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When to Bow

• When entering or exiting dojang. When entering the dojang, stop just inside the entrance and bow toward the training area as a sign of respect for the school and as an indicator that you are now entering the world of Taekwondo. When exiting the dojang, stop just inside the entrance, and bow toward the training area as a sign of respect for the school and as an indicator that you are now re-entering the civilian world.

• When first meeting a more senior belt than yourself, including your instructor. As a greeting, bow to each senior belt you meet for the first time during a training day. After the first meeting, bowing is not normally required. However, if making some special request from the instructor or a senior black belt, it is proper to bow. Some instructors want students to bow each time they speak directly to him or her. Do not always expect the instructor to return the bow since instructors sometimes talk to a hundred students a day. Usually, any bows used after the first one to the same person are quick, courtesy bows.

• When entering or exiting instructor's office. Some instructors want students to bow when entering or exiting the instructor's office.

• When entering or exiting training area. Each time you step into the training area, bow toward the center of the training area as an indication that you are ready to forget everything in your life and are entering your training frame of mind. Each time you step out of the training area, bow toward the center of the training area as an indication that you are exiting your training frame of mind

• When class begins and ends. Although it varies from school to school, there are typically one or more formal standing or kneeling bows given at the beginning of class. See protocol topic for more information. Usually the first bows are to toward the ceremonial wall as a sign of respect to Taekwondo, its founders, and those who have come and gone before you. Then bows are made in respect to the instructors. Sometimes a bow is made as a sign of respect to fellow students. All these bows signify that you are ready to train. Although it varies from school to school, there are typically one or more formal standing or kneeling given at the end of class. These bows signify that the training session is over.

• When working with a partner. Each time you start working with a new partner, it is proper etiquette to bow to him or her and then bow again when you finish. Some schools bow when passing a piece of equipment to another student.

• When sparring. Each match begins and ends with a bow. After committing a foul, bow to opponent. At start of last round with an opponent, bow to opponent. Bow to opponent at other times it seems fitting.

• When performing a pattern. Each pattern begins and ends with a bow.

How to bow

• Motion. Bend at the waist, keep back straight, and do not bob your head. Inhale when bowing, exhale, and inhale while raising up. The breathing helps convey your sincerity through your body language. Bow smoothly, both while descending and ascending, do not jerk back upward.

• Hands. Hand position varies according the protocol of individual schools. Some schools let arms and hands hang naturally at the sides, some schools keep arms and hands straight down the sides of the legs, and other schools use various types of hand positions, such as the enclosed fist position. Hands are never, never slapped on the sides of the thighs.

• Eyes. When bowing as a sign of respect and trust, such as in the traditional bow, the back and neck are kept straight, so the eyes are lowered. Eastern cultures consider looking up with your face when you bow to be rude. When you bow to an opponent in class or completion, you never expect an attack, and you would never bow to an attacker anyway, so always lowering the eyes in a bow is the correct way to bow. However, some, me included, think that when facing an opponent, even in a controlled environment such as in class or a tournament, that you should maintain a warrior spirit that prepared for battle by only bowing slightly so you may keep your eyes on your opponent (do not bend so far you have to bend the neck to look up). In a combat bow, you are still bowing as a sign of respect, but you watch the opponent. As President Reagan said "Trust, but verify."

• Words. Normally, you do not speak while bowing except for short statements, such a "Yes sir!," "Thank you ma'am!," etc.

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