Hapkido... I thought it was some housewives form of aikido. If I ever consider really picking up one of those sports, I will check Hapkido before joining anything.
Ok... here's the article on Hapkido:
Hapkido is a Korean martial art which emerged in the mid-twentieth century and quickly grew to become an international style. Its founders created the art by selectively fusing a wide range of existing martial skills, with new innovations. As a result, Hapkido possesses on of the most complex, unique, and varied arsenals of self-defense techniques to be found in any martial art. These techniques encompass all major martial categories: strikes, kicks, blocks, avoiding movements, holds, joint locks, chokes, throws, breakfalls, tumbling, ground fighting, weapons, meditation, and healing.
Like many Asian martial arts, Hapkido emphasizes the unification of body, mind, and spirit; the perfection of human character; social responsibility; and appropriate use of force. Unlike most martial arts, Hapkido utilizes more than 1100 core techniques, which are intuitively modified or combined to create thousands of variations. Self-defense techniques are characterized by a constant flow of striking, blocking, holding, and throwing techniques. Constant motion and fluid circular movements are designed to blend with an opponent's force. Tactics often alternate between highly aggressive and defensive modes, with power being generated through use of one's entire body. Internal energy development is fundamental to all training, leading to increased health and greater efficiency in self-defense techniques.
Hapkido techniques are not only for self-defense. Meditation and healing techniques are used to develop emotional stability, peace of mind, and confidence, while providing the same health benefits found in other arts, such as Tai Chi Cuan and Qi Gong. Thus, Hapkido is a highly practical self-defense art with strong spiritual underpinnings.
In contemporary society, Hapkido is mostly practiced for self-defense, health, and spiritual growth. Although it is often compared to Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, Ju Jitsu, Judo and Tai Chi Chuan, it has a much broader range of techniques, suitable in a winder range of situations. This has made it adaptable to a wide range of body physiques, personalities, and lifestyles. Hapkido is currently practiced by a diverse range of men, women, and children of all ages; working professionals; gifted athletes; the physically impaired; those simply seeking physical exercise; as well as military and law enforcement professionals.
-Marc Tedeschi (5th Dan Black Belt Hapkido)
I'll just add that it is probably the most well-rounded and street-effective art that you can learn, IMO. Plus, it has legality in mind. With some other 'eclectic' arts - you just learn how to hurt the guy - with the breadth of techniques in what I'm learning, you can hurt or restrain him, or break bones - and it's completely up to you. And finally, its ingenious because it combines pressure points with joint locks, so the guy's arm is in pain and is numb
while you're putting it in a lock, or whatever. It's kind of like a double-whammy, and this isn't really found in any other art.
Hapkido is illegal and untouchable filth ever since the movie Billyjack. Check it out if you must, but be warned, it's terrible.
Adam, didn't you know that drugs were bad for you?
But when I was in a street fight situation, my Aikedo came in very handy.
I'd love to hear the whole story, Xev.
I'm in Taekwon-Do for the moment, but my instructor advised me to add Jiu Jitsu He says : the best ever martial art what you can learn is when you mix a lot of them together, which I will soon do. Just have to find a good club.
Don't think of leaving TKD though.
What do yout think of Jiu Jitsu?
IMO, Tae Kwon Do could get you killed in a real street fight. Ju Jitsu, is excellent, and will keep you alive - however - it mostly just emphasizes joint locks, holds, throws, and a
very limited number of strikes.
IMO, this is just a small subset of techniques that you should know to be a well rounded fighter, and Hapkido takes all the good stuff from Ju Jitsu - there are lots of resemblances in techniques - and adds it in to the rest of it's arsenal, making it much more well rounded.
Hapkido basically
is a bunch of martial arts mixed together - and that's why it is so wicked (that's how it was created) - because it kind of takes the best from all of them, melds in all together perfectly and makes it quite well rounded.
Distortion: It sounds like you are really trying too much at once. All the styles have their advantages and disadvantages. Just find one that you like and go with it. Don't rubbish other styles, but observe and learn from them.
I know my limits. I've got lots of excellent advise and mentors that have Black Belts that know what I'm doing and give me advice. As I said, I'm only really
studying Hapkido, with touches of the other styles I mentioned - that I practice a few techniques from in my backyard when a friend comes over
Anyway for what its worth, I think that learning martial arts is great. It's a great way to meet people, excersize, learn new things and develop comraderie.
I couldn't agree more.
And for all of you who have debated on the best style for self defense etc, I am inclined to think that what I learnt as a boxer at University has serve me the most.
I don't think there is any one 'best' style for a person - because it depends on what you want and the person. Besides, you may not always want to box the guy, what if you just want to restrain him, or what if he whips out a gun? Boxing won't help you vary much. In HKD, at black belt level you learn defense for handguns.
Anyway, sorry for the huge post!
-Distortion
