RE: HKD

Master Circle — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:57:38 GMT

Awesome Leo, glad you fell in with someone from GM Wests group. He has an excellent reputation.

Sorry to hear Master Mac has taken his leave of training. He has been a fixture in the TSD community for some time as well.

For HKD training, practice your rolls and falls the most. Once you can fall naturally, you will respond better to techs executed against you and your body will learn how the power flows. Then you will be better able to execute the tech yourself.

Keep us posted!

RE: HKD

Jason — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:07:57 GMT

Yeah, rolling is something you learn by doing it a lot of times not so well then starting to get better. Its not something that comes naturally to most people.

You'll get in a lot of wrestling matches if you extend your arms when using locks, in general you want your hands to be as close to your center as possible. Think about when you are carrying a heavy box, do you carry it out far from your body, or pressed right up against you? Power for joint locks and manipulation works kind of like that. If you were Diallo you could do it far out and still have it work, for the rest of us we need to use technique instead of brute force. If done properly, your daughter ought to be able to use most Hapkido techniques to subdue me. Its not about strength or power at all, its leverage, positioning and using the body's vulnerabilities on itself.

The heavy weight dobok is nice, but they get really hot in the summer. I dont' envy what it will feel like when its 100 degrees down there!

Stick with it indeed, its really gratifying when you start to "get it"

RE: HKD

Leo — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:30:22 GMT

So far, this stuff is pretty difficult. I find myself tensing up before rolls and falls. I also find myself not extending my arms all the way when applying a lock on someone. Soft style is very hard. We did rolls last night and I suck at them. We're still going at it, though!

Got a new dobak last night, too. It's really heavy and I know it's going to make me sweat profusely! It's like a Judo ghee, but it's all black. I got to keep my rank though... even though I'm pretty much a white belt all over again.

RE: HKD

Leo — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:57:38 GMT

Thanks Jason!

Yeah, this HKD stuff is different but I'll stick it out. I've been to 3 classes now, and so far we fell down a lot, then did some basic striking. I also learned one of the wrist locks... I'm sure it's #1 of the 10 that are taught at my level.

So far, so good... My little brother is taking it with me, too.

RE: HKD

Jason — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:25:55 GMT

Definitely wishing you luck here buddy.

Hapkido pointer number 1= stretch your wrists a lot

Hapkido pointer number 2 = learn to roll out of locks without breaking your neck or joint

other than that, have fun!

I'm sorry to hear that your current (now past?) instructor is retiring, I know that you liked Master Mac a lot. You were fortunate to find another good school after Koguryo, having been to two good school you know what to look for from now on.

HKD

Leo — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:31:32 GMT

It looks like my current instructor is retiring... It pretty much sucks, but I understand his POV. He's ready to take it easy for a bit. His kids have gone to college and he and his wife want to just chill. I totally get that. I wish I could just chill, at the ripe age of 34.

So, I met with a friend that I made in Jackson, MS (J.R. West's Semi-Annual Seminar) last year. I believe he's a 3rd Dan in Hap Ki Do... not really sure, but he teaches at a church that's about 2 miles from my house. I may as well give it a shot.

I'm officially starting my first day as a Hap Ki Do student tomorrow evening. Classes are going to be 3 days a week and I hope I can keep up with them!

Wish me luck! Oh, and any advice from current HKD players would be highly appreciated!

RE: Black Belt Ceremony

Leo — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:47:37 GMT

Master Circle wrote:

The 2nd degree black belt, with the patches, is Kyo Sah Carlos Marquez

Todd Bettler, just received his 1st degree, so no patches on the uni yet

He is a Cho Kyo

I remember Carlos well! I'm very happy for him! Please give him my congrats, sir! Also... that's TODD!!! Wow! He appears to have lost a lot of weight!!! I didn't even recognize him!

That's awesome stuff, sir!

RE: Black Belt Ceremony

Master Circle — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:27:59 GMT

The 2nd degree black belt, with the patches, is Kyo Sah Carlos Marquez

Todd Bettler, just received his 1st degree, so no patches on the uni yet

He is a Cho Kyo

RE: Black Belt Ceremony

Leo — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 04:23:35 GMT

Hey Master Circle,

In the first pic... who's the guy to the left? Of course, I'm extremely proud of the guy on the right.

RE: Black Belt Ceremony

Leo — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 04:21:37 GMT

My congrats to all! Well done!