Cool-down and review

Setup

1. The last part of class. Clear pads, shields and paddles off the mat first, and give everyone a drink of water.
2. Have two or three review questions ready from today's lesson, plus one harder one for senior belts.

How it runs

1. Walk two slow laps around the edge of the mat, shaking out the arms and legs. On the second lap, breathe in for four steps and out for four steps.
2. Sit in a semicircle facing the sabeom, cross-legged or kneeling. Do two or three gentle stretches for the muscles used today, held still with no bouncing.
3. Review: the sabeom asks short questions about the lesson, for example 'What does keuman mean?', 'Show me your chamber' or 'When do we kihap?'. Hands up, no calling out, and answers can be shown as well as said.
4. Each student names one thing they did well today and one thing to practise before next class. Adult beginners do this too.
5. Line up in rows: charyeot, kyeongye to the sabeom (and to the flags if your dojang does), then the class is dismissed.

Coaching points

• Calm voice, slower pace: let heart rates and voices come down together.
• Ask questions every belt can answer, then one challenge question for senior students.
• Make praise specific: name the student and exactly what was good, such as a high chamber on every front kick.
• Use this time to check for knocks and injuries. Anyone who took a knock to the head stops training, sits out for the rest of the day and your concussion protocol is followed.
• Keep it brisk so the review doesn't turn into standing around.

Common mistakes

• Skipping the cool-down when class runs late.
• Only the most confident students answering.
• Ending with a rushed or sloppy bow.