Reiho (etiquette) in kumdo dojang

[ben]

I asked this question in another thread but thought it deserved its own.

I'm interested to know at the diffrent dojang represented on this forum, what the etiquette requirements are. Do you have formal sitting meditation and bowing? Do you bow to joseki/kamiza?

What do you do and how strongly is it emphasised?

b

[Old Warrior]

Bow on entering, bow to the Master, bow to flag as you walk on the floor. Class lines up - standing bow in unison, first to the flag (40 deg), then to the Master (30 deg). Class ends, muk sang (mukoso), ends with a bow to the floor in seiza. As the class is lined up we again bow to the flag, then the Master (saying thank you in unison) and lastly to each other (saying thank you to each person).

Is that enough etiquette? I, of course left out all the bows to each person you practice with and all the "thank you"s, as well as all the apologies for off target hits and special thanks for bits of help from the Master. It's a regular bow-fest.

[Kaoru]

Hi!

Wow, I am glad this thread is up. I've been wondering how much it is emphasized in other dojang myself. I am a Kumdo practitioner whio has been doing so for 4 months now. In our dojang, it is done almost exactly like in Old Warrior's dojang. Except, Mokuso is not done. I didn't know it was called Muk sang, either. We only bow to each classmate once in awhile. Also, while his dojang bows to the flag, we do not. He has us put a hand to our chest in salute. I keep wanting to bow though, and I have to remember not to.(That's because when I used to do TKD, we bowed to it, and it stuck.)

In our Kumdo dojang, the etiquette is fairly relaxed during class, outside of what I mentioned above. I came from a very strict TKD dojang, and etiquette there was strongly emphasized, so that has taken a long time to get used to. However, I still prefer to hold on to strict etiquette and follow it still.

Kaoru

[Raígma]

Hm... OW and Kaoru... do you have any belief in this flag you are bowing to?
I just imagine how it would feel if I had to bow in front of the german flag.
I guess I wouldn't feel comfortable with it.
Don't get me wrong I am not against a bit pride of oneself and maybe the country, but still I don't think that a country can represent my opinion that much that I would be so honored to live in it.
(At least not this country)
Since this is Germany it would all look a bit Nazi like again. We lost all nationalism here and I don't think it was too bad though all people are more or less on their own now and don't feel united. Oh well...
But still... it may reduce racism. At least in my case I think it does (Though I may not be able to judge that.)
I would appreciate to hear your thoughts.

[Old Warrior]

The idea, as clearly published in the website for our dojang is "Respect for ones country". The Master is here on a special visa for "persons of execeptional ability." The US and Korean flags fly side by side. When I salute the flag, I am saluting the US flag and I am very comfortable with that idea. My country is not perfect and it could stand considerable improvement, but it provides me with a home, safety and freedom - for which I am grateful, thankful and a patriotic citizen.

[Raígma]

I guess I am just too anarchistic. Patriotism comes from movies to me so I just don't like the word. No offense please... just my opinion.
Thanks for the answer, it helped me understand since you are american.

[Kaoru]

Hi,

Well, in our dojang, the reason for saluting the flags(since we don't bow), is the same as in Old Warrior's dojang. I am ok with it, because it is out of respect for one's country.

Raigma-san, don't worry about it. You opinion is respected. :) I read your first post, and I can understand your reasons.

Kaoru

[Ben F.]

I asked this question in another thread but thought it deserved its own.

I'm interested to know at the diffrent dojang represented on this forum, what the etiquette requirements are. Do you have formal sitting meditation and bowing? Do you bow to joseki/kamiza?

What do you do and how strongly is it emphasised?

b

It is much the same in the dojang where I teach and my teacher's school. Opening ceremony is much like OW said. We don't have meditation during the class, as Kaoru pointed out. My teacher tends to be more relaxed when it is just he and I. I come originally from a very traditional aikido school so I emphasize correct etiquette probably more than others.

Speaking of manners, I was helping one of the juniors last night with his pattern and he wasn't even close to listening; looking around everywhere but where I was and paying attention to what his buddy was doing on the other side of the room. I thought, "Ya know I would be well within my rights to make him drop and give me push ups..." but I also realized he is a teenager with the attention span of a gnat so i let it slide this time. If it happens again, I may have to head it off at the pass. Definitely needs some work.