Posted: 6/4/2003 7:40:58 AM EDT
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Hi, anyone have any information/experience about hapkido or combat hapkido. I've done some extensive net searching, but want some first hand information. There are schools for both relatively near me. One is a Tae Kwon Do school that is adding hapkido. One is traditional hapkido, but very expensive. and the other is Combat Hapkido.. they say they actually teach a combination of traditional and combat hapkido. I think I am leaning toward the combat hapkido because they also incorporate some escrima stick tactics which I am interested in. Anyone have any thoughts? thanks |
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I took hapkido for about three years. Traditional hapkido is a bit intensive if taught right. For example, I learned 11 different ways to break a wrist lock leading to a take down. You practice it till it comes natural. It also taught unarmed defense against knives, something I'm not anxious to try out, and clubs. I took from a Korean National Champion in Tae Kwon Do and was not aware there was a Combat Hapkido. I would be wary of this. Taking a stick to a knife or gun fight is not advisable. I knew a guy who was fantastic with chuks until he was blown away by a .9mm with no charges. Sticks are a deadly weapons while unarmed at least they will prosecute the guy. Odds are if needed you won't have gear with you. Another point of interest is that in our school you had to have a minimum of green belt in a basic striking discipline to even start hapkido. In other words, you needed to know the basic kicks,falls, and hits. This way you learned more technique more quickly. I would be wary of school that doesn't have this requirement as well. Not that it isn't a good school just that you will spend more of your time learning the basic skills rather than actual hapkido. Not trying to rain on your parade just give you some of my experience. |
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Thanks for the input. Actually, Combat Hapkido is a recognized school/style by the Korean KiDo Federation. The Korean name is Chon-Tu Kwan HapKiDo. Basically it takes a lot of the high kicks and flashy stuff out and just uses the practical stuff. It also incorporates a complete 'ground grappling system.' In regards to the sticks, I am just wanting to learn that for personal interest. It is not like I'm going to be carrying a pair of 20" sticks with me. |
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Tell you the truth, even though we had a Green Belt minimum. The Hapkido training I received required very few kicks especially high ones. Reaction time and the ability to fall was far more important. The dsicipline is far more suited for older people like me. LOL I have found in Hapkido speed is everything. Like it's origin it is like water which flows in fluid motion without thought. With this in mind, I have with experience centered in on certain techniques for certain senarios which seem work best for my build, size, and speed. That way when actually confronted, you don't think you just act. Unfortunately, the classes included testing on all the techniques you learn for any given senario. In sparring (restrained you don't want to break your buddies bones) some of the guys would hesitate because they were thinking of which technique they were going to use. This is something to watch out for. I can tell you that I highly recommend Hapkido over most disciplines for it is far less competition driven and far more self defense driven. In sparring there are still plenty of senarios where hapkido is not as effective as Tae Kwon Do or Ishinru. For example, hapkido works best against an attacker where their first blow is deliberate and well aimed. It is not as effective against an attacker flailling their arms in repeated punching bag motions. In that senario, a step back and front snapping kick is most effective. Then you can break his bones with hapkido. LOL btw, my belts are with the WTF. |
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Any martial art is better than no martial art. Do you want to carry a Jennings 25 auto or a Sig 239? I have trained in Shotokan Karate, Wado ryu, Te Kwon Do, Jujitsu. Advanced belts in all but due to things happening beyond my control could not stay at one school long enough to get that Black Belt. I am welcome to train with any of my former teachers. Now my opion. Stay the Hell away from Combat Hapkido! They are very skilled but fall way short on why of DO The national org has some very serios character problems. Hopkido is a very good school to train at if you can not do high kicks. Very practical art for women and those not as physical inclined. Most people never make it to the Black Belt level anyway, thats OK What you learn will last you a life time. Some schools are more sparing oriented, competion, or Kata . Try to find one thats balanced. Remember most arts are really about how not to fight. The " Combat Schools" need to advertise in Soldier of Fortune, the attitude are simalar. Pay attention to the level of comentment of the students when you visit a school. Watch the kids program. It will tell you a lot aboyt the charecter of a school. Ryus like firearms have a speciality to them, but follow any WAY long enough and there will be overlapping of styles. GOOD LUCK on your choice. |
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Quoted: Any martial art is better than no martial art. Do you want to carry a Jennings 25 auto or a Sig 239? I have trained in Shotokan Karate, Wado ryu, Te Kwon Do, Jujitsu. Advanced belts in all but due to things happening beyond my control could not stay at one school long enough to get that Black Belt. I am welcome to train with any of my former teachers. Now my opion. Stay the Hell away from Combat Hapkido! They are very skilled but fall way short on why of DO The national org has some very serios character problems. Hopkido is a very good school to train at if you can not do high kicks. Very practical art for women and those not as physical inclined. Most people never make it to the Black Belt level anyway, thats OK What you learn will last you a life time. Some schools are more sparing oriented, competion, or Kata . Try to find one thats balanced. Remember most arts are really about how not to fight. The " Combat Schools" need to advertise in Soldier of Fortune, the attitude are simalar. Pay attention to the level of comentment of the students when you visit a school. Watch the kids program. It will tell you a lot aboyt the charecter of a school. Ryus like firearms have a speciality to them, but follow any WAY long enough and there will be overlapping of styles. GOOD LUCK on your choice. First let me say, this guys knows what he's talking about. The major indicator in his post is watch the kids program. If a school awards belts by dollars in lieu of accomplishment or the accomplishment is deminished compared to adult, I have found you will get the same in the adult classes. |