Schools>Facility>Training area

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Training area

Intro

The training area in a school is where the martial art is practiced; the lobby, offices, changing rooms, etc. are parts of the school facility but not a part of the training area. Training areas have different names among the martial arts. In Korean arts, the name is dojang; (道) do "the way" or "art" and  (場) jang "a place." In Japanese arts, the name is dōjō (道場) "place of the way." In Chinese arts, the name is wuguan (武館) "place of fighting."

Respect

A training area is a revered place that demands respect from all who enter. Remove your shoes before entering the training area (most schools have an area near the main entrance where students may remove their shoes and store them). When entering or leaving the training area, stop just inside the entrance and bow toward the ceremonial wall of the training area as a sign of respect. Sometimes, the layout of a school is as such that one enters the training area immediately upon entering the school entrance. In this case, stop just inside the school entrance and bow toward the ceremonial wall of the training area as a sign of respect.

Décor

The walls of the training area may have a weapons display, belt display, trophies or awards display, photo display, or a ceremonial or cultural item display. One wall, usually the front wall of the training area, will be designated as the ceremonial wall.

On the ceremonial wall is hung the:

• American flag.
• Flag of the home country of the martial art.
• One or more of the following: 

• Flag of the state where the school is located. 

• Flag, banner, or emblem of the organization with which the school is affiliated. 

• School flag, banner, or emblem. 

• Olympic flag. 

• AAU flag. 

• Photograph of the founder of the style. 

• Photograph of the president of the organization with which the school is affiliated. 

• Photograph of the master of the school.

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