What type of rules has everyone come accross in their kwoons/dojos?
How many stupid rules can you list, as well as necessary ones?
Would you add/subtract any rules to your current dojo if you could?
Do the rules tell you anything about the teacher, students, or the atmosphere?
Rules, rules, rules
My former Gwoon had a lot of rules.
No talking on the training floor (understandable, it could be distracting and disrespectful).
You could only enter the Gwoon 15 minutes before the start of your class. No sooner.
Lateness, no kung fu shoes, forgetting a piece of your uniform (i.e. leaving it in the locker room or at home), leaving personal items in the locker room after class, etc. were all punished by doing anywhere from 35 to 100 knuckle push-ups.
These are just a couple. It was a very disciplined place.
To me these rules (specifically the last two above and others like them) indicate a controlling personality. Discipline and respect are fine, but they shouldn’t be force fed down a student’s throat. Ostensibly all the rules and regulations were in place to create a mysterious atmosphere where you could learn the “esoteric” martial arts. In reality they were there to hid the fact that the school was a farce. It looked pretty on the outside, but was rotten at the core.
Our school is really pretty laid back and not too formal.. Sifu is of the opinion that if you can’t have fun then you’re missing the point.. so our rules are pretty simple.
You must wear your uniform to all school functions, check shoes for grunge before entering traing floor, bow in and out, bow to sifu when he enters the training floor during class, don’t ask to be shown the ‘next move’- the teachers will know when you are ready for it, don’t teach anything from the school w/o sifu’s permission and don’t practice forms from other schools while on the training floor.
no talking?
some thoughts…
No talking on the training floor? So if you had a question about something you were doing you just mimed the question?
As far as asking to be shown the next move , that is understandable, but at some point I think the person knows what he/she has to do, they simply dont have it right yet. A more open dialoge allows the teacher to gauge when the student is bored with a technique/form, or at least knows it well enough to practice at home.
No talking amongst yourselves. You could ask a question of the Sifu or one of the senior students. Though they generally preferred that you did that after the class was over.
They definitely subscribed to the theory that Sifu knows all and he’ll tell you what you need to know.
We also have a very laid back Sifu… which shouldn’t mean he’s lax at all in training us.
We’re allowed to talk on the training floor, unless we’re being given a demonstration or explanation… of course that’s understandable… it is rude to speak while someone else is.
We’re also encouraged to ask as many questions as we like. If Sifu doesn’t feel we’re ready for the answer… well.. he tells us that:) I’ve generally found he will answer anything I ask as long as I ask it privately. (I’m one of his more “senior” students, and so the answers to my questions might confuse a beginner more than help) I don’t think that’s unreasonable either.
We also bow formally when we enter/leave the kwoon, and a quick, smaller bow when we enter the training area. That’s just simple respect.
We bow to Sifu when he gives us new knowledge, or any help/instruction. That’s not a rule… that’s just being polite and respectful.
We are definitely not allowed to teach anything from the kwoon without Sifu’s permission. But this is also a respect issue. It tells the instructor that you think you know it well enough to teach it… which in fact you may not 
Fun is a big part of it. Sifu always says “Relaxed power is infinitely better than tense power.”, so when he sees someone becoming very tense and intense, he always breaks the tension in some way.
Other rules? Nothing I can think of, really. Most of it just seems like common sense.
Hau Tien
I am not so sure discipline isnt a good thing in a kwoon. I think it is more the intention that is important. Martial arts takes discipline. In the last few kwoons I have been in the discipline has been non existant and the time wasted is plentiful.
When I was taking Karate we had a few simple rules. No talking during practice, except to ask questions or whatever (this was a good one, it kept people focused and attentive.). If you were late you did pushups, good for general health anyway, almost essential for a good martial artist, no harm done.
We bowed to the instructor before and after class, to show respect. We bowed to each other before sparring and such, again for respect.
We had to have clean uniforms and we had to wear them. If you didnt have proper footwear you went bare foot, to save the mats.
Most rules atleast come from a desire to institute a little discipline in the kwoon and to keep common courtesy and respect for equipment and other members. The way I figure it, if you feel they are stupid, go to another kwoon. just my 2 cents worth.
Discipline is fine…to an extent. There can be too much.
