Parents in the Dojang (Dojo)

I would be interested in how other Instructors handle overzealous parents in the Dojang during training. You know the parent who wants their student to get the technique right in one try. Or yells out criticism during class.

Thoughts?

Unfortunately, you're going to have to put a stop to it. It's a distraction and could get one of the students hurt. They are there to learn from YOU, so they need to be focused on what they are doing and their instruction and practice. Calls from the visitor's section can distract their focus and someone could eventually get hurt or the student may lose some respect for you, and that's not good for you, the school, and the rest of the students. You really need to control your environment in this situation.

First thing to do is put up a polite sign (or two) next to the visitor's seating area. You know, "Quiet Please", the Dojang's rules or policies of Etiquette and Respect, and whatever else you want to say, etc. Make it very visible. At the bottom of that same sign, add that this request is in compliance with your insurance policy and liability regulations.

Then, and only after you have the signs up, ask the student to talk to their family members concerning this rule. If that doesn't work, you will have to address the family member directly, but do it off to the side in private (you don't want to embarrass them). Explain that it's dangerous and could get their kid hurt, how it's okay during sparring matches, but not in formal instruction. Don't bother with the formality stuff, if they don't have that the first day they step in the door, explaining etiquette and Dojang respect isn't going to do anything but piss them off. Don't send a letter either, that's insulting, you have to do this in person, but be very diplomatic and make it sound like it would be their fault if an accident were to occur because they couldn't shut up. Unfortunately this also has the potential, if it gets that far, of losing that student because the parent gets offended and pulls their kid out.

But tell me, what would you rather have? Lost a student or lose respect or worse, have a serious injury? Anyway, that's how I would handle it. Of course I don't know everything about your specific situation, but I think that should be a basic policy in any Dojo/Dojang/Gym/Salle.

My .02