Newbie Hapkido Questions

[Powernick50]

Greetings All, I have recently discovered that a Hapkido training center has recently opened nearby, and after really looking forward to find an Akido gym I believe Hapkido to suite my needs. This would be the first martial art I have ever taken, and was wondering if it is the "best bang for the buck" so to speak? Hapkido and Akido are practically the same? Also taking class 2 hours a week, how quickly do belts advance for a moderately skilled student on average (I realize that it depends on the student and the teacher) I also believe that Hapkido appears to be very well rounded? Is this true? Thanks for answering all my questions in advance!

[mixmastersenior]

Hapkido and Aikido were both derived from a Japanese Martial art called
Daito Ryu Aiki jujitsu. they share some similar concepts, but are fundamentally different due to their founders. Aikido is an art steeped in a philosophy of non aggression. The goal of Aikido is to resolve conflict without harm to anyone. Although Hapkido shares some concepts with Aikido in balance control and joint manipulation, Hapkido will definitely injure the attacker. Quite seriously. Aikido does not have any striking or kicking, where as Hapkido has many strikes and kicks. The Throws or takedowns of Aikido use large flowing circular movements, where Hapkido's throws use very small brutal circular movements. this is just a quick general description of some of the differences.

[laz001]

Hello PowerNick!

Advancing through belts depends completely on the club and syllabus. Most clubs grade every few months, and that probably gets longer towards higher grades as the standard and content gets greater. Normally twice a week you can get to black around 3-4 years. Taking more lessons may allow grading in less time. It truely depends on the club/instructor/syllabus.

Hapkido is so well rounded because a normal club would cover most of the following:

Punching/Open hand strikes, kicking, joint locks/restraints/, joint throws/body throws, footwork & balance, defending grabs, defending strikes, weapons including stick, knife, cane rope/nunchucks maybe, ground pins and locks restraints and possibly sparring.

By black you will have an excellent base in pretty much most of those areas of combat, allowing you to learn and progress very quickly in another art specialist art if you choose to refine and specialise your skills.

Feel free to ask if you got any questions.

Laurence

[Powernick50]

The classes at the place near me are only 1 hour long 1 night a week, is that way to slow? It seems like it would be a long process for advancement. and 65 dollars a month so basically 15 bucks a class. Should I find another place?

[klaasb]

Yes

[laz001]

$15 an hour? Who is the instructor? That's a lot.

[MaxG]

The classes at the place near me are only 1 hour long 1 night a week, is that way to slow? It seems like it would be a long process for advancement. and 65 dollars a month so basically 15 bucks a class. Should I find another place?

Sounds like a rip off to me.

[estranged13]

is there other things offered at this school as well? is once a week the beginners class? And there are more advanced ones?

[Hapkidokid2520]

Ok first thing you shouldnt be worried about advancement in rank. you just need to be worried about acdvancement in skill and technique. A good school should be 3-4 classes a week and take you 4-5 years at this rate to achieve your black belt.

As far as the class near you id say its a little on the expensive side. my school is 65 a month, 4 nights a week and at least 2 classes a night that every body can attend. So id find a different school.

as far as hapkido and aikido being the same its not. aikido is more leg sweeps and throws. hapkido has joint maniopulation and strikes aswell as few weapons. rope, cane, danbong (korean short stick), ect..

[iron_ox]

Ok first thing you shouldnt be worried about advancement in rank. you just need to be worried about acdvancement in skill and technique. A good school should be 3-4 classes a week and take you 4-5 years at this rate to achieve your black belt.

Where do you get this from? How many places have you trained to aquire this knowledge to speak with authority?

As far as the class near you id say its a little on the expensive side. my school is 65 a month, 4 nights a week and at least 2 classes a night that every body can attend. So id find a different school.

Cost is dependant on location, and I might add the experience and background of the instructor - so why are you saying that $65 sounds like a lot of money? Most places arond Chicago, for example charge as much as $125 per month for two one hour classes a week...I don't, bu tthat is the average. Please, before you offer advice, try to think of context.


as far as hapkido and aikido being the same its not. aikido is more leg sweeps and throws. hapkido has joint maniopulation and strikes aswell as few weapons. rope, cane, danbong (korean short stick), ect..

This is so vague, it almost couldn't be wrong, but this type of sweeping generalization is incorrect, at best.

Hello 2520,

Nice to see you contributing. What kind of training backgrond do you have? Where do you train? Thomas would probably love to include you in the INTRO section at the top of the page.

[Hapkidokid2520]

Hello 2520,

Nice to see you contributing. What kind of training backgrond do you have? Where do you train? Thomas would probably love to include you in the INTRO section at the top of the page.
iron ox,
first thing im not the only to say its expensive, read the whole thread everybody agree's. so if you wanna talk average then READ.

Talk with authority? Diddnt mean to, but people who get their BB in 1-2 years are nothing like a true BB. I spared a cocky TKD BB who got his around 2 years, i diddnt get touched.
And another that was from the same background, black belted in bout 2 yrs, and destroyed them.

Aikido Generalazation~ my HKD instructor trained in Aikido aswell and has somewhat educated me in the BASIC principles of the art.

As far as my experience, ive trained under a 2nd Dan BB in koy kwando for 9 years and trained in hapkido for 4 years. Ive talked to numerous HKD masters 5th dan and higher, aswell as read books by Grandmaster kimm, on hapkido and zen-MA philosiphy. Im young (16) and learning with lots to learn. but of all my personal experience that school was a bit pricy.

[MaxG]

Whoa,

Geeze what's with the hostility? Let's calm down everyone. :D

[estranged13]

aikido doesn't sweep legs

[American HKD]

Greetings,

$15-20 per class is definately average for a professional teacher/master with 15-20 years or more in HKD.

For a 1st or 2nd dan with 5-8 years less is OK.

You always get what you pay for!

[Hapkidokid2520]

Lets agree to disagree with aikido sweeping legs. my instructor has talked about aikido sweeping legs numerous times.



What hostility? :woo: lol

[estranged13]

i did aikido for a year and my wife did for two with 2 major aikido orginzations there are no leg sweeps because it goes against the philosophy if u dont beleive me ask in the aikido forum

and don't take everything any instructor as fact

[JimH]

Ueshiba's aikido had/has no Leg sweeps or kicks as the founder believed one needed to have both feet on the ground.

That is not to say different variations of Aikido do not have leg sweeps,just that traditional aikido does not.