determined by the size
and shape of the room as well as by the number of students. When facing the front of the “do-jang” the students
line up by rank from their right to their left, forming rows from front to back. Therefore, a student will always line
up to the rear and/or left of their seniors. The instructor will be in the front of the class facing the students, and
will be in the center of the front row. The American flag will be located somewhere in the room, preferably at the front.
When
the instructor or one of the senior students commands the class to line up (chung-neol), the class will form lines in the manner described above. The opening ceremony for the class may begin
when the class configuration is formed with all of the students in their proper place by rank. The job of the most senior
student is to lead the class and issue commands to the class on behalf of the instructor. It is also the job of the
most senior colored belt students to ensure that these commands are followed in a rapid and military manner. In a well-run
class, students will attempt to emulate examples of etiquette and respect set by their seniors. In a disciplined traditional
martial arts class, this behavior is always present, and the job of the senior colored belt students takes care of itself.
Following
the centuries old principles of oriental custom, it is disrespectful to sit down before one’s elder/senior sits down,
or stand up before one’s elder/senior stands up. For opening and closing class, you will note in several of the
examples below, this type of etiquette and respect that exist in a traditional Taekwon-Do class. These include: juniors
always bowing prior to the senior bowing, juniors bowing lower than their senior does, rising up after the senior rises up,
as well as kneeling down and standing up after the senior. It is also disrespectful to issue commands to one’s
senior. Therefore, the senior student only issues commands for the class to perform a particular motion after the instructor
has already completed that motion.
There are four classes of Black Belts that may be involved in the instruction or leadership of
the class. There is also the possibility that a senior colored belt student may be involved in the operation of the
class. Examples of the differences in addressing each of these seniors are listed at the end of this web page. In a
traditional class, the correct method for addressing each of these instructors or seniors is as follows:
Grandmaster Instructor (sa-seong) 9th Degree Black Belt
Master Instructor
(sa-hyeon) 7th thru 8th Degree Black Belts
Instructor
(sa-beom) 4th thru 6th Degree Black Belts
Assistant Instructor (bu-sa-beom) 1st thru 3rd Degree Black Belts
Senior
Student
(seon-bae) Senior Student
The following are examples of the opening and closing
of a traditional Taekwon-Do class which is being instructed by a 5th Degree Black Belt, with the senior student being a 1st
Degree Black Belt:
Opening Ceremony for a Chang Hon Kwan Taekwon-Do Class
The senior student orders the class to line up (chung-neol).
The
class forms up in lines with equal spacing between the students.
After
each line is formed, the students will assume a parallel
stance
in an “at ease” position.
At an indication from the instructor (usually coming to attention),
the senior student orders the class to come to attention (cha-ryeot).
The
entire class comes to attention at the same time.
After the instructor turns to face the American flag, the
senior student orders
the class to face the American flag (guk-gi-e dae-ha-yeo).
The entire class turns to face the American flag at the same time.
After
the instructor salutes the American flag by putting the right underfist
over his/her
heart, the senior student orders the class to salute
the American flag (gyeong-nye).
The entire class salutes the American flag at the same time,
by
putting their right underfists over their hearts.
After the instructor drops his/her right arm
and assumes his/her original position
facing the class in an attention
stance, the senior student orders the class to
return to their previous position
of (ba-ro).
The entire class drops their right arm at the same time, turns toward
the
front of the class, and comes to attention.
After the instructor kneels down in a sitting position, the senior
student orders
the class to kneel (an-jeo).
The class kneels down one row at a time – the first row kneeling down first,
the
second row kneeling down second, and so on. When kneeling down,
the student first place the left knee on the ground beside the right foot,
then places the right knee on
the ground next to the left kneel before
sitting back.
The hands should not touch the floor.
At
an indication from the instructor (usually by bowing his/her head), the senior student
instructs the class to meditate (mung-nyeom).
The entire class bows their head and meditates. During this time,
the
student should turn their focus to the class ahead. All thoughts
or
concerns about other things in their daily lives should be pushed
off
until the class is finished. This meditation time should be used
to
ensure that the class training is not interfered with. It also ensures
that
the student has time in their life to escape from their daily pressures.
