How to get a Hapkido black belt?

[Kill Jill]

I've got a TKD black belt, and have done about a total of 12 months in Hapkido here in Korea. I'm currently in a school under the International Hapkido Federation. I decided to do Hapkido as a supplement to the limited range of moves of TKD.

In Korea it's possible to get belt promotion every month. As a result there are many blue and red belts - and even black belts - who cannot show very much, and I think this is terrible. My fellow students are baffled why after many months of training with them (I go about 3 or 4 times a week) I just let myself go as far as yellow belt only.

I have personal doubts about ever being ready for a black belt, so am just letting myself amble slowly until I feel I'm making some genuine progress, and then perhaps aim for my next color belt. In my opinion, black belt means that you should be 'really good.' However, I don't even know what constitutes a 'standard' for Hapkido black belt level. Should I be able to spar in any kicking or take-down situation? How is it possible that anyone could master all the different categories in Hapkido within even a few years? Are there common expectations between all the Hapkido schools as far as a black belt goes?

How can I guage when I am ready for belt promotion in Hapkido, as there seems to be very little information available - certainly nothing in Korea. Is there even any point in aiming for a black belt in Hapkido, when it seems there are just so many different strands of Hapkido. I certainly feel less of a need to be administered a belt to prove myself in Hapkido as I had felt going through TKD.

Does anyone have any advice

[frightmaster]

I study TKD and have a question regarding the belt promotion of Hapkido.....Did you look at other Hapkido schools and see what the needs to promot to the next belt would be? I wonder if it is just your school making you feel as you do.

Just an opinion.

[SBN Doug]

I can't speak for Hapkido. However, if you remain disillusioned you could visit a Kuk Sool Won dojang.

The Grandmaster has laid out the structured curriculum, so you know what you must learn to be eligible to be promoted to each level.

However, even if you've know all the material for 1st dan for years, you will not promote until the upper belts testing you grade your performance as adequate, and your school Master believes that you are ready.

[Scott James]

First let me say that I appreciate someone seeing the ease of promotions in some schools. I was offered my Dan at serveral schools before deciding where to test. The reason I chose the school I did was because it was a test.

Last time I was in Korea I sat in on a HKD class. The instructor was good, but his Black Belts ranged from good to what I felt was really bad (based on my Jujitusu training). I got the feeling he just promoted everyone on a schedule not skill.

I cannot believe that all the schools are like this. Just like here in the US you need to shop around and find a school that promotes based on skill and not some time table. As for knowing when you are ready, you just know. Just recognizing that time at a school is not enough means you recognize the need for progression, not just time served.

[scad]

i take TKD in florida and when you are moving through your belts you are taught hapkido, then once you are a black belt in TKD you have a good start on hapkido, then you begin intinsive training in hapkido and move through belts. thats just my school's way of doing it.

[Scott James]

Scad,

your school is mixing things up. Many WTF schools do not teach any HKD.

[Kill Jill]

How about you guys who have a black belt in HKD - what would you say constitutes a sufficient level in terms of demonstrative ability to be considered a black belt?

I've been in Korea for 2 years now, and believe me, 95% of all HKD schools here work on promoting to 'schedule' as one of the above respondents referred to. Some schools have a list of requirements, but it's more a list of requirements that have been taught, than rather skills that have been solidly learned by the students.

I'm going to my gym specifically because of proximity and convenience of class time fitting my working hours. I have sampled other gyms previously, but what they teach is largely the same.

I'd be interested to hear a list of skills that HKD black belts had to 'master' before they could take the black belt test.

Also, I wonder how much importance do you put on the weapons training component as opposed to the self-defense and take-down motions?

[Scott James]

Jill,

I can't speak for HKD directly. I know some Black Belts, but My experience and skill are in Jujitsu.

However, working out with the HKD guys I can say we share this.

Knowlege and skill in using Wrist locks.

Mastery of foot work, moving to maintain balance and to take the opponets balance.

Body throws, arm throws, controling the oppoent safly threw and entire technique.

There's more kicking in HKD vs jujitsu.

Gound fighting skills appear to vary. One guy I know is really good another guy is not.

as far as weapons, one guy I know his school teaches walking cain. In jujitsu we work with a Jo staff (4 foot staff).

Jill,

are you happy with what you are learning? the promotion schedule aside, do you like the teacher and feel you learning somthing?

Just don't accpet promotion. I have sat on my butt for 2 years in a school becasue I like what I was learning but felt the testing was a shame. Just because I didn't take promition didn't change the fact that I got a lot out ofbeing there.

The fact that you ask the questions that you do shows you are at a level to appreciate knowledge over rank.

[Kill Jill]

Thanks for your responses.

I have sat on my butt for 2 years in a school becasue I like what I was learning but felt the testing was a shame. Just because I didn't take promition didn't change the fact that I got a lot out ofbeing there.

Yeah, but ain't it weird to have someone in a class for 2 years and only have a white belt? Already I can show better ability than all the students except two black belts who do have genuine ability.

Another reason I'm dubious of belt promotion is that this school charges for each test. Test fees are atypical in Korea. I'm reluctant to pay any more money to this monkey-nuts school. You really should come over one day and see what kind of school I'm at - it's truly crazy! I'm only going there because I surmise that learning something new however little is better than nothing, and there are no other options in my particular area.

Sigh. Perhaps I need to import a personal trainer from the States...

[Scott James]

Jill,

I didn't sit at white belt I came to a TKD school from TSD so I was allowed to keep my TSD rank of 1st gup. I just didn't accept a dan promotion because the school's testing was really lame. I enjoyed learning the subtle diversity between the arts, rank didn't really matter.

Testing fees are pretty common in the US. It really rasies a red flag. The thing you need to look for is how much the fee is. High fees are even more suspect. Nominal fees usually go along with some sort of cosst covering.

Now when it cost more for higher rank, then it's time to leave! I never could see anyone justify why a white to yellow test should cost less then yellow to what ever is next.

I'd love to sit in on this place, but I am only in Korea every once and while and usually on buisness. It really sucks because I have no time to check out places. There's only so many times I can look at the Kukkiwon. It really sounds like you do not like this school and you feel you're not getting much out of it.

Are you in Seoul or outside? If you're in the city there's got to be someplace that's just a subway stop away. Then agian traffic in Seoul can make any short trip a long one

Now a personal trainer from the US is a great idea, but it might be a little expensive