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“From the moment I started out in my training as a White Belt, I experienced a strong passion and dedication to the true art of
Hapkido and I came to realize that all I wanted, was to teach Hapkido and inspire others.
If you can’t find all the answers to your questions here, come to the club and watch a class or better yet, enroll in our
"Easy Start Program and change the way you look at martial arts. For $99.00 you get
one month of classes, a free uniform, a free private class and a free club patch. Basically all you need
to get started. Call us today at 604.781.8707 to sign up! See you soon.”
Dallas
Hapkido, for the uninitiated, is a system of self preservation consisting of punches, kicks, joint locks, holds,
and throws, groundwork, weapons training and more. It is a complete comprehensive art that enables one to redirect
an attack thus using a great deal of the opponents force to complete the technique rather than resorting to direct,
strength against strength tactics. This philosophy enables a learned Hapkido student of lesser size and strength to “even
the odds” with larger and/or stronger adversaries.
No. Hapkido has many techniques, kicks/strikes and some are easier to perform than others. Different body styles
simply perform differently. You’ll find all students can do all the techniques but prefer their own favorites.
A great benefit of training is the ability to increase your flexibility over time thus performing techniques with
greater efficiency.
Absolutely. Hapkido training boosts confidence, awareness, and makes you a better person in anything you do. It
fosters honesty and integrity and I’ve seen it happen in students from ages 4yrs. up to 75yrs. old. One is
never too old to be healthy.
The reason for paying your respect to the instructor is twofold. Not only does it allow the teacher to see your
humility, it allows them to show you theirs. This art is of Asian descent and bowing is their method of greeting
and respecting others. Our bowing not only does these things, it allows us to recognize all the hard years of
training and self sacrifice our teachers and those before them gave, so that we can now learn. Bowing and
recognizing the native flag of our arts heritage doesn’t mean we must now change our citizenship. It keeps
us humble and allows us to remember: Although our art is being taught in North America, we will continue to teach
and learn in the ways all Hapkido students have... here, and in Korea.
This art and many others teach techniques that can take life and this is a very serious matter. Only those with a
pure heart and good intention get to ever learn these techniques but be aware: Techniques can be as beautiful as
a spring rain or as destructive as a 2 year old! The secret is in temperance, humility, and control. The confidence,
alertness and air about you from training may just keep you from having to use a technique in anger at all...
knock on wood.
It’s ok, we have a paramedic on site! Seriously, our instructors are highly trained and will see to it that you
are met on your current fitness level. Gently pushing you to improve over time will help you attain levels you
thought impossible. The true challenge you’ll find will be overcoming self-imposed limitations. These
are your true adversaries.
No. The nature of our techniques precludes us from competition. Unfortunately, some contests are a breeding ground
for ignorance, unhealthy pride and ego levels and tend to be merely tests in punching and kicking. Hapkido techniques
have people achieve high levels of proficiency and may make punches and kicks unnecessary in the future if you wish.
Interclub tournaments are a possibility in the future, but with Hapkido students only and in a low stress, fun atmosphere.
Sure. Attaining master level in anything proves you’re not afraid of commitment and hard work. Aside from the
cardio benefits you may possess, Hapkido is a higher learning and shares no similarities to your previous training.
If you want us to commit to teaching you this art, I want you to commit to staying long enough to retain a few things!
Paying month to month is not a commitment because it will end as soon as you see fit to spend your money on something
else. A 3 month commitment enables you to maybe catch a glimpse of true Hapkido, and give you a thirst for more. Some
students bounce from style to style often, thinking they’re going to advance in ability faster. Unless you spend
enough time in something to make it instinctive (act/react without thought) all you’re doing is plugging up your
hard drive with stuff you can’t access under stress, because someone changed your password.
We may recognize your belt, and we may not. We have a curriculum we follow and a specific method of executing our
techniques etc. One would have to work hard to quickly acquire our methods for your belt to carry over. Nevertheless,
the decision lies with our instructors’ judging of your ability. Besides, the fashion police would bust you for sure.
You’re in luck... we have private lessons as well, and if that doesn’t appeal to you, we’ll cross that
bridge when we need to.
Repetition helps train muscles to function a certain way, much like walking. Hopefully you still remember how to
do that! Muscle memory is key to executing techniques because after awhile, it all feels natural and you do things
without having to remember.
Sure! Underneath your uniform! You’re the one who has to explain it to the gang in the change room!
For introductory classes, sweats and a t-shirt will do.
When a student can perform the needed techniques correctly they will be given the option to attend a controlled, light
contact sparring class using protection and overseen by a qualified instructor. Advanced belts have the option to spar semi,
light and full-contact. Keep in mind; sparring is a great way to develop speed, timing, correct distancing, balance and
footwork in ways normal training cannot. Joint locks, breaks and throwing will be practiced in a controlled multi-step
sparring method. Free sparring with these techniques is dangerous thus reserved for very advanced students who can exhibit
control, restraint and temperance. Sparring in any form is not mandatory at any belt level.
