viskous Posted July 9, 2005 Share Posted July 9, 2005 well in a previous thread i asked about cross training and was incouraged that cross training taekwon do and hapkido would be a good idea, So i did a search and luckily enough found a school where im moving that teaches both seperately in a very traditional manner (which i prefer). the thing is that the head intructor is only a second degree black belt in taekwon do which seems a lil low to me(as my current teacher is getting his 4th soon). he also has a 1st gup in hapkido(i dont know how high that is). Secondly when i emailed him and asked him a couple questions one of which was about the fees (which are suspiciously missing from the site) he seemed to dodge the question, though he did seem very nice. But he is certified by the GTF ITF and WHA which seems like a good thing, he also has a few letters of commendation from some seemingly high level people........but something seems off about it to me still could somebody check out the site for me and give me their "keen" oppinions?http://members.shaw.ca/rjsproductions/home_11.htmsorry for the length but help would be well appreciated[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tufrthanu Posted July 9, 2005 Share Posted July 9, 2005 Hmm...well first off 1st Gup is the rank before black belt. 16 years in TKD and he's only 2nd dan..could be. I haven't heard of the WHA but that doesn't mean anything...my concern is that he is teaching on his own at 2nd dan. Alot of places require you to be 3rd at least to teach as a head instructor...and he doesn't even have a dan ranking in the hapkido. Personally I think you should go watch a class and get his listing of instructors. You can always post it to the board. I know alot of people high up in tkd and hkd circles...not GM's mind you...4th and 5th dans but they may be able to give me more information if you get more info. Long Live the Fighters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viskous Posted July 9, 2005 Author Share Posted July 9, 2005 ya i thought it was wierd he hadnt achieved dan status after 8 years of hapkido but he's still certified by the WHA (world hapkido association)people om his board of directors areMr. R. Lambie, 1st Vice-PresidentMr. J. Skipper, 2nd Vice-PresidentMrs. L. Smith, 3rd Vice-President/SecretaryMrs. K. Cross, 4th Vice-PresidentMrs. C. Brown, 5th Vice-PresidentMr. R.J. Smith, Presidentthe only 2 assistant intructors he names on the site are 2 1st dansbut he does have 3 testimonials.....one by Johnson Kong (i think thats his name) 5th dan and his letter mentions a few other high ranked people to do with them.......but im still wary that there doesnt seem to be much experience in the main instructorsthe school has been open for a long time though so im confused why he would stay at 2nd dan for so long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tufrthanu Posted July 9, 2005 Share Posted July 9, 2005 Well it could be that he just never got around to testing. I don't know what to say about the association. Alot of associations you can join and they've never even laid eyes on you. I can't find on his site where he has the testimonials listed...perhaps you could give me a link to that. I haven't heard of Ko but perhaps one of the other KF members has. Long Live the Fighters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viskous Posted July 9, 2005 Author Share Posted July 9, 2005 this is the first testimonial by Johnson Kong there are 2 others but i dont think there from martial artistshttp://members.shaw.ca/rjsproductions/tested_01.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tufrthanu Posted July 9, 2005 Share Posted July 9, 2005 Yeah 2 of those you can discount. Kong being the only one that counts. This guy that posted the first testimonial only trained him for 7 months. I would like to see a testimonial from one of his actual instructors...the one that taught him to 2nd dan for instance. This testimonial also says that Kong was invited to teach at this guys school which could be why hes writing the testimonial. I am being negative here but for a purpose. Testimonials are usually a dime a dozen. If you know anyone that has experience in TKD and preferably HKD also I would take them down to view a class with you. Also see if you can find out who his instructor to 2nd dan was. Hopefully someone else's answers will be more illuminating than mine have been thus far. Long Live the Fighters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viskous Posted July 9, 2005 Author Share Posted July 9, 2005 ya the testimonial mentioned who trained him to first dan but not second i dont think,....even if it did i wouldnt recognise any names..........but ya im thinking that i might be able to get my dad to come with me when i first go down there.......he's pretty well trained in karate and hapkido (dont know what level he reached in hapkido tho) but i wont be able to do that for a while probably Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted July 9, 2005 Share Posted July 9, 2005 yeah its always worth having a look - you cant really tell what its gonna be like until you go..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UseoForce Posted July 9, 2005 Share Posted July 9, 2005 Don't put too much emphasis on rank. Actual skill (which rank may or may not reflect) and teaching ability (which rank does not reflect) should be more important to you. Furthermore, I'd rather train under someone who a 2nd degree in TKD and 1st Gup in hapkido than a fourth degree TKD instructor. Cross training, in my opinion, has benefits beyond just being a "well rounded" fighter. It helps destroys the ignorance so many instructors have about other martial arts outside their own. There are many other benefits, which I will not go into detail about.Go check out a class. Like Sam said, worth a look. If it works, use it!If not, throw it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adonis Posted July 9, 2005 Share Posted July 9, 2005 go check it out and see if you like the instruction if thats the only place around that teaches hapkidio that is adfortable to you but you also like the instruction and feel comfortable with the school, other students and instructors and the over price of the programs. THen your good to go. I met some 1st and 2nd dan's in diffrent styles and they were incredible martial artist and teachers. One of my instructors in shaolin Kenpo is 1st dan when I met him. He didn't care much for rank after black belt so he took forever to test that was just his personality but he can hang with alot of other 3rd 4th and some 5th dan's as well. So it depends on many factors. best thing is check it out. See if they offer any intro packages. Some will give you a free introductory package or let you try the class out for 10 or 20 bucks for that classworth it to check out the instruction. Maybe watch a few classes on diffrent days and try out the instruction. base your opinion on how well you enjoy the instructiion and how detailed you feel the techniques and quality of the instruction is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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