My new school is very laid back. I respect my Sifu a great deal and I listen to and respect my seniors. Its a more comfortable atmosphere. We can talk amonst ourselves, but when Sifu is speaking to us, we listen.
My attitude is: if you really want to learn, you will. Discipline or lack thereof will not change that.
Hai_to - I defnitely agree with you, I think it can be too much, and I also think there is something to be said for a relaxed atmosphere.
But, lets say you are an instructor and you have two things on your mind, the first is that this is your time, and your life. You make a living doing this. If you dont make good students then you dont have the ability to show people you know your stuff and can teach it.
The second is that you have the students interest at heart. If you train mostly young people, they like to talk and goof around. This is fun but there is a place for it, in the kwoon they are paying money, or if they are younger, thier parents are paying, and you may not want them to be wasitng thier time.
Anyway, like you said, there can definitley be too much, and sometimes it can be a power trip, in that case get the heck out because it probably isnt worth it anyway.
I agree
Red5Angel,
I agree. There is a place for both types of schools. In my old school, that is all the Sifu did. The school was his way of making a living. I can understand that he wouldn’t want to waste his time teaching a bunch of goof-offs. Discipline there is important.
In my new school, my Sifu teaches because he loves to teach. I don’t think he’s making a living at it since there aren’t that many students and he only teaches twice a week. In that case, he’s a little more relaxed because the only person who would be hurt is yourself.
There always has to be a moderate amount of rules and discipline. No one can learn under total anarchy. It just depends on the degree.
I helped formulate the rule of our kwoon, so none of them are stupid :).
Most of them are basically surrounding safety and respect for other students and teachers. Only a few pertain to dress codes etc. There are one or two rules regarding the reputation of the school.
Too many rules are no good - people should be responsible for themselves but most of all they should enjoy the training.
Here you go…funny this topic came up because I just helped my Sifu update the school rules. I’m publishing this because I think it might help some people when they have their own school. It is difficult to establish a balance between discipline and a relaxed atmosphere. Most of it is common sense but people never cease to amaze me…:rolleyes:
In general…
-Students will refer to and introduce their teacher as Si Fu.
-Students should refer to other students who started training before them as
Si Hing & other students who started training after them as Si Dai.
-All students must bow to Guan Gung, Si Gung and Mr. Frank Ho before and after training.
-Si Hing will not teach Si Dai without Sifu’s permission. Students of the same level should help each other.
-Do not use any equipment without permission of the instructor and return all equipment when you are finished using it.
-Eating or smoking in the school are only allowed with Sifu’s permission.
-Vulgar language and behavior are not allowed in the school.
Before class…
-If you must leave class early let the instructor know before class starts and leave quietly when its time to go.
During class…
-Students will bow to the instructor at the beginning and end of the class.
-Students are expected to show the instructor of the class the same respect that they show to Sifu.
During class contd…
-Students will be dressed and ready on time. Any student more than 20 minutes late will be considered absent and will sit out for the rest of the class.
-During designated class times everyone will train with the class.
-All students must wear a designated Washington Kung Fu Club uniform to class
(including shirt, pants, sash and shoes.)
-Students will present themselves in a clean and neat matter.
(eg. long hair tied back, fingernails trimmed, uniform clean and maintained ,etc. )
-Do not wear any earrings, rings, necklaces, watches or unsecured eyeglasses.
-Cell phones and pagers must be turned off or put in “silent mode”.
-Guests and visitors must stay in the couch/TV area near the stairs when class is in session.
After class…
-Students will pick up and fill out their attendance sheet and return it to the instructor.
-All students must bring their uniforms, shoes and street clothes home after each session. Any items left after class will be placed in the lost & found box and discarded if not claimed.
Outside of the school…
-Students will not teach to kung fu to non-students without Sifu’s permission.
-Fighting, bullying or “showing off” are not allowed. Kung Fu will only be used for self-defense or to help other people in danger.
-When visiting other martial arts schools, performing or attending other public functions students will behave in a respectful manner.
Conclusion…
-SiHing are responsible for Si Dai understanding these rules.
-Failure to follow these rules could result in extra conditioning, loss of privileges, dismissal from class or expulsion from the school.