Different Styles and Practical Aspects to HapKiDo?

[GunBin]

Hey Everyone,

Having been anxiously searching for a Martial Arts that would tie up my previous, basic, background (red belt in Taekwondo, one year in Wing Chun, and currently studying Shaolin Long Fist, all of which are external arts) I came across HapKiDo, as I have understood it as a balance between external and internal aspects.

I have been reading up on HapKiDo for a couple of days now and have really been intrigued by it. This has led me to start looking for a dojang in London. But Firstly, are there different style of HapKiDo, and if there are what are the differences between the different styles? I tried to google this but came up without any results. A URL would be really helpful.

Secondly as ‘complete martial art’ what are the real practical aspects to HapKiDo, do they take several years to require or can they actually be implemented in the short term? I ask this question as I am not ready to settle down to one martial art yet in order to understand the concept and reality behind the martial arts that I have chosen to undertake.

Also in the internal aspect of HapKiDo, are the exercises like DAN JON HO really effective at increasing and circulating chi (ki), are there health benefits? As I would like to settle on this martial arts, if I could, for a first Dan this aspect is extremely important to me. Therefore I would like to know if there exists a comprehensive system of chi exercises. A URL would helpful.

Lastly if anyone has any good schools/academy’s to suggest that are in London and that teach at least five times a week please drop me a URL.

Thanks everyone in advance.

Pavlos Metinidis

[sidekick]

GunBin, I will attempt to make a self educated assessment to your questions.

"Are there different style of Hapkido"?
Yes!.....and now to try offer differences. One style may be intuned to use more kicks/leg actions. Another may focus on less strikes and more traps, while yet another may have no kicks and put more focus on pressure points. There are many that fall into the in-betweens and overlapping of said styles. The basic concept of serious physical damage and pure self defense, should be paramount in every style however, for that is/was my understanding of the origination principles of the discipline. Attempting to find information via the internet on the differences between styles would be rather difficult, for it's all basicly lumped together under the standard flag of Hapkido. Talking to practicioners would be the only way to access real information and I'm sure that they will be offering their insights here shortly.

"What are the real practical aspects to HapKiDo"?
Hapkido, as I referenced above is pure self defense. As with anything in life, much depends on the person who is studying the discipline. Everything is there for the so-called "complete art", it's up to the student to train and evolve within the art. Now I will add a personal disclaimer here.......Does Hapkido have ground fighting? Yes and No......We/I was trained to not stay on the ground but to get back to my feet ASAP. Now some styles of Hapkido may have embraced the MMA mindset or that of BJJ. I can't say which or why or if any actually have. I'm throwing this out because, in my opinion, if they have then in some aspects they have compromised the original intent of Choi's and/or Ji's training.

"Does it take several years to learn"?
In general No, but again I refer back to the individual student. I will offer this on behalf of my fellow practicioners and instructors. I have seen, as I'm sure other's have also, a student with as little as 2 or 3 months training, has come forward and informed that they were very successful in some kind of altercation and it was due to their training. Now I will also offer this for your edification. The deeper you get into the discipline of Hapkido, the more you will come to understand a higher aspect of concepts and applications.

"DAN JON HO" really effective?
In a training eviornment yes. Anything that assists in promoting good health is beneficial. Carring over to actual combat, it will increase your stamina and afford a little extra umph in your movements, but this is primarily due to the overall increase in better health and conditioning in my opinion.

"Are theire Chi exercises"
Yes, and I'm sure that either Master Mike T or Master Stuart will be able to answer and give you better instructions than myself.

Hope this is of some assistance to you

Mike Dunn

[GunBin]

Thanks for the input Mike

So if there exists many different styles under the flag of HapKiDo where can one get the name of these styles in order to better understand which part of HapKiDo one wishes to begin from? Can anyone supply a list of the main names of the different styles and the relative differences between them?

I also found this school in London which study’s the art of HapKiDo, being a student seems expensive but worthwhile?

http://www.changshapkidoacademy.co.uk/

This dojang is run under the supervision of Gedo Chang (8th dan HapKiDo 5th dan in Tae Kwon Do who is also the president of the World Hapkido Union) and run by Tammy Parlour 4th dan). This dojang study’s the Wol Ge Kwan style if anyone can comment about this style. As I know how important the school of choice is and one must go and actually find out, but at a first glance does this seem to be a worthy style and dojang? I didnt want to drop them an email asking 'who was your teacher' and so forth.

Also, in general, is the practice of semi contact common amongst HapKiDo dojangs? Although this depends on each dojangs policy this I believe is necessary in the implementation of the practice.

Hope to hear from others on the Chi aspect of HapKiDo.

Again if anyone knows of HapKiDo dojangs in London, U.K. please drop a reply.

Thanks,

Pavlos Metinidis

[sidekick]

So if there exists many different styles under the flag of HapKiDo where can one get the name of these styles in order to better understand which part of HapKiDo one wishes to begin from?

Whew!, this can get really indepth. I'll try to give some additional information, as general as it may be, you may be able to understand a little better.

