The Taekwondo uniform is called a "dobak" or "tobak." Like everything else in Taekwondo, it is steeped in tradition and history. The dobak consists of a jacket, trousers, and belt. It is derived from traditional Korean clothing called "hanbok." The dobak is not only for wear during Taekwondo training, it is the required uniform for competition in regional and national tournaments and in the Olympics,the V-neck style is required in Olympic competition.

Reasons for Wearing the Dobak

• It instills pride in the student as a practitioner of Taekwondo.

• It identifies the degree of skill that the wearer has attained.

• Style is symbolic of Taekwondo's heritage and tradition.

• Rank levels indicated by belt color create incentive to achieve rank while also preserving humility.

• It is extremely practical and healthy for physical activity.

• It distinguishes Taekwondo practitioners from other martial arts.

Students should keep their dobaks clean, ironed, and in good repair. They should understand its historical significance and wear it with pride and proper respect and etiquette.

Meaning of Dobak

According to Earl Weiss and Damian LaVoice, the rationale behind the plain white dobak has its roots in martial tradition. A goal of martial arts training is help us to come to terms with the rather unpleasant aspect that all humans face—death—and to help us understand our attachment to the body or "I." This is accomplished in part by attempting to abandon the ego through martial art training. Freud said, "The ego is a body," and to quote martial arts author Peter Payne, "The nature of the ego, the ordinary sense of 'I', is intimately bound up with the physical body."