I folks I wish to study Hapkido at Chang's Hapkido Academy (London) because this is the closest one to me, is this school good and is it a Mcdojo? Or is there any other good Hapkido schools in London. Any advice will be great.
Having never trained there I can't give you any personal experience, however my instructor has attended several seminars with Gedo Chang, the schools founder, and has nothing but good things to say about him. I believe the school is run by Tammy Parlour, one of Master Chang's senior students from Chicago (I think), so I can't see it being in any way McDojang. I think there are a few Chang students floating around on this forum, and I'm sure they'll step in to give you the lowdown (& probably correct any of my errors )
Hi jinroh-81 I've trained at Chang's Hapkido Academy in London for the past year and a half and I would thoroughly recommend it. A top bunch of people and a super teacher. But as a member I'm obviously biased so I'd suggest you come and check it out for yourself rather than listen to me. Master Chang is also over to grade and teach on 15 May so if you're kicking your heels that could also be worth a look... Paul
I seriously recommend this school. The Teacher is excellent and the classes are very professionally run.
CHANG Ge Do was one of four individuals who ran a school in Seoul for JI Han Jae until he emmigrated to the United States and opened his own school in Elmhurst, Illinois, just west of Chicago. I had the honor of spending a summer training at his school and did not find the Hapkido to be particularly remarkable and was more than a little put-off by his commercialism. However, I can say one thing about his school that I can't say about a lot of other Hapkido locations. Master Chang, himself is very engaging and appears to genuinely have the best interests of his students at heart. Even more, I found that his senior ranks have likewise absorbed this attitude and were both helpful and personable. For individuals who are interested in learning Hapkido I would give these latter qualities heavy consideration. Hapkido by itself is a difficult MA to learn. The ability to engage with the teacher and have that teacher really care that you are learning is not to be discounted. FWIW. Best Wishes, Bruce
Not meaning to question you, but I feel I must because of my own fears: Do you hand on heart say that, Mr Simms? I do not want a repeat experience of what has happened to me in the last month or two... Parlour Samoumnim has seemed to be as you describe, on first impressions, during teaching, meditation and personally. You speak as if you're an American Marine Sergeant. I would like to trust your word.
I can only share according to my own experience. When I came to Hapkido I had already been around the block with a number of arts and found that Hapkido met my needs at the time. I can also share that despite what is sometimes published in these forums, not ALL MA are a good fit for ALL practitioners. Different people need different sorts of arts...and even different sorts of teachers within a given art. In the case of Master Changs' approach I found the material to be a bit more "sanitized" for civilian consumption than I was looking for. Nothing wrong with a more easy-going approach, since I make some of the same sorts of adjustments when I teach my college classes. However, for my own practice I tend like things a bit more combative and Chang's approach is not what I would call a "combative" approach. I don't know the gentleman you are referring to, but I would be very surprized to hear that he was other than concerned for the growth and well-being of his students given that he has CHANG Ge Do as a teacher. FWIW. Best Wishes, Bruce
I was put completely on the wrong foot when you wrote 'Parlour samounim'. I thought you ment samonim (usually a teacher's wife or a woman running a business), but together with the word parlour (like in massage parlour) could have a COMPLETELY different meaning
Ah, that was my unnoticed typo. Klaasb... I meant Saboumnim. I made the parlour connexion and have exhausted the list on what a Saboumnim Parlor could be... But that's interesting about Samonim. I'll have to tell Ms. Parlour about that - that's funny.
Wol Ge Kwan (The Victor's Laurel) Hapkido, based at the Top Notch Gym on Tudor Street in London - Blackfriar's. We are inviting people interested in, what I perceive, to be a fully rounded Martial Art style (I have trained in a few...), to come along to a session. The easiest way to get to the class is from Blackfriar's Tube station, Exit 8. From there, it is a 45 second walk straight out and left - the Gym's on the left. Lit a brilliant blue and is, as the name suggests, a Top Notch Gym. Currently there are building and restoration works on the building next door. It's one easy way to find the place. For more details it is best to visit the website: http://www.changshapkido.net/hapkido1_042.htm Contact details can be found from that page and there are links on the Navbar to the left that will give you some background and what to expect. See you in Class!
