Question Regarding Hapkido

[soonerjas]

Knew here and fairly new to Martial Arts. I have a question in reference to Hapkido as I am considering joining a class at our local Dojo.

How much striking is taught/involved with this art? I am interested in learning the joint locks and throws associated with Hapkido but am much more comfartable with striking. I want to learn all aspects of combat, but would prefer to focus on striking. Is Hapkido a good option?

THANKS!

[french fri25]

my school is a hapkido/tkd school so i think most of the striking comes from tkd, but, there are many kicks and strikes in hkd too. as these arts are both korean, there is much more kicking than hand concentration, but hapkido has some hand techniques. i'd say if you were looking for striking art with a little grappling, a tkd school would be your best bet because they usually teach a little hkd with the tkd. but, if you want more grappling and self defense than strikes, hkd would be better. i am not saying that hkd has few strikes. im just saying that it emphasizes on self defense more than striking. in my school, the tkd side takes care of the striking. both emphasize on kicks more than punches though. if you are looking for an art with more hand combinations, than a chinese martial art like wing chun would probably be your best bet.

[SBN Doug]

If you want heavy striking, then the Muay Thai you list in your styles should cover you pretty well. Are you unable to continue with that?

The amount of strikes in Hapkido will vary based on where you learn it. Watch a class or two and see how much focus is at the school you're considering.

[bushido_man96]

Good advise here. I would continue with the Thai training you have to offset the hapkido locks and throws.

[aigaios]

HKD does have many hand and foot strikes, however, many schools tend to put more emphasis on the joint locks and throw more than the strikes. Then again it all depends on what school of HKD you would study under. Do you know what organization the master of the school got his belt from? (i.e. the Korea Hapkido Assoc., the International Hapkido Federation, the Korea Sin Moo Hapkido Federation, etc.)

EDIT: and though I'm an International Hapkido Federation practitioner, I don't particularly like or dislike any of the different organizations, I'm simply curious as to what style of HKD you would be attending, since that would influence (to a certain degree) the amount of striking you would be doing.

[hapkido princess]

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.

[glockmeister]

I am interested in learning the joint locks and throws associated with Hapkido but am much more comfartable with striking.

THANKS!

All the more reason to work on throws and locks, then you will be equally comfortable with them. We often stay with what we are comfortable with and end up denying ourselves another important element in our overall toolbox of self defense.