hapkido princess

I take Hapkido. I've been doing it for about a year and a half. I love it. What we do in class changes constantly. The only night we know what we're doing for sure is Fridays , that's Fight Night. The other classes could be drills, practicing sets, indurance training, or anything our instructor can think of. Our uniforms consist of Black pants and white dobak or a school t shirt.

As the others have said it depends on the school. My school focuses manly on joint locks, grappling and throws. It is manly self defence. We do have strikes but not many. Our 1 instructor is in Krav Maga and he teaches us more strikes that AREN"T on our sets. I'm a much better striker than a kicker so I tend to strike more in my fighting than kick. I would also advice to watch a few class and get a feel for what they do.

cathal you are right. i had to ask I wasn't sure. I'ts 5th gup.

thank you

I guess this would be the forum to ask this question..I'm in the process of making a card for my son's Hapkido instructor for when my son tests for his Jr. black belt. I'd like to have a good quote or saying about our instructors' influence and teaching. I'm not sure where to look, does anyone have any ideas? I'll probably be making 2 cards. One for my son to give and one for me to give when I test (which won't be for about 6-7 months for me). I'd like mine to say something about teaching the unteachable. God love our instructors' patience with me, I'm kicking impaired..Thanks Amy

Thanks bushido_man96. My instructors like to make as many things practical as possible. The Krav Maga parts are very brutal. The improvised weapons are great. Once a year we also have Master Rodemaker come in for a cane seminar and Tactical Hapkido seminar. It's pretty cool.

I enjoy Hapkido very much. One of the reasons is it's practical uses. At my school we also mix in some Krav Maga. We practice a lot of fighting ,grabs with a resisting partner and street defence with items you would probably have with you ( such as keys, soda bottles, books or pens) and of course your body.

Each rank has a different set with roughly 12 techniques (mostly grabs), at least 1 break fall, kicks, strikes, pressure points and throws. For my red belt test I had to run through each ranks set (7 sets in all). The amount of techniques, kicks, strikes, pressure points, throws and break falls vary from set to set. For black belt I'll also have to fight after my sets.

I wanted to say THANK YOU to all of you who gave me suggestions on doing my roundhouse kick. I took my Red belt test (which included the roundhouse kick) this past Sat. and I passed. My instructor said he could tell I worked hard and practiced my kicks. It was by far the hardest test I've taken so far and the longest. (2 and 1/2 hours). Anyway THANK YOU all very much. Amy

I passed my Red belt test in HAPKIDO this past Saturday. It was the hardest test I've taken so far and the longest. (2 and 1/2 hours.) Just wanted to tell everyone. Amy

I know exactly how you feel. I was 31 when I first joined Hapkido, and I was the oldest one there. I've been at it for a little over a year now and I LOVE IT. It's actually funny sometimes to see the younger ones moan and groan when we run or do jumping jacks, they can't keep up. I always tell them to GET UP I'm twice your age. I was very intimadated at first, but now I get to help with the Jr. class and I get to learn from my younger more flexiable partners in adult class. Just stick with it, half the battle is just going out on the mat for the first time. CONGRATS. GOOD LUCK. HAVE FUN. Amy

My son does the "pre-pivot". He's in Jr. Hapkido (he's 6) and our instructor has him do the "pre-pivot". My son doesn't have good balance or control over his right arm and leg due to a brain bleed he had at birth. If I don't tell people what happend they think he's left handed. It's not that noticable, until he has to do a kick or a knife hand strike with the right side. Our instructor calls it Cougar's (my son's name) cheat. I'm not suppost to use it because I should be able to pivot without it. I've had someone else show me to step into the pivot. but I think that might also telegraph my kick. the pre-pivot does help, it pull's Cougars' hip and body around.

Thank you for the advice on the grounded foot. I didn't get a chance to practice my kicks last night. (It was fight night. Although I did get to use the kicks I'm good at. hehe.) the funny thing is when I help teach the Jr. Hapkido class I tell the kids to watch the rest of their body. I'll say things like "where's your other foot suppost to be?" or "what's that other hand suppost be doing?" I guess I forget that when I get stuck on something.

Thanks so much. I will add the exercises you all have suggested. My dear husband seems to think my hip just won't go any farther. I'd be happy with belt height (just for my test). Most fights I've seen (UFC and sparring) when a roundhouse is used it seems to only be to knee or thigh high. I'm not looking for my kick to be "pretty" just usefull. I fear that most kicks I use could be read pretty easily because of the lenght of my legs. I guess I just have to be fast .

my school has class 3x a week and I go 3x a week(fri. night Sat. morning and Sun. evening.) I also train every night a home for about an hour. I also help with the kids classes 3x a week

I'm having some trouble with my roundhouse kick in Hapkido. It's SLOWLY getting better but I was hoping you guys could give me some tips. I'll start with my body type. TALL and THIN. I'm almost 6' and 133 lbs.Age 32. Flexibility is my one problem. I had my instructor watch my kicks. I seem to be over rotating my hip when I kick with the right leg. the left isn't too bad. I know it takes practice but I was hoping for some tips or training exercises..Thanks Amy

I also agree with sitting down and talking about it. Also Taking her with you to a class is a great idea. I was also VERY shy about "yelling" and fighting with other people. Hapkido has helped me over come that. Now I grapple with whom ever my instructor puts me up against. Not every one at my school "yells" some people just do small key ups with breathing. I had a simular problem with my husband. he wanted me to quit because it took up to much time. We had numerous conversations about this. once he saw how important it was to me he now helps me. I'm TERRIBLE at kicks and he holds targets for me ever night, he learned what to watch for. So he's kinda like my coach. Our son is in JR. Hapkido and has been for about 8 months. I'm up to my blue belt red stripe and I owe a lot of that to my husband. So even if she doesn't want to join maybe she could help you at home. Everyone needs an outlet or hobby, she must have something she's always wanted to do.

hi, I practice Hapkido, but i've been doing so for a year. So I don't think I'll be much help. Amy

hi all. I just found this site. It looks like I can learn a lot here. You all seem to have a lot of experience. I'm 32 yrs old and the mom of a very active 6 year old boy who is in Jr. Hapkido. I just started training in Hapkido about a year ago. I love it. I never thought I could do something like this. (I've read, in magazines,that I shouldn't be "good" at Hapkido because I'm tall and thin.) I do have trouble with some kicks (Roundhouses and side kicks mostly) Maybe I'll get some tips on those from you all. well, I look forward to getting to know you all... Amy