Sorynn

Another option for you is to buy wrestling shoes. I wear a pair of addidas wrestling shoes to my Hapkido class, and they work great for me. Pros: - More durable than the martial arts shoes I have heard about. - Available at any local Sports Authority or sporting goods store for $40 or less. - Great ankle support for those that need it. Cons: - They do not have the pivot point of other MA shoes. This may be a major, minor or non issue depending on the flooring in your dojang. - Ankle mobility is a bit limited, and this may cause issues with foot placement in specialized kicking. Like anything else, it depends on your instructor and what they will and will not let you wear, but that is one more option for you. Respectfully, Sorynn

Thank you, but that is 9-16 hours and it varies quite a bit. It does help that my wife studied Hapkido with me before she became pregnant, so we practice at home together. That is a tremendous advantage for me. Of course, once the baby arrives... who knows what will happen.

Kle1n, I have heard that the Body Flow series by Scott Sonnon is a very good way of enhancing your motor skills and overall body movement. I have just ordered the book, and may be able to tell you more after I read it and start practicing the movements. Respectfully, Sorynn

Training per week Hapkido: 3-5 hours (Dojang), 1-3 hours (at home) BJJ: 2 hours (Dojo) GPP: 3-6 hours (includes running, rowing, calistenics and weight training)

Shorinryu Sensei, I am in the 3-5 year range. I started training about a year ago after a ten to twelve year layoff, but I had a couple years of judo and boxing in the past. Cheers!

40 cent, I worked third shift for a while, during my freshman year in college. I understand how tiring that can be. White Warlock has some good points (proper rest and nutrition and maybe a vacation), and I have one thing to add to his. Are you getting enough exposure to sunlight? I read a few studies years ago that showed a correlation between lack of exposure to direct sunlight and increased chances of physical illness and depression. Certain bodily functions, like the uptake of vitamin D do not happen properly in the dark. Perhaps you can try to spend a little time outside in the sun, on days that you are not working. I do not know much about it, but you could also do a search on "Heliotherapy" on the web. I hope that helps. Good luck, Sorynn

Dean, You probably already know this, but things are very, very different in the world of boxing than in traditional martial arts. Respect is shown with blood and sweat and effort. The use of a title other than "coach" would be considered ridiculous by anyone I ever met that was a boxer. Now, I do not have tons of experience, but I was trained for a year or so by a former lightweight contender and was told to call him "Jimmy." Everyone else in the gym was on a first name basis too. That include a former light-heavy weight kickboxing champion that was working on his pure boxing skills. Respectfully, Sorynn

Gumbi, As you know, my BJJ instructors are called by there first name. Inside class, I call my hapkido instructor by Mr and his first name or "sir". It is a minor thing, and I do not mind showing respect by saying sir, the same way I would address a coach as "coach" or "sir". He has the rank of Master, but does not use it. I am very glad for that, because I do not think I could study under someone that insisted on being called master. Cheers!

Reklats, Unfortunately, people that practice other arts, especially other Korean arts, will sometimes gain minimal knowledge of hapkido then incorporate it into there curiculum and claim to be teaching style XXX and Hapkido. In my opinion that is dishonest to the student and to Hapkido itself. Since Hapkido is a soft art and taught as an integrated system of striking, kicking, throwing and clinch work, I imagine it would be difficult to intrigrate into TKD or TSD, like some people try. I know that the former TKD and shotokan guys at my school sometimes have trouble moving and thinking in the manner of a soft style. Perhaps, that was part of your experience? Sammyra, In response to your initial message... Have you visited the schools, yet? I think that is the first thing you should do. My guess is that you will know where you should be after you visit the schools and participate in a couple classes. Personally, I would choose BJJ or Judo if I where you, but that is just my opinion. Good luck in your search.

A few things I would like to add. My hapkido school has some ground defense in the curiculum, but it is not focused on until around the 3rd or 2nd gup. In other words, not until someone has been studing a good long time. Other kwans may be different, but I doubt it. There are many things that a quality hapkido program will teach, but I do not think it can compete with bjj for groundwork. That is why I started taking some bjj on the side two months ago. I agree with Gumbi's comparison of judo and bjj. I studied judo on and off through junior high and highschool. If others focused on mat work 99% of the time, I would expect them to be better than me on the ground. That is just a function of their training focus.

I have been involved in sports, most of my life. I played soccer for three years in 7th-9th grade, football and badminton in highschool. I also practiced judo on and off during that time. I started weighttraining in 9th grade and have continued on and off untill now. In college, I boxed for a couple years, and started playing rugby. I retired from rugby after about 10 years and took up martial arts again. I feel playing sports has helped me by developing physical power and agility as well as mental toughness and discipline. Cheers, Sorynn

Bretty, Are you certain about this? Everything I have read or heard for the last 15 years is that an imbalance in the potasium/sodium level in the body (potasium too low and sodium too high) will create problems with cramping. I am not saying you are wrong, but I would love to see some research supporting salt helping cramping. Respectfully, Sorynn

I agree with making sure you are drinking enough water. Also, how is your potasium and calcium intake? If you are not getting enough of either of those two, you will cramp up. Good luck, Sorynn

How many here think they are learning to fight? I do. I believe that I can apply many of the skills I am learning in class, based on the altercations I have had in the past. How many of us actually practice awareness skills, and things like de-escalation scenarios, or reading the signs that warn of an impending attack? I do these, but they are not currently taught in my classes. Think of JKD as a philosophy, and who here practices it? Do you work with other stylists, learn your own system then pare it down to what works well for you? Perhaps. I am still learning the basics of Hapkido, and I have been rolling with a bjj class a little. In the past, I have boxed and played judo. If I was in a current altercation, I could see myself using skills from all of those areas, depending on the circumstances. So, I think that counts as a yes. Do you train with force, spar with hard contact, or do you think it is unnecessary? We do not use hard contact in Hapkido, and I do not see how we possibly could without serious injury. In BJJ, we go full speed. Feel free to expound on why...you chose a combative or non-combative style. Or, maybe yours is a mix, or multi-purpose art. A year ago, I wanted to start martial arts again, and I wanted something that I could practice for the next 30 years. Hapkido seemed to be a good fit for me. It has many "soft" and "circular" techniques that will still be useful, when I do not have the strength and power that I have at 31. I added BJJ to acquire some ground skills and because rolling is so much fun! Personally, I find the two styles mix very well, and the body coordination learned in one transfers over to the other.

Those are pretty neat, thanks for sharing.