Training in Korea

[Lodaar]

I was wondering what kind of information anybody has on training long-term in Korea. I'm in the Army and being stationed in Korea for one year minimum, which I may extend to two.

I have a small background in Tae Kwon Do (ATA) and am interested returning to training. I was curious if anybody knew anything about my chances getting into a Dojang in Korea, or if they have JKA (or other) Dojos there.

Any info remotely related would be greatly appreciated.

[D Dempsey]

Have you found out which post you're going to be stationed at? TKD is literally everywhere and your biggest problem will probably be finding a school for adults. Martial arts schools in Korea are basically the same as in the U.S. There is no acceptance process to speak of you just sign up and pay your monthly tuition to train. The prices vary depending on your location, but I was paying 70k won a month in 2004 for unlimited classes at a school that offered Judo, TKD, and hapkido. I don't recall seeing any Shotokan schools, but there is a Mudookwan school in Songtan by Osan AFB.
If you wind up at Camp Humphreys I can give you the names of some places to train at.

[AllanJGAnderson]

I was wondering what kind of information anybody has on training long-term in Korea. I'm in the Army and being stationed in Korea for one year minimum, which I may extend to two.

I have a small background in Tae Kwon Do (ATA) and am interested returning to training. I was curious if anybody knew anything about my chances getting into a Dojang in Korea, or if they have JKA (or other) Dojos there.

Any info remotely related would be greatly appreciated.

I'm stationed in Korea right now with the Army. Do you know who you'll be with? 2ID has alot of "interesting" policies regarding new Soldiers. Alot of 2ID Also has madatory TKD class, if you inprocess at CP. Stanley, they might want you to try out for the demo team. I had the opportunity, but I passed, I came here to do my job. Do you know where you'll be stationed? Most peoples orders say Yonsan or Casey, then the switch it once you inprocess. Mine said Casey, then Humphreys and at the last minute (on the way to Humphreys) I got diverted to Seoul Air Base. :laugh: I love the Army.
TKD School are everywhere, and I know of a BJJ school taught by an American near Yongsan. The hardest part is finding an instructor who speaks English.

[sooner_sadiq]

Look into training tae kyon, there are very few of the old masters left around but if you get a chance it is great style and will add depth and understanding to the tkd that you have already learned. Tkd is prevalent but a childs sport, hapkido is complete i would recommend sungmookwan, and tuk kong musool is interesting. Yudo will vary depeneding on location.

[D Dempsey]

The biggest issue you will have as soldier will be time constraints. I worked more hours per week in Korea than I did in the U.S. and while deployed. Travel will also set you back depending on your location and your rank. If your under E7 plan on walking a lot. You should be able to find something to do near any post. Osan AFB has a BJJ club run by a purple belt name Sean Whitehead (Last time I checked), who is pretty good. If you're nearby it would be worth checking out. Camp Humphreys has a TKD/HKD teacher that has classes across from Zeckler Station.

[AllanJGAnderson]

Transportation isn't hard for lower enlisted, you just gotta have a Katusa teach you how to read the subway map and understand the bus lines.

[D Dempsey]

Or you could sign up for one of the Korean course on post. That's what I did and it made everything a lot easier. When I was at Cp. Humphreys in 2004 there really wasn't any public transportation, I went back to visit this past september and it was all different. Uijonbu was a lot more connected than Pyongtaek.

[AllanJGAnderson]

Or you could sign up for one of the Korean course on post. That's what I did and it made everything a lot easier. When I was at Cp. Humphreys in 2004 there really wasn't any public transportation, I went back to visit this past september and it was all different. Uijonbu was a lot more connected than Pyongtaek.


Lucky me, I live about 12 feet from Seoul. I've just been studying the free Rossetta Stone the Army gives us now, and hanging out with Katusas. They've been the best help at learning Korean. It amazing how much people in shops and restaurants appreciate my efforts to speak Korean, even if it's broken-assed backwards sometimes.

[coralreefer]

Welcome to Korea! Others here have posted some good info concerning training in Korea. I have been here for just over 3 years. I came here specifically for Taekwondo training, though up until last week, have been teaching Taekwondo instead.

As was mentioned, there are literally thousands of schools in each city. Most schools are Taekwondo or Gumdo, there are many hapkido schools as well, though not as many as Taekwondo. Judo (Yudo here in Korea) is even more difficult to find, at least here in Daegu.

Finding a good place to practice can be a challenge. Most schools here are the "McDojang" style, and I have said on this forum before, Korea is the home of the McDojang. Finding a place where you can get respectable training AND an instructor who can not only can speak passable English, but also will not treat you somewhat badly because you are not Korean will can be difficult.

I'm not military, but I just assumed that there were classes for taekwondo taught on the bases. If you can join a class with other soldiers, I think you may have a more enjoyable experience. Any other place you go into the city..you will likely be in a class full of children or teenagers, who will also likely gawk and laugh at you.

I really like what Sooner Sadiq said. You have 1 year to train something, why not train in something that you really can't find back home? If you can find it, I would suggest Taekyeon. There are many many taekwondo schools back home, but finding Taekyeon in America is next to impossible. This would be a great chance to explore something that, outside of Korea, few get the opportunity to study.

Good luck with whatever you choose..

Todd

[AllanJGAnderson]

I'm not military, but I just assumed that there were classes for taekwondo taught on the bases. If you can join a class with other soldiers, I think you may have a more enjoyable experience. Any other place you go into the city..you will likely be in a class full of children or teenagers, who will also likely gawk and laugh at you.


The little time I spent bothering with 2ID's TKD program made me think not very highly of it. Perhaps individual clubs on the larger bases arn't as bad. Here it's a joke.

