How Do i know i'm being taught Hapkido?

[lgmack]

This may sound dumb but....I just started taking private classes at a dojo that teaches various types of martial arts,TKD,Krav maga,Hapkido etc..
I ask them if what i'm learning is Hapkido they always respond with yes...but how can i be sure...i don't want to be just taught tkd and be told it's hapkido...since the majority of their classes are tkd..i have this feeling that's what they are teaching me. What are some of the first and basic things you learn in Hapkido? And has anyone heard of this happening? or am i just a nut? :)

[Michael Tomlinson]

Unfortunately this happens more than people know... a few questions to ask IMHO is: Will I recieve certificates and ranking? If so what organization are they from? Who and where is the Hapkido instructor certified and ranked through. If none of this can be answered or quickly substantiated then I would be weary... if you have further questions ask us... good luck. :)
Michael Tomlinson

[moogong]

I would ask them what qualifies them to teach hapkido. Can they prove any hapkido rank or hapkido oraganization affliation.
Are you taking a seperate hapkido class?? It's possible an instructor knows a few joint locks that are found in a typical hapkido curriculm and is passing it on.

[moogong]

hahaha ..Michael Tomlinson and I posted the same advice at the same time.
:laugh: :laugh:

[Michael Tomlinson]

we are on the same page bro....

[BBFC]

If the only thing they are teaching you is kicking and forms it might be just Taekwondo. Most Hapkido beginners learn basic falls, kicking and hand release techniques. Still not sure? Post school name and intructor name with rank.

[freebie614]

i just started taking private lessons of hapkido myself, from someone that also teaches tkd,. but i took tkd before,. and there is a difference, first, tkd focuses alot on stirkes and forms, kicks and such,. the hapkido i'm learning is called cheongkyumkwan hapkido,. and is ALOT of breathing,locks, throws, falls, pressure joints, and joint manipulations,. it's pretty awesome when you can take somebody twice your size down with such little energy..

[lgmack]

thanks for all the info.......at my next lesson ima try to get all the info you said i should ask...I've been going to private class for about 2 months now, twice a week...i haven't learned any types of falls, just mostly kicks and punches..i figured since i'm still a beginner they are probably just getting me into shape.so i dunno//?\\ i learned like 2 wrist locks that we barely practiced for the last 10 mins of class...i haven't heard anything about "breathing" that everyone seems to talk about in hapkido..like i said b4 i just think they are teaching TKD.......we'll see...i'll keep you posted..

[American HKD]

Dear Igmack,

What's traditionally taught in most Legit Schools for 9th Gup ( beginner rank)
is the following example:

basic falls
basic stances
basic blocks
basic strikes
basic kicks
basic throws
basic escapes from grabs

Its sound to me as if your not learning Hapkido right now. Lastly your school sounds like they're a "Jack of all systems Masters of none"!

Who certified they're Hapkido credentials?

[freebie614]

yea it sounds lkike your learning tkd or something,. i haven't been taught ANY strikes yet,. nothing but falls,locks, grabs and throws,. and of course breathing and footwork....

[lgmack]

ima stop by 2morrow and ask.....my class isn't until tues but i want questoins answered.............. :)

[kodanjaclay]

An interjection here...

You must sign each post with your real first and last name. You can go to your CP and set Budoseek! so it does it for your automatically.

Thanks.

[lgmack]

Hey everyone...thanks for all the info and help....
Yesterday i went to my Dojo and spoke with the head master about my concerns. he advised me that what i was doing was conditioning and that i needed it..he also told me that i would be learning Basic Hapkido Tech. next class....So 2day when i went for my session..it was totally different!!!! I practiced breathing tech,basic falls,rolls,and stances, it was with a different instructor, i think the other instructors only studied tkd...because this class was so different...very circular in everything we did...i'm much more happier now..i guess that little chat helped a lot....

[Digger70chall]

i know at our TKD school we are 90% tae kwon do but we also practice some basic hapkido for self-defense....it's part of the testing too, so i'm told at least. I'm up for my yellow belt at the end of the month so i'll let you know more then :)
I like the kicking and forms in TKD but it's also great to learn some basic joint manipulating in case i get into trouble!

[JinJungSabum]

I have some extra time outside of training so I thought I would put own two cents into this post. Having trained Hapkido in Korea and in the US I think there is a fairly specific template if you are going to learn Hapkido. I will outline some of the reasons I think it is a good idea as well. You may of course disagree, this is all my opinion. Interestingly enough....this is how Hapkido is taught by most exponents of Grandmaster Ji's Songmukwan school.

It is already a given that a begining student understand ye eui, or the ettiquitte and how to conduct yourself in the training hall and your duties as a student. This can be emphasized less in Korea, because it is already ingrained in the culture, but in the United States it must be taught.

After that I think your pathway lies three-fold.
Your foundation for Hapkido is mental and internal training. Some call this Nae Gong. This is done primarily with Danjun Ho Hup. (appuro, yuppuro, mitturo, wiro) I don't think this training can be underemphasized. Not only will it teach you to focus, breath, and move the Ki, on a less esoteric level it will teach you the mechanics behind the chae/hoshin sool..techniques. How to use your center, how to apply leverage and move. On another note, if you are serious about persuing Hapkido on any type of serious level....you will need unbelievable mental toughness to undergo the rigors of arderous physical training. Simply put....if you don't have this foundation..if you through the really nightmarish training..you will fall at the seems.

The second is devolopement of Wae Gong, external power. This can be seen and measured. You must start to get into the physical condition that allows you to move athleticly as a Martial Artist. Old basic excercises like Jaegi Chagi...often ignored stateside are done ad-nauseum with anywhere between 200-1000 repetions with and without ankle weights. Other forms of plyometrics, calisthenics, skipping rope, weighted vests, ankle weights etc. are probably helpful as well. After alot of hard training, I see alot of the kids in Korea lifting weights while hanging out late at night. Most specific conditioning is palchagi- kicking. Some instructors stateside again dismiss this as archaic..because it is acrobatic and difficult to learn. My theory is this, and granted in may not be right: Whether or not you plan to use those kicks in a combat situation is entirely up to you. However, the attributes such as speed, strength, timing, and flexibility. Although arguable, these attributes are usually transferable to the sool gi (techniques). Almost every foreigner I have met who has come to Korea has been taken aback at the amount of time spent and the level of the kicking. In the Jin Jung Kwan Jong Bu Kwan (JJK HQ) we spend a considerable amount of time doing training the kicks and its not uncommon to throw several hundreds of kicks in a single practice.
On the final level you begin training technically. Your mental and physical tiers layed the foundation and now you can start developing good technical skills. Most people want to learn sool gi, right away. Lets, face it.....they are interesting and attracted many of us to Hapkido in the first place. However, from my experience I have seen people who did not practice adequately danjunhohup, palchagi, and nak bup suffer in their technique....there are always exceptions. Technical practice is important devoloping the form, speed, and execution of each movement with seemingly effortless movement. Putting these all together you have the Hapkido man- a highly trained, and conditioned well oiled machine. Of course, this training is not for everybody, partiularly the recreational practioneer who just wants to get in shape so he/she can look good at the beach...but it is rewarding. At the higher levels, I think it will change you because you will experience a sensation of walking a think line between life and almost dropping dead from the pain and exhaustion. It creates something really beautiful and a sense of accomplishment like nothing I have ever felt.

-Jon Kleineman
Jin Jung Kwan Sun Bi Dojang
Cliffside Park, NJ USA