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Can you really learn martial arts from a website?
Yes you can. When you learn martial arts in a school you watch
the teacher and try to emulate his movements. Then the teacher watches you
and corrects deficiency in your movements. In Hapkido, you also grapple with an
uke (partner). Hapkido Online requires a partner to learn. A skilled instructor
can watch you and a partner training and see if the technique is correct. As
you gain skill you will also begin to intuitively know if you are doing it
correctly.
Is learning Martial Arts from a website easier than a brick and mortar school?
No, learning Martial Arts from a website requires greater self discipline than attending classes in a school. It also requires self integrity for only you know if you are actually practicing. A skilled instructor can usually spot somebody who isn't putting in the time though.
What advantages are there to learning from a website?
You will get one on one instruction, albeit through the computer. In a traditional school the instructor might have to watch over some 10 to 30 students, it's hard to focus on each one. With a website I can watch your techniques and focus on them. You can watch my teaching over and over and focus on it, without distractions. The other advantages is it's great for people who have busy lives or people who move about from place to place. You can decide what time class is and where it will be held. You can take your teacher with you everywhere you go. Hapkido Online was initially developed for military members who travel around the world.
Can't somebody just fake it to pass the test?
First of all. We aren't here to get belts, we are here to learn Hapkido. If you just
want to get a bunch of belts, go to your local strip mall and join a McDojo. If you want to learn
Hapkido then you are in the right place. An instructor can spot somebody who isn't
doing the techniques correctly, it's as plain as the nose on your face.
Is this cheaper than learning from a traditional Hapkido School?
Is this inferior to a regular school?
Well it might be cheaper, some schools teach for free. I have taught people for free
for years and years and so has my teacher, as a labor of love. The only reason
Hapkido Online isn't completely free is it costs money to own and maintain. I
can say that I've gone to great lengths to make it as affordable as possible.
It is cheaper than most traditional schools.
Hapkido Online is inferior to no one. Hapkido Online IS a regular school. In fact Jon teaches people regularly in person. I would even say that Hapkido Online is better than 99% of the McDojo's out there. If you want to learn an effective martial art then this is a perfectly acceptable way to do it.
We have noticed over the years that teaching people for free and or very cheaply often gives people the impression that what we are teaching isn't as "Good" as the schools that charge $100 a month. It is only a perception though and is usually totally wrong. Our students are as skilled as anybody and often they are better. A school that relies on your money for income has them working for you, you are the boss. It's not in their best interest to say or do anything to upset you. Whereas Hapkido Online and
our partner schools don't rely on your income, we don't work for you, you aren't the boss. We are the teacher, you are the student. Which means you will get honest and useful instruction.
How much does Hapkido Online cost?
If you choose to pay month by month the website access costs $19 a month. Colored belt test (i.e. Gup tests) are $25 a test. No charge for retests. Black Belt tests (Dan tests) are $150. If/when you pass one of these tests you will receive a rank certificate in the mail from the Tactical Hapkido Alliance. You have eight gup tests before your first dan test. On average most students are able to earn a black belt in approximately two to three years. So getting a black belt through Hapkido Online might cost between $680-$850 spread out over two to three years. If you call around to martial arts schools you'll find this is really quite a bargain. Of course if you get a one year membership or higher you can realize significant savings. We don't require any commitment but we do honor it and reward it.
I don't understand your membership options, Can you explain them?
All membership options (Yearly, 3 Year, Hero 3 year, and Monthly) provide unlimited access to Hapkido Online which means access to the lessons. A person could learn every lesson the site has to offer with any of these memberships. The reason I have different membership options is to offer savings for people who commit to longer periods of time. In the case of the Hero 3 Year membership, I offer that discount to show my appreciation to those who have served.
Most people simply do the $19 a month subscription. The only thing that is different between the monthly subscription and the longer commitments, besides price, is it doesn’t include a Tactical Hapkido Alliance (THA) Lifetime Membership which is a $40 value. According to our organizations by-laws a student most be a member of the THA to progress past green belt. Thus, I have the THA Individual Lifetime Membership offered separately.
Belt testing fees are only charged once you have passed a belt test, no charge for failures. Gup tests are the lower colored belts (yellow, green, blue, etc.) and Dan tests are black belt and higher. Testing is optional, one can learn Hapkido without testing they will know the art, they just won’t have a recognized rank. Successfully passing a belt test results in getting a belt certificate in the mail. These look very nice and are signed by me and countersigned by Grand Master Rodemaker.
The only other fee you might consider is for Video Conferencing. This is basically to schedule a one-on-one Zoom meeting (or Skype if you prefer) so that I can provide individual instruction, feedback, answer questions, etc. This is a flat $19 whether we work together for 30 minutes or an hour. This is also optional, but most students find it worthwhile.
Membership Options are here: https://www.hapkido-online.com/join.html
Video Conferencing is here: https://www.hapkido-online.com/video-conference.html
How long does it take to earn a Black Belt in Hapkido?
Most students usually take between 2 and 3 years. Of course students with previous training go a bit faster and, on the other hand, some students never make black belt. It is better to measure it in hours. You should put in at least three hours of training a week. Expect about 150 hours of training to get a black belt.