[Lodaar]

Thanks for the help. Says I'm going to the 1st Sig BDE at Yongsan, but I know that the battalions are pretty much all at different camps, so I have no idea at this point where I'll end up. That's three months from now, so I may post again once I know.

Appreciate the info, if anybody else has anything, I'd love for them to post it.

[D Dempsey]

Lucky me, I live about 12 feet from Seoul. I've just been studying the free Rossetta Stone the Army gives us now, and hanging out with Katusas. They've been the best help at learning Korean. It amazing how much people in shops and restaurants appreciate my efforts to speak Korean, even if it's broken-assed backwards sometimes.
Cp. Humphreys had a korean course taught through Seoul University that I took, and it helped greatly. I also ended up marrying a korean 8th grade teacher so I had to learn more, or else she hits me.


Thanks for the help. Says I'm going to the 1st Sig BDE at Yongsan, but I know that the battalions are pretty much all at different camps, so I have no idea at this point where I'll end up. That's three months from now, so I may post again once I know.
Appreciate the info, if anybody else has anything, I'd love for them to post it.
It's hard to say where you'll end up. A lot of the HQ's are in Yongsan, but the rest of the brigades are scattered throughout the peninsula. If you don't go to 2ID you'll probably wind up at Cp. Humphreys, but there is also a huge signal node down in Daegu, so that could be a possibility as well. Keep us posted after you get there.

[Lodaar]

If I said I was a 25S would that help determine (or narrow down) any?

[D Dempsey]

Not really. I checked the units website and all it says is Korea.
http://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/1sig/
You could always give the 1SG a call and ask him about it. Were you contacted by a sponsor yet? When do you report?

[AllanJGAnderson]

Not really. I checked the units website and all it says is Korea.
http://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/1sig/
You could always give the 1SG a call and ask him about it. Were you contacted by a sponsor yet? When do you report?

I didn't have a sponsor, no one really did where I am. He'll probably get sent to inprocess at Yongsan and then get sent somewhere on the peninsula.

[D Dempsey]

I didn't either even though the unit knew for a few months that I was coming. I thought this was something 8th Army was trying to change? I guess it depends on your MOS, I was MI so I was pretty much guaranteed to be going to the Hump. There were a few lucky SOBs who got stationed at Yongsan, but not many.

[AllanJGAnderson]

I didn't either even though the unit knew for a few months that I was coming. I thought this was something 8th Army was trying to change? I guess it depends on your MOS, I was MI so I was pretty much guaranteed to be going to the Hump. There were a few lucky SOBs who got stationed at Yongsan, but not many.

We don't know about new people until the day of. But there is a shortage of medics Army wide. I'm one of the lucky SOBs who got stationed 20 minutes from Yongsan. All the advantages of being at Yongsan and none of the brass or 15 year olds running around in our CAC. Highest ranking officer on post is an O-6, other than that it's mostly warrants. :D
Airbases are sweet:cool:

[Lodaar]

Okay, well I've made it to Korea and settled into my unit. Been here a few weeks now. I have a few questions plus any advice anyone could give me would be wonderful.

1. I'm here. We have to use the battlebuddy system offpost. I know there are a few other soldiers on this forum, how would you recommend I find a battlebuddy to do MA with?

2. Finding a school. I'm having a little difficulty finding a school, mainly due to the lack of information about this area (Waegwan/Cp Carroll) online. Any ideas on finding a school? There are some flyers up at my company advertising a mma/hapkido/muai thai place nearby I'd like to check out, but I havn't been able to (see question 1). Any ideas?

3. Obviously solo training isnt the greatest of options (I read the recent thread on the solo training sword artist), but what if it is my only option? Obviously I'm not going to cut my fingers off since I don't do weapon arts, but still their are complications to solo training. I'm not new to MA, but neither would I consider myself experienced enough to not require any instruction (indeed, how many people would?). I took 2 years of ATA TKD, plus a little Shotokan, but I don't consider that a whole lot. Esp. since the ATA TKD was not very...educating perhaps is the word I'm looking for.

Anyway, and advice, answers, tips, etc. would be supremely appreciated.

[D Dempsey]

How strict is the whole buddy system there? When I was at Camp Humphreys there was supposed to be one, but no one really paid attention to it and I went out solo a lot. The only place that could get away with enforcing it was 2nd ID.
Try checking around the gyms for any programs offered on post. Another good idea would be to make friends with some of the KATUSAs and ask them to help you out.

[Lodaar]

I'm not quite sure yet how strict it is. My 1SG said that he doesn't really care if you're just "going around the corner to get some food for lunch." But if you're out and about at night w/o a buddy he'll ask where yours is. So I'll have to just take a measure of it as I spend more time here (only been in country a month)

I have checked out the gym here, they have a boxing program I might get involved in (better than nothing, though I prefer more traditonal programs)

Unfortunately, I don't really see the KATUSAs much, since I work at a place they arn't allowed in. But I'll ask around.

[AllanJGAnderson]

1. I'm here. We have to use the battlebuddy system offpost. I know there are a few other soldiers on this forum, how would you recommend I find a battlebuddy to do MA with?




First and foremost, welcome to the KimChi Pot. It was suprisingly easy for me to find a battle to train MA with. Lots of people are interested in MA, they just don't know where to start. I'd start by asking around. Start by seeing whose into combatives, cause that's pretty much a joke here, and lots of people arn't satisfied by UAC alone. Also depending on how cool your 1SG or section SGT is, you might just be able to go alone once you get more familiar with the country. I can pretty comfortably move around Korea with my knowledge of bus and subway lines. So somtimes I make the 40 minute trip to class alone, but that's straight through Seoul. Im not familiar with the Cp Carrol area.