Bryan

Hey guys,

Have any of you have an opportunity to train with Hapkido, or learn any techniques? I know MANY fighters train in this to learn it as a base and expand from there. Unfortunately, I've already focused on Shaolin Kung Fu as my base, and I've been expanding on that...

I plan on going with Hapkido as expansion and technique. I am a stand up fighter, and supposedly Hapkido is one of the most powerful arts out there right now for stand up technique.

Just wandering about any opinions on Hapkido, or any experiences...

kickboxerkid

Hapkido is a korean martial art, I think.

If I remember rightly it's excellent not only for training attack techniques but for evasion, agility and technique training.

Personally I'd say it was an excellent base martial art, however I've never studied it myself.

Bryan

Yea, Hapkido is a Korean Martial art.

Thanksf or the reply, I'm going to go ahead and look into getting classes with a local trainer or a friend of mine who's currently studying it.

Since its to late to make a base around it, I'll just have to use it for expansion.

Any ideas or recommendations on where to get a dvd?

kickboxerkid

Nowhere special, but to be honest I was browsing amazon just now and came across some very good looking hapkido dvd's:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/se...0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

If you do get into it, please share with us your experiences!

rogue

I've been training Hapkido for about a month now, and I absolutely LOVE IT. It's greatly improved my stand up 200%!

You learn a lot of smooth and elegant techniques that are very powerful and defensive at the same time.

Like Kickboxerkid mentioned, you do learn a lot of evasive moves, and you do learn how to handle yourself in tight situations, though you generally do not want to get knocked to the ground into a submission or wrestling match.

You learn a lot of counters with Hapkido, and with a good trainer, you'll learn how to predict your opponents moves and what not.

I strongly urge you to train Hapkido as fast as possible. And also to add, Hapkido is a very technical art. You may want to learn it from a trainer or your friend before going out to buy a DVD. It'd just be a waste of money. It needs to be very tweaked to your body and style instead of just "learning" it.

roundhouse87

Hapkido is what drives me to get up in the mornings.

The training is strong and sometimes hard to bear but is worth it completely. Agility, Speed, Strength and control is something it's helped me work with and understand.

Martial arts to me is 60% the body, and 40% the mind. Hapkido not only trains the body, but trains the mind too.

Link

Hapikdo is an exellent starting point. It wasn't where I begain, but I stronlky feel it is more of the best starting point a fighter could have.

Covers such a rnage that it easy to branch out from.

Sentinel

All fighters have a different style, and a different liking, but Hapkido is a solid form. Other ones that are usually used as bases are Muay Thai, Karate, BJJ, and also Tae Kwon Do.

Luv_to_Wrassle

One of my coworkers teaches this style in NC (he retired from SF GB) - I dont know much about it but I found this comparison to other popular styles:


Aikido
As in Aikido, the attacker is encouraged to over-commit their attack. The attack is received with minimal resistance, it is guided past the target and then the defender's own force is added to it. The result is to unbalance and throw the opponent. However, opponents do not always attack with large movements. Often short jabs and kicks are delivered with such rapidity that it is very difficult to lead the opponent's force. In these situations, the close quarter blocking and striking techniques of Hapkido gives the Hapkido practitioner knowledge of how to counter and overcome such attacks.

Jiu-Jitsu
Many of the joint locks and throws of Hapkido are very similar to those of Jujitsu. Painful twisting of the joints and tendons along with the application of painful pressure to vital points, combined with a thorough knowledge of human anatomy help to control any opponent regardless of size or strength. These techniques are fine for close quarter attacks, however because Jujitsu practitioners do not practice their techniques against proficient kickers or punchers, they are vulnerable to such long range attacks. Hapkido fighters practice kicks and punches to a high degree of proficiency, thus the familiarity gained through practicing the techniques helps in defending against them.

Tae Kwon Do
Virtually all of the kicking techniques of Tae Kwon Do are identical to those of Hapkido. Spinning kicks, thrusts, circular kicks and sweeps are all used in sparring. Due to the fact that Hapkido is not a tournament-orientated style, other techniques like low spinning kicks, low-section kicks and knee strikes are also used. The basic hand techniques of Hapkido are similar to those of Tae Kwon Do, that is, mainly linear attacks with fist or knifehand. However in a confined space such as a crowded public bar or a narrow hallway, kicks are limited in their practicality. Self-defense tools such as elbows, knees, head butts and joint attacks are essential for survival in such situations. All these techniques are practiced in Hapkido to produce a thorough knowledge of all ranges of attack and defense.

Kung Fu
In Hapkido, as the student advances past the basic hand techniques, more emphasis is placed on small circular techniques and fast close quarter parrying which resemble the techniques of Kung Fu. Advanced weaponry techniques using the long pole Bo and the fan are similar to those of Kung Fu.

Judo
Throwing plays an important role in Hapkido. The basic principles of judo are used in Hapkido, that is, moving your opponent's center of balance to a vulnerable position and using your leg or body to topple the opponent. As well, Hapkido uses strikes or pressure points to maneuver the opponent with less use of strength.

Kendo
At advanced stages, students are taught Kumdo. Basic strikes and blocks are similar to Kendo, however circular and low section attacks typical of traditional Korean swordsmanship are taught once the basics have been learned.

Kennon

Hapkido is a ok art, though it came from the lineage of Aikido/Aiki-Jitsu.

I'm not a bif=g fan of Shaolin Gung Fu as I have some issues with it.