What do I need to buy to learn Hapkido?
Well, nothing really. I am not selling anything here. Modern schools sell crap to make money, it's their
income. Historically all you need to learn Martial arts is a teacher and a student (you will need an uke). Don't waste your money on trappings, save it for more important things like your kids college.
You obviously will need a computer (with webcam) and a video camera. A good webcam would really be
an asset. I assume that since you are reading this online you at least already
have a computer. The other items are fairly affordable nowadays.
Nowadays a smartphone has everything you need, camera, internet, and sound.
What kind of camera equipment will I need?
Don't go crazy buying camera's and stuff. Save your money for more important things. Nowadays the cheap camera's have great quality. Any old garden variety web cam will do.
If you intend to upload video instead of real time Skype or Face-time the most affordable thing is probably already in your pocket, your cell phone. Master Tim occasionally shoots his video's with his cell phone and they are just as instructive as an expensive rig. We have found a tripod to be essential equipment because the camera has to be steady to see movement accurately. Remember the goal is to learn Hapkido not make Hollywood movies.
If you are a person of means and want a really nice rig for doing this. We have found the combination of an iPod touch or iPhone 4 or higher and swivl tracking device on a tripod to be the absolute best arrangement. You can also clip your webcam into the swivl device for skype or Face-Time live training. You clip a little remote to your dobak top and the swivl will automatically aim the camera at the remote. The swivl can sit on a countertop or mount to any standard tripod. If you are using the IPod touch or iPhone the swivl
remote acts as a lapel
microphone.
What about that Encyclopedia and those DVD's?
The THA Encyclopedia and the instructional DVD's are optional. We do not require you to buy them. That being said they are very, very, good reference materials for this training. I check things in the encyclopedia all the time myself. I am a Master level instructor with THA so I am reasonably good at doing and teaching this kind of Hapkido. Master Feathers, being my teacher, is better still. The Encyclopedia and DVD's were created by Grand Master Rodemaker and Grand Master Ziot's the two best authorities we possess. I sell these items for your benefit because they are useful. Update: we no longer sell the THA encyclopedia on this site it's available on Amazon at a very low price.
What about training clothing?
Our school traditionally requires a dobak to be purchased by the time of your first test.
In the interest of making Hapkido training available to as many people as possible I have waived
the requirement. Whatever clothes you normally exercise in are acceptable.
If you do decide to purchase a dobak then the traditional rule is you may only wear colors if you've earned that color on a belt. For example Jon often wears a red top with black bottoms, since he has earned both of those belts it is acceptable.
In modern times we favor black dobak pants because they do not show stains and stay looking nice for years and years. I encourage all levels to get at least one pair of black dobak pants to train in.
Since most of our drills emphasize grabbing the wrist and elbow, sleeves generally get in the way. If we wear a full dobak we tend to roll the sleeves up. A cheaper and easier solution is to simply buy the dobak bottoms and wear a T-shirt.
What about a punching bag or padded targets?
These things can be useful to develop power and accuracy. We don't require them
but they DO help. I suggest finding this stuff second hand at play it again sports or a
similar place. In a pinch, an old military duffel bag filled with old washed
clothes works fairly well. If you are a person of means, I am particularly fond of the water filled punching bags.
Can Hapkido be used for tournaments?
Hapkido is not a sport, it's a Martial Art devised to protect you against violent attack. If you want to learn sports than you should look for a good Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or MMA School. Incidentally the modern trend is for Martial Sport schools to tell people that what they teach can be used for self defense. It can be used that way but it's not ideal. For example a moped can be used to drive from coast to coast but wouldn't you rather take a plane? I do not mean to slight Martial Sports, they are fine if that's what you are looking for, Hapkido just doesn’t happen to be one of them.
Is Hapkido appropriate for children?
Teenagers and up please. Why? Would you teach a child how to break somebodies arm or choke them; how about how to shoot a handgun? Hapkido is a powerful weapon, it should be handled with care by responsible, mature people. Hapkido Online reserves the right to terminate memberships of any student that is found to be irresponsible, without refund.
Do you spar?
We do occasionally spar, the emphasis is not on scoring points though. The emphasis is on mastering range, power, speed, tactics, and strategy. If you choose to spar with your uke then both of you assume all risk of injury, Hapkido Online is not liable. Please take precautions such as protective gear and keep the emphasis on becoming better fighters and not on competition. Remember training injuries impede progress.
Does Hapkido have forms (hyung)?
Some schools do and some don't. Hapkido Online as yet is not teaching forms. If a student desires to learn forms he or she may ask to learn them and I would be happy to oblige but
they are not part if the testable curriculum. To the best of my knowledge most 'Hapkido Forms' are actually borrowed from other martial arts. This is not
uncommon in the martial arts world. For example many Tae Kwon Do hyung are derivative of Okinawan Karate katas. To some extent, a punch is a punch, a kick is a kick, a block is a block. It's how you do them that sets you apart.
Our Hapkido does utilized two person interception drills that take the place of forms.
