Student Etiquette and protocols
At the Tao, we set high consistent standards that encourage students to strive for excellence in their thoughts, words and actions. Each student increases their awareness of behaviours that promote respect, acceptance, and harmony. *Dojo or Dojang refers to the matted training areas.
General Etiquette
Respect for all. Equal respect for everyone regardless of their behaviour.
Use of Heart~Mind when making decisions, blending emotional intelligence and intuition with logical and creative thought.
Communication that is supportive, and truthful.
Understand compassionately the feelings and needs of fellow students. Let empathy and honesty be your guide when dealing with self and others.
Instructors are addressed as Sir, Sensei, or Instructor so and so. Students are asked to respond to instructors politely, followed by “Sir”. Examples: “Yes Sir”, “Thank you Sir”.
For safety reasons, children are asked to stay off the mats unless they are in class.
Please no talking during coaches corner and muc do (meditation routine)
Please leave footwear in the boot room on the shelves upon entering the Tao. Please ensure your child's shoes are labelled.
Medications, EpiPens, inhalers etc. are to be held in fanny packs that are clearly marked with the student name. These packs are to be placed, with the instructors knowledge, at the dojo where you are training.
Adult Students: Bags/valuables can be kept under the chairs along the side of the dojo during your class.
We have a few lost and found bins - ask us where!
Students are expected to be in uniform during independent training hours.
Injury and Health Concerns
Please let the office staff and/or instructors know of any injuries and health concerns you may have. Be sure to self-advocate and the instructors will do their best to modify drills and activities to suit your ability. If you need to pause your training due to an injury or health concern, please contact the office.
Arriving Late
While promptness is preferable, we would rather you come late than not come at all.
If you are late, please follow the following procedures for safety reasons:
Little Ninjas: Please have your child wait until the instructor invites them to join the group.
Juniors-Teens: Please bow onto the dojang, and wait at the side of the class in sho position (standing with hands behind your back) until the Instructor invites you in/directs you in a warm up.
Adults: Please bow onto the dojang, perform mucdo (meditation routine), follow the warm up exercise sheet on the whiteboard and then, for safety reasons, please respectively wait until the Instructor invites you in.
See videos on the right for instructions: “How to Bow onto the Dojo Floor" and “How to Mucdo". For more videos, please visit our YouTube channel here.
Attendance
Attendance is taken by the Instructors during class.
Little Ninjas: Classes are counted toward colored stripes on their belt.
Juniors-Adults: Classes are counted toward belt progression.
Please click here for more information on belt progression.
Service Dog Protocols
The service dogs will wear Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines vest. The dog is leashed to the handler and keeps an eye on the recipient, on call in case they are needed. (When the service dog is working for a child, the child is the recipient of the dog's services and an adult is the dog's handler, giving the working cues). While service dogs are a beautiful, quiet animal and dog lovers may be tempted to approach them, we have to ask you to resist. In case you aren't sure, here are some guidelines about how to interact when you see a service dog with its handler (and/or recipient).
(1) Interact with the handler NOT the service dog. When the dog is wearing a vest, the dog is working. Service dogs may look at you or sniff if you are sitting or walking by, but ignore the dog as it is collecting information about the environment and should not be distracted.
(2) Do NOT touch, make eye contact with or feed a service dog. Distracting a service dog can prevent the dog from attending to its handler (and/or recipient) and put the service dog team in danger. In addition, service dogs are often maintained on a specialised diet and can become ill when exposed to other food.
(3) Let a sleeping (service) dog lie. Even if the dog is resting by the handler, the dog is “on call" waiting to hear the next cue or watching for signs of danger or concern.
(4) Respect the handler's (and/or recipient's) privacy. Working dogs are not common so while you may be curious, try not to ask personal questions about the health, disabilities, or needs of others.