After an
appropriate amount of time, the senior student will end the meditation by
rapidly
clapping his/her hands together twice.
After the instructor rises and assumes a parallel stance in an “at ease” position,
the senior student orders the class to return to their previous position of (ba-ro).
The class rises up one row at a time, and assumes a parallel
stance in
an “at ease” position – the first row rising up first, the second row
rising up second, and so on. When rising up,
the student first brings up
up the
right foot, placing it next to the left knee, then
stands up bringing
the
left foot next to the right foot. The
hands should not touch the floor.
At an indication from the instructor (usually coming to attention), the senior
student
orders the class to come to attention (cha-ryeot).
The entire class comes to attention at the same time.
The senior student orders the class to face
the instructor (sa-beom-nim kke).
The entire class turns to face the instructor at the same time.
The
senior student orders the class to bow to the instructor (gyeong-nye).
The entire class bows to the instructor at the same time, and
the
instructor returns the bow. All members of the class should
ensure
that their bow is slightly lower than, and just before that
of
the instructor. The students return to the upright position slightly
after
the instructor has returned to his/her upright position.
The
entire class then turns toward the front of the do-jang, and
remains
at attention.
The instructor takes command of the class by asking the class to assume
a
parallel stance in an “at ease” position (swi-eot).
The
class is now in session.
An example
of the pronunciation of the Korean commands in
a complete Taekwon-Do class opening class ceremony has been linked
Closing Ceremony for a Chang Hon Kwan Taekwon-Do Class
The instructor orders the
class to line up (chung-neol).
The class forms up in lines with equal spacing between the students.
After
each line is formed, the students will assume a parallel stance
in
an “at ease” position.
At an indication from the instructor (usually coming to attention),
the
senior student orders the class to come to attention (cha-ryeot).
The entire class comes to attention at the same time.
The
Senior Student will then instruct the class to recite the Tenets of Taekwon-Do,
which the entire class will recite in unison.
Courtesy
Integrity
Perseverance
Self-Control
Indomitable Spirit
The Instructor will then assume a parallel stance with the right side fist
over his/her heart.
The Senior Student will then instruct the class to resite the
Student Oath of Taekwon-Do.
The Senior Student will then assume a
parallel stance with the right side fist over his/her
heart as the entire class does the same. The next five most senior students will then
take turns reciting
one component of the Student Oath of Taekwon-Do, in order and one at a time.
The entire class will repeat each component of the Student Oath of
Taekwon-Do in unison as it is recited by each of the senior
students.
I shall observe the Tenets of Taekwon-Do.
I shall respect the instructors and seniors.
I shall never misuse Taekwon-Do.
I shall be a champion of freedom and justice.
I shall build a more peaceful world.
After
the instructor drops his/her right arm and assumes his/her original position
at an attention stance, the senior student orders the class to return to
their previous position of (ba-ro).
The entire class drops their right arms at the same time, and comes
to
attention.
After the instructor turns to face the American flag, the senior
student orders
the class to face the American flag (guk-gi-e dae-ha-yeo).
The
entire class turns to face the American flag at the same time.
After the instructor salutes
the American flag by putting the right underfist
over his/her heart, the senior student orders
the class to salute the
American flag (gyeong-nye).
The entire
class salutes the American flag at the same time, by
putting
their right underfists over their hearts.
After the instructor drops his/her right arm and assumes his/her
original
position facing the class in an attention stance, the senior student orders
the class to return to their previous position of (ba-ro).
The
entire class drops their right arms at the same time, turns
toward
the front of the class, and comes to attention.
After the instructor kneels down in a sitting position, the senior
student
orders the class to kneel (an-jeo).
The
class kneels down one row at a time – the first row kneeling
down
first, the second row kneeling down second, and so on.
When kneeling down,
the student first places the left knee
on the ground beside the right foot, then
places the right knee
on the
ground next to the left kneel before sitting back.
The hands should not touch the floor.
At an indication from the instructor (usually
bowing his/her head),
the senior student instructs the class to meditate (mung-nyeom).
The
entire class bows their head and meditates. During this time,
the
student should reflect on their training during the class.
