Equality, respect and discipline
The spirit of our training
Our rules are not there to restrict us, but to strengthen us. They help us to train with respect, to create a community in which everyone feels equal, and to grow together.
The most important rules in training
Why are there rules in training?
In martial arts, there is no hierarchy of dignity. Whether beginner or advanced, young or old, physically strong or just starting out – everyone deserves the same respect.
‘Real respect means recognising a person's value not by their abilities but by their being.’
Why rules are important:
- Equality of worth – everyone is seen as a valuable part of the community, regardless of their performance or ability.
- Equivalence – all people have the same value, whether they are just starting out or have been training for many years.
- Respect & mindfulness – our rules ensure that everyone feels comfortable and can train without fear.
Everyone is important. Everyone deserves respect. Everyone has a voice.
- We speak with respect – everyone is heard, regardless of age or rank.
- When entering and leaving the dojang, we bow as a sign of respect for ourselves, the community and the martial art.
- We make sure that everyone feels comfortable – no one is belittled, excluded or ignored.
Equality & equity in practice
In our training community, what counts is not who learns the fastest, who kicks the highest or who has the most years of experience. Everyone has the same value – regardless of ability, age or rank.
‘A person's dignity is non-negotiable – it is reflected in the way we treat each other.’
Equality means that every person is respected as an independent individual with their own feelings, limits and perspectives. No one has to earn recognition through performance or experience – it is unconditional.
Equality means that all people have the same value, whether beginner or advanced. Even if there are natural hierarchies in martial arts, these have nothing to do with personal value. A higher belt grade means more responsibility – not more dignity.
How we live these values during our trainings:
- Everyone deserves the same respect – no matter what level they are at.
- Mistakes are not a sign of weakness, but of growth – no one is laughed at or belittled.
- Experienced students support beginners without putting themselves above them.
- Martial arts are not a competition – it is a joint development.
‘Respect is not earned by rank or title, but by the way we treat others.’
In our dojang, it doesn't matter how far someone has already come – but that everyone is on their own journey instead. As a result, we all find a level of common ground in what truly unites us: being human.
True mastery begins where equality is not only understood but also lived.
Our rules are not restrictions – they are our common framework for growth.
Everyone is responsible for the atmosphere during trainings – together we are creating a community in which everyone has a place.