Despite major stylistic differences i see similarities to Bujinkan. So my question is how does the striking/defending skills stack up?. How about the standing grappling? Are they part of a systematic way of training or just locks bolted onto TKD? How are weapons typically treated, are they just solo forms and no application or is the application? The reason i ask is because i found a HKD place in my town and it seams to be hugely popular. I dont know much about the art other then youtube videos and my conversation with the instructor.. It seams to be very similar to the Bujinkan in that it has striking and standing grappling. The one major difference is that they spar regularly.. I found my self intrigued by them. Here is the website. http://www.awnewhapkido.com/ So guys can you sate my curiosity about this style? I notice it gets as much trolling on the net as Bujinkan does.
Looks they are a part of GM West's organization. I can tell you that GM West does not teach 'bolt-on' Hapkido, it's a solid lineage all the way up the line. It relates quite nicely to my Aikido experience (I have attended GM West seminars and reguarly work out with members of one of the schools in his organization). I would call the striking more of an add-on then the locks and throws, but their kicks are quite nice.
I have the pleasure of being able to train occasionally in a school that has Hapkido as a curriculum as part of its overall training. You can get belts in Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido if you'd like. This school does a lot of training on locks, throws, stand up grappling. A fair degree of ground work. Haven't trainined in enough of it to give a full critique but my friend tested for his 5th Dan a few weeks back. How Hapkido compares to Bujinkin I can not say. As Giovanni suggests, try a few classes.
I have no experience with Bujinkan aside from internet forums. My experience in traditional Hapkido comes from training i Korea under the IHF (2nd dan), in person visits and online sharing with other traditional HKDists, and quite a few years now with an offshoot HKD art called Combat Hapkido (5th dan). That said, 'traditional' Hapkido does a lot of things very well in a general sense. Falling skills are great, standup striking is good, standup grappling/joint locks/throws are very good. From a self defense perspective, Hapkido fits very well in training for self defense within realistic levels of force (based on the scenario). It can be a very good base for good, realistic self defense training (depending on the instructor). From a weapons point of view, practical weapons use/attack is usually taught (stick, cane, rope). That said, areas of concern that come up frequently with many Hapkido schools is a lack of ground grappling. Some schools are adding "secret grappling from ancient Korean sources" (usually cross training in BJJ). Some Hapkido schools are weak in their knife defenses. I don't know anything about this particular instructor. I know of his instructor. GM West has a great reputation and has been around a long time. He has a reputation of high standards for his black belts. He has some videos out, showing fairly 'normal' traditional Hapkido techniques. As far as traditional HKD goes, I imagine a school in this lineage should be pretty decent. My advice would be to go and check it out and see if it fits what you are looking for...
I don't know much about the striking. The kicking however I do know is mainly circular in motion, many of them being more self defence oriented than karate and TKD. There are actually more kicks in Hapkido than Taekwondo!
Thanks Thomas. Regarding ground grappling im not to concerned with that, as i plan on cross training in BJJ any ways. I have A LONG time ago, going on 10 years now, took a class there. I regret not starting. I remember it being a very tough warm up. Followed by some beginner grab defenses. I got to watch their upper belts doing there thing. I also remember something that stuck with me. The instructor was skilled in Chinese broad sword and holds regular clinics on it. Considering its a Korean art i thought it was kinda funny. How does the striking stack up against TKD striking? I ask because it seams like with time split between grappling and striking that TKD might be stronger in that regards. Besides the two person drilling how is the striking handled?
It basically comes down to if you believe in locks/throws (not just throws). If you do, Hapkido is as good as anything and quite broad martial art. If you don't believe in it, then TKD+ BJJ is the other option. I have heard people voice criticism towards Hapkido in its joint manipulations and throws being unrealistic.
It's not too unusual to see cross-pollination in the Korean Arts. It really depends on the instructor and the lineage. Some groups have very extensive striking (and even sparring) and some have very little. This would be something to ask at the specific school. From my experience, TKD teaches a nice rounded system of striking and footwork that, when practiced in sparring with varied levels of force and targets allowed, can be very practical. I think most lineages of HKD teach good striking... although sometimes without (much needed) sparring to go with it. I'd look to see what kind of sparring is done and how often...
I think a lot of the criticism towards joint locks comes from a lack of understanding of where and when to use them. In my opinion, joint locks are very good in the LOWER end of the level-of-force spectrum, especially in the controlling/escorting area. As soon as the conflict escalates to striking with intent or weapons attacks, joint lock use becomes less and less practical.
With regards to sparring i just checked there public calander. It says they spar 4x a month. Which on the calender looks like they spar twice every other week. Im not sure how accurate that calender is, however just sparring more then occasionally is a good thing.
Check out Fight quest on you tube, theres a good Hapkido episode. Hapkido is actually pretty hard core, if you go to a good xchool be ready to take some falls lols, your gonna likely be picking your self up off the matt several times a practice.
If you can find a place that does stuff like this it looks like great fun [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOCgfuajpJs"]King of Hapkido - YouTube[/ame]
Regarding traditional Hapkido, do they do alot of unrealistic punch catching? I will be scheduling a free class so i intend to ask them. However i was trying to find some videos online of how hapkido deals with punch's be they single or multiple and i see alot of videos of people trying to catch a punch. Which as we all know is preposterous. So how is that kind of thing typically handled? I found numerous single punch videos but nothing regaring multiple strikes.
At least in my club there is nothing like that. We learn more evade and divert (I hope, that's the right word in that context; sorry if it isn't!) punches.
Something that has stuck with me a long time is that the best defense against a punch is to not be there when it lands. We start techniques with a kick punch in KSW, but we don't expect a fight to go that way...it's just a method for learning how to move and be fluid.
Thanks guys. Ill ask when i take the class. How should i phrase it so that is asked respectfully? Are there any other questions you guys think i should ask?
Well... normally they'll start with blocks/parries/evasions/counter-strikes and then transition into trying to counter the punch with a lock or throw. Many of the techniques require stopping the hand, trapping it/controlling it, and then applying a technique. Does it work? Sometimes. With enough practice, these techniques (done over and over) can help you shut down an attack and take control of the attacker (ideally at a lower point on the level of force spectrum). How do you figure out what works and doesn't? Go to a class and ask to learn a punch defense that is 'practical for self defense'. Practice with a partner by doing the technique slowly (and compliantly) until you feel pretty comfortable and then turn up the speed until you get to the point where your partner is throwing a full speed punch at you and you are applying the technique so that it works. If you can't get to that stage... well, there's a problem somewhere - either the technique isn't really practical or you aren't doing it right. I've seen a lot of techniques taught (in Hapkido and other arts) that work very well compliantly and look really cool for demos. I've also seen techniques that work very well with speed and power and intent. The proof is in the doing. Multiple punches are a lot harder (of course). Normally, for me, at that level of force/intent, I am probably going to have to try to shut it down with strikes, kicks, or some sort of clinch and transition into technique if I can. Again, ask about it at a class. Ask for a technique that they would recommend, practice it over and over until you can bring the speed up to full and see if it works. Good luck - let us know how it goes.
In my opinion, getting to that stage is still no guarantee of effectiveness. The real test is can you execute the defensive techniques without being forewarned as to what strike to expect. I could probably execute some pretty outlandish jab-defenses if I knew a jab was going to be thrown, but in a free-striking situation where I have fractions of a second to read an attack and then respond, I probably have to stick to simpler defenses.