Do you think forms (hyung) are useful?
I do think they are useful actually and
encourage people to learn them.
What about weapons?
Hapkido Online mostly focuses on how to defend against various modern weapons (knives, guns, clubs). If you want to learn swordplay or archery from horseback then you should look elsewhere. On our advanced site for Black Belts you will learn knife, cane, and other modern tools.
How do I review and how do I test?
You may visit a member school or send a video to us and we will review. We review and test with Skype or Facetime (via webcam) and teacher and student can interact in real time. We focus on ability. If you can demonstrate the techniques and principles we teach you will be promoted. Upon passing the test
you will be mailed a certificate. You can buy your own belt or send us money and we can buy one for you.
Update June 2020: Individual Video Conferencing option.
What if I've learned another martial art somewhere else, will you honor my rank?
Yes! In fact I prefer students that have some previous training as they often grasp the concepts more rapidly. I have had students that actually outrank me in other martial arts that just want to add Hapkido to their arsenal of skills. We honor your rank in that we recognize it. However your training will still start at the beginning, just like everybody else. If you have training in another Hapkido system we evaluate on a case by case basis. Not all Hapkido systems are the same.
What about people with disabilities?
I am willing to teach you if you are willing to learn. If your disability prevents you from
doing certain techniques then we will substitute techniques that you CAN do. It is advisable to get the permission of a doctor first. My goal is to teach people Hapkido, we all have strengths and weaknesses, we will work within them. A number of my existing students are people with disabilities.
Is getting flipped necessary in Hapkido?
While advanced students may take a certain technique "all the way to the floor" most Hapkido practice in our system takes the uke to the tipping point. That is the point at which they are unbalanced, in physical pain, and tapping to signal the technique has been properly applied. We feel that this is a more efficient use of training time and is far safer in the confines of a person's home. Hapkido Online teaches how to fall safely and has a practice lesson for this but that is separate from regular Hapkido skills training.
How Do I Test for Belts?
At the end of each lesson are the requirements for every belt. You should be able to do every technique reasonably well without having to look at anything. The more you come to us for feedback the better your technique will be.
It is best to meet with your Hapkido Online teacher regularly in Skype or Face-time. (at least once a month or so) The teacher decides when the student is ready to test. If you are submitting video's instead of the Skype or Face-Time, simply submit them for teacher review purposes regularly. If the teacher decides that the review is satisfactory they may choose to call that review your test and request your test fee. It is considered rude in traditional martial arts for the student to demand a teacher to test them. Trust me, practice often and review with your teacher often, this is the best course. You will find that if you heed my advice you will move right along. If however you feel like you are genuinely ready to test and are frustrated that your teacher hasn't offered to test you. You can notify Hapkido Online leadership of your issue and we'll review it on a case by case basis. If Hapkido Online leadership does not give you satisfactory service you can contact the Tactical Hapkido Alliance and the issue will be addressed.
It is best to meet with your Hapkido Online teacher regularly in Skype or Face-time. (at least once a month or so) The teacher decides when the student is ready to test. If you are submitting video's instead of the Skype or Face-Time, simply submit them for teacher review purposes regularly. If the teacher decides that the review is satisfactory they may choose to call that review your test and request your test fee. It is considered rude in traditional martial arts for the student to demand a teacher to test them. Trust me, practice often and review with your teacher often, this is the best course. You will find that if you heed my advice you will move right along. If however you feel like you are genuinely ready to test and are frustrated that your teacher hasn't offered to test you. You can notify Hapkido Online leadership of your issue and we'll review it on a case by case basis. If Hapkido Online leadership does not give you satisfactory service you can contact the Tactical Hapkido Alliance and the issue will be addressed.
How do I find an Uke (training partner)?
A good uke (training partner) is like gold for a Hapkidoin. The very best is finding somebody else who also wants to learn Hapkido. But in reality you can work with just about anybody. I have husband and wife teams, father and sons, even one mother and son team. Heck maybe just run it past some of your coworkers, you never know one or two might want to do it too. I hang fliers up and it keeps me in a steady supply of uke/students. If you want I can email you a template flier and you can just change the words to suit yourself. My teacher has had some success running a craigslist advertisement for a training partner. Talk to folks at church, you never know they might not only provide you with ukes but a place to practice as well. I keep a flier hanging in my Church and I have a nice Hapkido group that meets regularly.
Once you earn a black belt finding ukes is no problem, simply start a class or club and students will flock to you.
I've found small groups of learners (3 to 4) to be the very best because you can work off different body types. We have special rate for Hapkido Clubs just because of this. But many, many, of my students primarily work with one person and it works fine. Hapkido is definitely an art that brings people together and I've made some great lifelong friends in the dojang.
Once you earn a black belt finding ukes is no problem, simply start a class or club and students will flock to you.
I've found small groups of learners (3 to 4) to be the very best because you can work off different body types. We have special rate for Hapkido Clubs just because of this. But many, many, of my students primarily work with one person and it works fine. Hapkido is definitely an art that brings people together and I've made some great lifelong friends in the dojang.