I'll just use 2 organizations as an example. The KHF (Korean Hapkido Federation), of which there are a few members that post here, lists 40+ kwans of hapkido that they recognize. Each kwan, one would assume, has differences in what and or how they teach, otherwise why the need for 40+. Then we have the Kido Hae or Kido, that also list a number of kwans. There must be at least 20 or more organizations that sponser hapkido, so you can see how this starts to expand upon itself. I don't honestly know if there is anyone who would be familiar with all the relative differences.

"Also, in general, is the practice of semi contact common amongst HapKiDo dojangs"?

I'm not really understanding what your asking. One learns how to go with a technique (Breakfalls), so there is hands on envolvement. If you mean strikes, then they are not done to inflict damage in the dojang, but as a precursor to a throwing or takedown technique, so I guess that would fall under semi contact.

Mike Dunn

[Michael Tomlinson]

Gedo Chang was an early black belt under Doju Nim Ji Han Jae back in the old Korea Hapkido Association days...so I am under the impression that his style of Hapkido follows that curriculum...I don't know anyone in the UK that teaches Hapkido so I couldn't help you out with that, but Changs Hapkido as far as I know is a pretty reputable style of Hapkido. There used to be a Changs Hapkido dojang in the Orlando area..I went over and watched a class one time...they were ok...nothing great but they were doing real Hapkido without a doubt....so I would say check it out and then go for it...again Gedo Chang is known as a real old school Hapkido player....
Mike

[Todd]

The way I break it down is there are those that practice and teach Doju Nim Choi's style of Hapkido with very few kicks and those that practice the GM Ji variation with high kicks. There are of course combat hapkido schools out there but they are not quite the same as either the Choi or Ji styles.

Doju Nim Choi, Yong Sul - Jungki Kwan/GM Lim, Hyun Soo

Grandmaster Ji, Han Jae - Sin Moo Hapkido

Take care

[ushankido]

Isn't there more HKD practitioners in the world who studied from Ji Han Jae Dojunim?

[Todd]

Isn't there more HKD practitioners in the world who studied from Ji Han Jae Dojunim?

GM Ji has many students that studied from him at some point but now his style is Sin Moo. The main differance is that in DJN Choi's art he did not include the high kicks that Ji added into his style. Hapkido is attributed to DJN Choi, Yong Sul and GM Ji added some things to start his own branch of the Choi, Yong Sul tree. GM Ji has many prominent students that studied through him though.

Take care,

[GunBin]

Hey People

Now I see! thats why my searches came up inconclusive!! So all the kwans made fall into the two general categories: GM Ji and DN Choi.

Mike what I meant about semi contact is not about the martial art but if there is the practice of semi contact within the majority of HapKiDo dojangs. In other words, matches in controlled environment wearing guards which does not have the intention to inflict damage but as training for somewhat more realistic situations. We did this extensively in TKD.

Michael, dude, don’t pop my bubble.
But seriously why did the class you watch didn’t really satisfy you. In the case what are the criterias that I should look for when I go and check London branch out?

Thanks

[GunBin]

Hey People

Now I see! thats why my searches came up inconclusive!! So all the kwans made fall into the two general categories: GM Ji and DN Choi.

Mike what I meant about semi contact is not about the martial art but if there is the practice of semi contact within the majority of HapKiDo dojangs. In other words, matches in controlled environment wearing guards which does not have the intention to inflict damage but as training for somewhat more realistic situations. We did this extensively in TKD.

Michael, dude, don’t pop my bubble.
But seriously why did the class you watch didn’t really satisfy you. In the case what are the criterias that I should look for when I go and check London branch out?

Thanks

Better to be a tiger for a day than
a sheep for a lifetime

[iron_ox]

Hello Pavlos,

OK, here I can toot my horn a bit. I lived, trained and taught in London for several years in the late seventies, early eighties. I then had an opportunity to be exposed to Master Chang's Wol Ge Kwan here in Illinois through his son and several other sources including some of his earliest students in the States. My opinion is based on what I personally experienced - not a general feeling about what the school is like.

Master Chang has removed any element in his version of Hapkido that he felt was dangerous or could cause any injury to an opponent. Many strikes are reduced to mere pushes - which I found really strange. In addition, there is an addition of hyung to his system which I can only describe as clumpsy. When I trained with his son at the University of Illinois in Champaign, he told me several times that the technique I was demonstrating had been removed from their curriculum becasue it was either too dangerous or was one that westerners would not understand.

I stand here not being critical - that was MY experience - others may have different feelings. So be it.

Pavlos, I suggest you also look at International Hapkido, under the leadership of Fred Adams, who have a school in London, or Master Joe Marsh at the Hapkido Black Belt Academy - who is a highly competant instructor.

Again, this is my experience, I am not trying to just make a negative comment without first hand knowledge.

If you want to continue this off line, PM me Pavlos. I infact have a student who just moved to London, and will be training with Master Marsh - maybe you could even contact him.