I was looking at a school in my area. It offers American Hapkido. The schedule was very convenient for the Hapkido classes and I thought it would be nice to supplement with my jiu jitsu. But I tried to wiki American Hapkido, and unfortunately there is no wikipedia page. I've never heard of the art. So I went to youtube. Now I am no martial arts expert by a longshot and maybe it was just this video. But the techniques in this video looked pretty wack, if I must say. Nothing I'd want to ever use if a real life self defense situation happened. What do you guys think? http://youtu.be/pNQqXkfmVMM
That kick at 0:13 was atrocious, I threw up a little bit. 0:25, the grab is weak, and that move is waaaay to flashy to be practical in anything other than a demonstration. Edit: Have you seen their black belt test? ...... I'm just going to leave this here. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKrOVai5CIw"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKrOVai5CIw[/ame]
But I will say one thing. The particular school from the youtube video (which isn't the school I looked at from my city) seems to spar full contact with head gear and pads on if I'm not mistaken which is a plus. But a crappy art is a crappy art. But you never know maybe it was just a bad video. I don't see many American Hapkido videos on youtube.
Well, the American Hapkido Alliance seems to have some good videos. I don't want to prejudge the whole art based on a first glance of a bad video. Is anyone here knowledgeable about American Hapkido?
Screw that man, look for some MMA, kickboxing, boxing, judo, BJJ, sambo, waterer just train something practical why concentrate on some long defunct system with an assembly of larpers who are desperately religious in their conviction that it holds some relevance to self defense and competency in the modern world. Might as well just stare at a wall for two hours a day, give yourself a stained black belt and call it even. Edit: I ediat all the things.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNQqXkfmVMM&feature=youtu.be"]American Hapkido CT Demo - YouTube[/ame] Cripes do not train here.
Reall Hapkido is one of those martialarts that can be rreally really good or really really bad it just really really depends on whos running the school. Those videos were good examples of bad Hapkido.
That is some of the most dubious material I have seen in a long time. There may well be good american hapkido techniques/schools but none are represented in that video. Don't train there! Fitness boxercise is probably a better preparation for self defence/combat.
Im not even sure those schools are even legit, it could be bullshido I dont know though. Hapkido is a pretty good strikeing art in general lots of punches and kicks when trained correctly and if you have any idea of how to fight Hapkido strikeing wont let you down any more than any other TMA. Their joint locks are usually done from standing positions and geard to take an opponet off of his feet, Ive always questioned how effective those types of techniques are for the average Joe. No op dont go to that school, in fact run from it.
Here is the website to go along with the video http://americanhapkidoct.com/ There are probably quite a few places named "American Hapkido" - is this the one you were looking at (Connecticut)? I ask because there is an American Hapkido and Taekwondo Academy in N.H. that is in the lineage of GM Michael Wollmershauser that has a good reputation. Master Stuart Rosenberg used to use the name "American Hapkido Studio" in NJ, and he has a great reputation (and is good on the mat). That said, the video that was posted (in the quote) really wasn't flattering to Hapkido. I try to stay positive but it was clear the performers were showing off their best demo techniques on willing partners and still had problems making it look "good". How would that work on resisting opponents? Based on the other videos too, it just looks pretty half-hearted and imprecise... I would avoid this one, I think. What else is in your area? How far from Milford, CT are you? Chris LaCava teaches Hapkido around there and he is very good.
I checked out the link you posted and that place looks awesome, just the fitness programs they offer would be worth a membership imo.
The funky arm drag into body-scissors at 00:27 was awesome. Stupid move for self defence, but would look amazing in pro wrestling.
With a little modification that would make a pretty sweet finisher...it's a kind of spinning bulldog [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7YYtJYK4rA"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7YYtJYK4rA[/ame]
Lma . I swear I saw a 12 yr old with whit spray paint on his Har to make him look...... more experienced lmao. Sorry. I willloom back and give the time stamp I saw it lol.