Cross-training

[HapkidoScott]

I think HKD is very well rounded and TKD is great as well. However, I have been interested in Muay Thai for quite awhile and am considering trying to go to a reputable gym at least 4 days a month (hey its an hour and half drive away). My question is this, should I wait awhile to concentrate more on getting the HKD and TKD basics? I am a fast learner and pracice a lot, mostly I want to learn Muay Thai basics so I can do some full contact sparring and learn skills that I can train on a heavy bag with. Anyhow, open to opinions, thanks guys and gals! :o

[zac_duncan]

How long have you studied HKD and TKD?

I don't see anything wrong with cross-training, but three standup styles at the same time could be quite confusing. Also, when are you going to have time to practice outside of class? Are you not already sparring and hitting the heavy bag?

My general advice in cross-training, especially when you're first learning is not to embrace the "take what you like and leave the rest" mindset. At least not at first. You need to learn not just how the system you're learning performs actions but why as well. When you get a grip on the "character" of the system, then you can start to judge what it is that you like.


Anyway, if you think you've got enough practice time and the ability to not confuse the methods of one for the other then, no, there's probably no problem. However it sounds like a tall order. Also perhaps instead of studying three stand-up, predominantly empty handed systems, maybe you should look into a weapons system or a groundfighting system. It seems like overkill and a recipe for confusion to train three systems like this simultaneously.

[TigerAn1]

My cross training consists of running, heavy bag, light weight lifting, and bodyweight cals (dips, chins, various types of pushups, situps, etc.) At this time, it's enough of a challenge to be proficient in hapkido. I don't need to muddy the water by trying to learn another art, and cut my proficiency (and wallet) in half.

[Utotin]

I think that an excellent art to cross train in is Kendo, or Kumdo. A good portion of the Hapkido Masters I am familliar with seem to hold at least a Dan ranking in Kumdo.

I am sure that many novice and intermediate Hapkido Students may be wondering how learing the way of the sword could possibly improve their Hapkido. Its Apples and Oranges. Possibly even some with dan rank may not realize this- I know I did not.

When I was coming up we learned a few basic strikes with the Jook Do as red belts. I was just kind of like, cool we get to learn sword too. These rudimentary strikes and basic footwork seemed to be more for the purpose of building strength and to give those learning the dan Bong, or short stick something to defend against while learning the basic blocks. Kind of fun, but not too in depth & definitly not really related to Hapkido.

Well, I always thougt Kumdo was pretty cool & one day I decided to go down to my loacal Japanese Community Center and signed up for Kendo. I had figured that my HKD experience give me a leg up as I leaned Kendo. Much to my dismay nothing could be further from the truth. Learning to control a weapon is way harder than learning to control your own limbs. My HKD training did not help me one bit.

Funny thing is that quite the opposite started happening. As time went by and I got better at Kendo I could tell it was starting to influence my HKD in a very positive way. I know many of us learn some basic sword techniques in class the we practice against the air, but that does not help. I'm talking about full contact Kumdo/Kendo with all the armor and everything.

It did not improve my HKD in the sense that it made me a "well rounded" or "complete" martial artist. It helped me in very tangible ways which i will go over now. One of the most obvious things is that it does improve you forearm strength tremendously, somehting that is obviously very imoportant to an art where the strength of your grip is very important. Kendo is also a geat cardio work out. It helped me learn how to co-ordinate my own energy. In Kendo on of the most fundamental concepts is Ki Ken Ta Ichi, or Spirit, Body,and Sword as one. Another important thing is I really learned about using my KI, about how to really apply it in my techniques as this is EXTREMELY important in Kendo/Kumdo. In my hapkido training it is discussed and we all know about it in a mystical sort of way but we never really learn what it means to US and how to apply it practically.
Another thing that improved was my timing and sense of distance. I also learned about the importance of maintaing your center if that makes sense. I lMy sparing got way better and I was able to see openings alot better and was able to take advantage of them much more efficiently.

I could probably go on and on, but my post would get long and boring. But I guess the point is that while Kendo/Kumdo is very different the most essential aspect of it will seep into your HKD and improve it tremendously. These are things that your will not learn from swinging your Jook Do at the air durring Black Belt Class, or learning fancy sword routines. These are lessons you learn in traditional Kumdo/Kendo because you have no choice. You either absorb these skills and concepts into every fiber of your being or you'll get your ass kicked. It becames apart of you and will impact any other martial art you practice. Now I know why so many HKD masters practice Kumdo. So botom line, I am no expert in either art but if you are looking to cross train you may want to look into Kumdo/Kendo and see if you experience similar effects.

[Coges]

I have often thought of crosstraining in Muay Thai to complement my HKD. I think that it would give excellent striking skills with both the hands and the feet. The one area where I fall down is that the kicking is so different between the two arts and I think that at a novice or intermediate level this could completely confuse and ruin the technique that many people practice years to master.

I think the positive thing about Muay Thai would be the fight conditiong you would be able to gain out of the training. Something that you may not necessarily experience with HKD.

[BackFistMonkey]

My Instructor seems highly amused when I walk in with new material and we spar . Of course he shuts me down ... I suck but I try , and I never see him telling the other students not to cross train or that I using improper technique, j , quite the opposite he usualy points out when I used something outside of Hapkido and how unless your fighting people in this class your not gonna be fighting anyone like you do here.He tells his TKD people to come to HKD becouse its already included * read FREE to TKD people here * especialy his black tips and senior students in TKD * shrugs* he makes them come train with us in Hapkido a certain number of hours to progress . I see the other students not fairing as well in sparing , "judo wrestling " *snickers* , and full range with him as I do ... and thats sad .

I barely get decent tutorlage in my crosstraining adventures . My Hapkido instructor actually cleans up alot of the techs I am learning out of class when I use them on mat in class .

As for Muay Thai ... hehe watching your class mates run into your strikes is priceless ... and it is demoralizing to the class untill everyone adapts and starts knocking you stupid for being " a wise ass" ( well at the beganing anyways and only a few of them actually meant it ) . This doesnt mean I disrupt training or start a scene it simply means its a good competive open learning enviroment using this silly "aliveness" principle instead of stagnant drilling the same way over and over again with the same exact strike exact same responce , where you only learn the tech .. not the concept of the technique .

If I remember correctly Hapkido was created to counter the mainstream arts of the day....Why not have your students bring in the mainstream arts of the day ? We think its fun and only makes sense ... whats wrong that ?