This
meditation time should be used to ensure that the lessons
learned
during the class training are not forgotten. It also allows
the
student the time to refocus on their return to daily life outside
of
the “do-jang.”
After an appropriate amount of time, the senior student will end
the
meditation by rapidly clapping his/her hands together twice.
After the instructor rises and assumes a parallel stance in an “at ease”
position, the senior student orders the class to return to their previous
position
of (ba-ro).
The
class rises up one row at a time, and assumes a parallel stance
in an “at ease” position – the first row rising up first, the second
row rising up second, and so on. When rising up, the student brings
up the
right foot, placing it next to the left knee, then
stands up bringing
the
left foot next to the right foot. The
hands should not touch the floor.
At
an indication from the instructor (usually coming to attention),
the senior student
orders the class to come to attention (cha-ryeot).
The
entire class comes to attention at the same time.
The senior student orders the class to face the instructor (sa-beom-nim kke).
The
entire class turns to face the instructor at the same time.
The senior student orders
the class to bow to the instructor (gyeong-nye).
The
entire class bows to the instructor at the same time,
and
the instructor returns the bow. All members of the class
should
ensure that their bow is slightly lower than, and just
before
that of the instructor. The students return to the
upright
position slightly after the instructor has returned to
his/her
upright position.
The entire
class then turns toward the front of the class,
and
remains at attention.
The second most senior student orders the class to face the
senior student (bu-sa-beom-nim kke).
The
entire class turns to face the senior student at the same time.
The second most senior student
orders the class to bow to
the senior student (gyeong-nye).
The
entire class bows to the senior student at the same time,
and
the senior student returns the bow. All members of the
class
should ensure that their bow is slightly lower than, and
just
before that of the senior student. The students return
to
the upright position slightly after the senior student has
returned
to his/her upright position.
The second most senior student then turns to face the class and
informs them that the class is now finished (hae-san).
The
entire class says thank you to the second most senior
student
at the same time (go-map seum-ni-da) and bows
to
the second most senior student at the same time, and
the
second most senior student returns the bow. All members
of
the class should ensure that their bow is slightly lower than,
and
just before that of the second most senior student. The
students
return to the upright position slightly after the second
most
senior student has returned to his/her upright position.
Class has now ended.
An
example of the pronunciation of the Korean commands in
a complete Taekwon-Do class closing ceremony has been linked here.
Variations in Addressing Senior Students
In the examples above for opening and closing a traditional Taekwon-Do class, the instructor was a 5th Degree Black
Belt, and the senior student was a 1st Degree Black Belt. When instructing the class to face the instructor,
the command the senior student used was “sa-beom-nim kke” (face the instructor). In the event that the instructor was of any other specific
rank listed below, this command to face the instructor would be replaced with:
9th Degree Black
Belt
(sa-seong-nim kke)
7th thru 8th Degree Black Belts (sa-hyeon-nim kke)
4th thru 6th Degree Black Belts (sa-beom-nim kke)
1st thru 3rd Degree Black Belts (bu-sa-beom-nim kke)
Senior Colored Belt (seon-bae-nim kke)
When
instructing the class to face the senior student, the command the second most senior student used was “bu-sa-beom-nim kke” (face the assistant instructor). In the event that the assistant instructor was of any
other specific rank listed below, this command to face the assistant instructor would be replaced with:
7th thru
8th Degree Black Belts (sa-hyeon-nim kke)
4th thru 6th Degree Black Belts (sa-beom-nim kke)
1st thru 3rd Degree Black Belts (bu-sa-beom-nim kke)
Senior Colored Belt
(seon-bae-nim kke)
It is however, highly unlikely that a 7th Degree Black Belt or above would ever be in the position of a senior student
in a normal Taekwon-Do class. In the case where a highly ranked instructor or dignitary is involved in
the class, they would most likely be lined up separately. Their position would be to the right side-front of the senior student,
facing the individual instructing the class. In this case, an additional step would be added to the sequence
of both the opening and closing ceremonies. This would include the class also facing and bowing to this highly
ranked instructor or dignitary. The process of bowing to the instructor and the additional highly ranked
instructor or dignitary would be carried out in the order of their relative rank, with the most senior first.
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