Class Format
- Warm Ups
- The class begins with 15 minutes of warm up exercises. Some of the exercises
are basic standing and floor stretching, and basic strengthening exercises
like pushups and situps. Strikes and kicks are included to make those
motions automatic. The remaining exercises are best described as unusual
movements that will ultimately be related to Hapkido motion.
- Tumbling
- Tumbling is practiced during every class because it is a good warmup and
an essential skill for a Hapkido student. The only way Hapkido can be
practiced is to have partners who are able to fall without injury. By
the time you are promoted to second brown belt, you're skilled at being
thrown in different ways, from different positions.
- Traditional Motion
- Hapkido students perform practice motions with partners. Working with
another person is the only way to experience connection and extension,
concepts that are essential to performing Hapkido. Developing a sense
of these concepts, and maintaining connection and extension during the
execution of a motion requires patience. The large number of Hapkido motions
provide many opportunities to practice. Part of the class time will be
spent practicing your own motions, and part will be spent teaching motions
to students with lower belt ranks. You learn a lot by teaching.
- Meditations and Ki Exercises
- When practicing motion it's easy to get caught up in technical details
and performance, neither of which supports awareness of Ki. Sometimes
we take a break from traditional motion in order to practice meditations
and Ki exercises. The exercises could be slow, simple movements in response
to being grabbed, "sticky hands," or Hapkido techniques performed
at slow speed.
- New Students are Welcome
- Feel free to visit one of our classes. Wear loose fitting clothing or
a gi if you would like to participate. If you prefer, you can just observe.