Jujutsu is a Japanese combat martial art, born of necessity and proven on the battlefields of old Japan. It is comprised
of joint locks/breaks, punching/kicking, throwing, groundwork and weapons. Many of today’s styles of martial arts
have deep roots in Jujutsu. Judo, Hapkido and many other Korean arts, Brazilian Jujutsu, Aikido etc.
We teach Hapkido of a modern flavor. My traditional training gave me the letters; I formed my own words and sentences.
This is what all my teachers have done themselves as well. In my opinion, a strict, traditional class provides many things,
however practical use and application are usually not among them. Practical drills, coupled with a firm grasp of the basics
allows one to arrive at as many variations as one wishes. So I give many letters and assist my students in the forming of
their own sentences, just as my teachers have done for me. After achieving a black belt, I wanted to get to the roots of
Hapkido to better understand technique, philosophy, evolution and application. This is when I underwent Jujutsu training.
All my other training is personal interest.
In reality the term “Traditional Hapkido” is an oxymoron. Hapkido itself is not a traditional art.
It’s less than 100 years old! It is what is referred to as a “Modern” martial art. It is a
composite art, built from many other traditional arts. Ji, Han Jae himself believes Hapkido can only be brought
to life by those willing to modify techniques and train enough to have them flow effortlessly from your soul.
Sorry, you asked!
Well, in order to use or create variations of techniques, having a repertoire to draw from helps. Aside from that, any
and all of my experience students wish to learn, I’m willing to teach. I like to teach a base or a curriculum technique,
one that embodies all the qualities you need to learn it fast and efficiently. Once you have learned it and can use it, we get
into multiple drills/variations so you can see how and where the technique is used. There are many reasons a technique doesn’t
work on everyone all the time. Terrain, size/strength difference, fear, witnesses, clothing restrictions, multiple attackers, sweat,
weather and many more. We must address these and being aware of their presence is step one. Pre-conflict training minimizes the possibility
of most factors but one cannot prepare for Murphy’s Law. (Anything that can go wrong probably will.)
A little of both. My Hapkido curriculum is ultra fast and laden with variation and drill training. You will have access to anything
I know as I do not harbor knowledge. If you can grasp what I’m showing you, recall and use it with speed and/or effectiveness,
you move on. You may however focus more on elements of the curriculum more than others if you wish. More punching than kicking or more
techniques for instance.
Assume for a minute money wasn’t an issue in your life, you have all you need. Would you rather drive a Hyundai Pony
or a BMW? Most people would feel safer, more confident, and simply enjoy driving more while driving the BMW, or whatever
high end auto you wish. The pony is cheap, sure! It also has no a/c, no power options, no handling options, and no creature
comforts at all, but boy, does it run good... when it runs. Cheap on fuel too; the hamsters running on the wheel under the
hood eat really light! The BMW is loaded with options. It handles like a go-cart and looks good even when it’s dirty.
A car with few options is like an art that provides few options. Many arts teach punching and kicking your way out of any
situation. In the ring, absolutely, on the street a good lawyer will put you away for good. The pony owner tries to install
aftermarket options in his car to increase its value. So he adds some techniques seen in videos, seminars and what his buddy
Earl saw on TV last week. At the end of the day, however, the resale is the same; it’s still a pony. Your aftermarket
a/c will never work right and it’ll fail one day leaving you hot, sweaty, and wondering what to do about the 4 guys
surrounding you. The BMW however has factory installed options. Power options all over the place providing you with all you
desire when you need them. Being factory options they look polished and natural, as if they belong there too, not bolted on
years later. Coupled with regular servicing and oil changes (training) the BMW will be the last car you’ll ever have to
buy in your lifetime. Superior craftsmanship, loaded to the hilt, and safe to drive. The pony was built in a different time,
for different driving needs. Today’s driving needs have changed and self-defense needs have changed with them.
I will be the last person to say anything negative about other arts; (or other cars!) I have training in some of them. Keep
in mind: We are the best at what we do and you always get what you pay for. Oh yeah, for those of you upset at the Hyundai
pony remarks, relax, I’m just trying to prove a point!
It depends on why you’re asking. If you are looking to spend the least amount of money to get a black belt in something,
then there are many arts out there for you; but this is not one of them. If you take your training seriously and are dedicated
to learning proven self-defense techniques, attendance is the key. 3 times/week is recommended simply because we need to retrain
muscles and this takes repetition. I was somewhat of an anomaly. 8 classes/week plus training at my home and if my teacher had
allowed me to sleep in the dojang, I probably would have (in fact it was a running joke for a long time as to where I was hiding
my roll-away cot). This earned me a black belt in 3 years. The curriculum at Danjun will be slightly altered though to allow for
a black belt sooner, with more proficiency than we had at that level.
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