Hapkido: Practice Hints
Hapkido for Foreigners

 

Hapkido for Foreigners

Introduction

What is Hapkido?

On the Mat

Practice Hints

Glossary

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Hapkido: Practice Hints

There are ways of making your practice time more effective and enjoyable. Your mileage may vary, but keeping the following in mind works for me:

Mindfulness

When you're on the mat exert effort to remain mindful, in the moment. Letting your attention wander results in missing the finer points of a demonstration and possibly an injury to you or your partner.

Style over speed

Despite the desire to emulate our big screen idols, martial arts should be practiced slowly, with attention paid to copying the demonstrated style. Repeated practice will train a "muscle memory", from which you'll be able to replay the technique at higher speed. Learn it slowly and correctly, rather than quickly and wrong; unlearning a bad habit is unpleasant.

Repetition, to acquire "muscle memory", is absolutely essential. Ongoing, regular, practice with a good instructor will correct mistakes in your practice and stop bad habits from being ingrained.

Practice with intention

Just as in life, one gets out of Hapkido what one puts into it. Make each motion on the mat count. When doing the warm-up stretching exercises ensure that you're not just going through the motions, but that the appropriate muscle groups are being stretched under tension. (Otherwise there's not much point, and your muscles aren't being prepared for the technique practice time ahead.)

During the technique practice time make each motion count. When you're the attacker, give your partner an accurate, thought-out attack. When you're the defender, take the attacker's motion and reply with a careful, thought-out response. Make each action as though it was both your first and your last; fresh, and to the point. Sloppy practice is a waste of time, and endangers each of you. Of course we get tired, and every "conversation" isn't perfect and to the point, but intend to make it count.

Having been exhorted to make each action with clear intention and mindfulness, remember also to control your motion. Apply an appropriate amount of force, adjusting for the size and experience of your partner and the goal of the technique. All techniques can be practiced without injuring your training partner.

Protect yourself.

I mention this because I just saw the opposite. Accidents happen. Protect yourself. When being brought to the mat, keep your face away from your partner's feet. When you're being attacked with a punch, put up a hand in case it goes astray. Keep your eyes on your training partner, despite the comical efforts of the pair next to you.

This page is copyrighted 2006 by Mickey Sattler. All rights reserved.