The Dobok: Uniform Rules, Care and Dojang Etiquette Explained

Every new student has the same unasked questions. Which way does the jacket fold? Can I wash this? Why is everyone bowing at the door?

Here are the answers, so you can walk in already knowing.

What a dobok is

The dobok is the Korean martial arts uniform — do meaning the way, bok meaning clothing. A Japanese gi serves the same purpose in Karate and Judo.

It is loose for a reason: it has to permit full-range kicking and gripping without restriction, and it has to be durable enough to be grabbed.

Most schools, including ours, give new students a free uniform and white belt on enrolment, so do not buy one before you start.

Wearing it correctly

• Left over right. The jacket always folds left side over right. Right over left is associated with dressing the deceased in Korean and Japanese tradition, so it is a genuine mistake rather than a stylistic one.
• Belt tied at the navel, with both ends even when finished. Uneven ends are the giveaway of a new student, and nobody minds.
• Trousers with the drawstring tied inside, not left hanging.
• No jewellery. Watches, rings, earrings and necklaces come off — they catch, scratch and injure.
• Bare feet on the mat unless the school specifies otherwise.
• Short, clean nails. Fingers and toes. This is a courtesy to your training partners more than a rule.

Caring for it

• Wash the uniform after every session. Cold water, inside out, hang to dry. Hot water and tumble drying shrink it and break down the fabric.
• Do not bleach a white dobok. It yellows the fabric over time, which is the opposite of what people expect.
• Air it immediately if you cannot wash it straight away. Do not leave it in a closed bag — this is how a uniform becomes unsalvageable.
• Repair small tears early. They spread fast under grappling stress.

The belt question

There is a persistent tradition that you never wash your belt, because it holds the record of your training. It is a nice idea and a widespread one.

Practically: belts hold sweat like anything else. Most instructors take the view that the tradition is charming but hygiene wins, especially for children. Airing it thoroughly after every session is the sensible middle ground.

Dojang etiquette

The rules are few, and all of them exist for a reason.

• Bow when entering and leaving the training floor. It marks a boundary — ordinary space on one side, focused space on the other. It is a gesture of respect to the space, not a religious act.
• Bow to your instructor and to your partner. Before and after working together.
• Arrive early. If you are late, wait at the edge and catch the instructor's eye rather than walking straight on.
• Do not step over someone's belt or uniform. Pick it up or walk around.
• Stop immediately when the instructor speaks. Mid-technique, mid-anything.
• Address instructors by title. The school will tell you which. Ask rather than guess.
• Tie your belt facing away from the front of the room or the instructor.

None of this is tested. Everyone forgets some of it early on, and nobody is embarrassed by it except the new student.

What to wear to your very first class

Nothing on this list. Comfortable loose clothing and a t-shirt — the full first-class guide is here.

Start with a free class

No uniform needed, no contract, no equipment. New students receive a free uniform and white belt on enrolment.

Call (408) 243-1001.

Train where the standard is real

You are corrected personally by an 8th Dan Grand Master who trained at the Korea Hapkido Headquarters Dojang in 1971 — where these traditions are not decoration.

Visit us: 2181 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95050