Hapkido Falling

[tufrthanu]

I was recently at a hapkido dojang viewing a class to see whether I wanted to join or not and I saw that even though they had a standard mat that was about 1-1.5 inches thick they still did most of their falling on a thin carpet over cement. They didn't seem to be throwing full force but still it worries me. Is this something I need to be concerned about? Also, I have had problems falling in the past...i.e. twisting my arm and hitting my head will this exacerbate that problem?

[DLopez]

Well, it's something to be concerned about if you fail to learn how to fall properly.

 

There is definitely a proper way to fall. If Hapkido is like KSW in that regard, you should learn how to peform a front fall, side fall, front-side fall, back fall, circle fall, and cat roll.

 

I don't know how Hapkido classes operate, but I'd be surprised if they didn't show you the "beginner" method of falling first (falling by itself, not from throwing), before making you fall on thinly padded carpet or by being thrown.

 

Joint lock and throwing techniques are designed to be brutal on your opponent, so that's why you saw the practice not going at full force.