How to pronounce Hapkido

Hap = Hap
Ki = Key
Do = Doe

Hap - Key - Doe

www.hapkidobrisbane.com.au

Korean Martial Arts Association of Brisbane

The Korean Martial Arts Association of Brisbane was formed to incorporate; Steve's Hapkido Academy (original name for Hapkido Brisbane), Hapkido Brisbane, Kumdo Brisbane, and our Little Tigers class.This association is the resu

lt of over fourteen years of work developing the club into what it is today. It has not always been an easy journey but it has definitely been a rewarding one.The logo was expertly developed for me by Sabomnim Higgins.This logo signifies my integrity across Hapkido and Kumdo. I don't claim to be a great teacher, or good at all techniques, but I teach my way, imparting my knowledge, which comes from all the mistakes I've made rather than being an expert. Trying to give practical, modern day explanations for traditional techniques. That hasn't changed in the fourteen years to now, and never will.I  am extremely proud of everything I have achieved in Hapkido and Kumdo, most of which has been through the achievements of my students.That is just some of what this logo means to me. I would like to see this badge on all our doboks one day, and hope you wear it with pride and understand what it means.

Mission Statement Hapkido Brisbane

Mission Statement
Hapkido Brisbane is committed to teaching the Korean
arts of Hapkido and Kumdo the traditional martial arts
way, with integrity, mutual respect and self-discipline.
We train in a disciplined but friendly environment,
providing an equal opportunity for all ages and fitness
levels to gain personal development as a Hapkido or
Kumdo practitioner.

I so want to do this, by Allison

“Wow.  I so want to do this,” I thought, watching as two black belts completed a complex technique involving running and leaping through the air. “That looks like so much fun!”
Next thought: “But I’ll never be able to do it.”
I stood and watched as other members of the class worked through the techniques they were learning. Techniques which appeared impossibly complex.
As a child, my dance teacher described me as a “fairy elephant,” I never won at running-races, I was a lousy swimmer and decided early on that I’d just stick to reading and writing, the only things I felt any good at.  And now here I was, overweight, in my late 40’s, watching a class of Hap Ki Do students and wishing I could do what they were doing. Knowing I never could.
But it looked like so much fun.  Everyone in the class appeared to be enjoying themselves, working out their techniques and helping their classmates with theirs.
“Even if I can only learn a little bit of this, I’ll be happy,” I reasoned.
“I’ll just keep coming and having a go until I either break something or can’t do any more.  Maybe I’ll just try to get to Red Belt.  I’ll be happy with that.”
In reality I would be ecstatic with that, as my lack of coordination and inability to remember even the most basic techniques saw me doing things back to front and incorrectly in class at nearly every lesson.  Gradings were a mortification.  But my teachers and classmates were patient, so I kept coming back.
I have learned to do things I never thought I could.  I am learning to push myself and to overcome my fears, and aim to attempt a Black Belt grading this year. I feel more confident and happy in myself. Every class, I have fun with one of the most accepting and patient groups of people I have ever met.
And I am happy to say that so far, I haven’t broken anything!

Allison

Loyalty to your teacher

This subject has been on my mind for some time now. This relates more to students with higher Dan levels; those that have achieved assistant instructor and above, certainly not colour belts. And is in relation to scenarios where people have said the opposite to what they have eventually done. It seems simple to me: say what you mean, and do what you say you are going to do.

I don’t always think Western culture mixes well with the Eastern culture of Martial Arts. Historically, the arts were passed on from teacher to student – the student became a teacher and passed on the art ... that is the Eastern culture.

In our Western culture, the art comes at a cost to the student. Our students are paying for the right to learn the art. Some students do not the desire or ambition to become a teacher and are simply paying for services rendered and they have a right to not teach in my (sometimes unpopular) view. However, if they do make the commitment to become a teacher I believe there are strict guidelines that should be followed.

From a personal perspective, I wish I was able to teach without having to charge my students fees, but unfortunately running a club comes with added costs.

As instructors, if we are asking people to pay for our services, why do we feel we can then ask that person to work for us as an instructor? Firstly, they can always decline this request or offer. If they do commit, then as instructors they are still learning; they are learning how to teach. Once qualified and experienced, they have the ability to open their own branch under their teacher and association, with the confidence of being able to do the job, protect and grow the art, and have a support network when needed. When their dojang begins to grow they will recoup their training fees. In my opinion that is how it should be.

I understand people and circumstances will change over time, however it is the way that you change that shows your true colours. I would prefer a face to face conversation, with a student giving their teacher an honest reason as to why they have decided to leave and only after every possible attempt to fix the underlying issue/s has been exhausted.

Sometimes instructors think they have the right to leave their teacher and join another association, with some even believing that taking students with them is okay. If you take your teacher’s syllabus and open your own dojang under a new association, what happens when you need assistance with a technique or a question from a student you are unsure of? You no longer have the support of you teacher to ask for help. This will often lead to the answer being made up and techniques being performed incorrectly. Or what happens when you hold gradings? Having the opportunity to have your teacher sit in on gradings and give you feedback where needed is the best way for your club to grow from a technical standard perspective.

One of the values of our club is integrity. Where is your integrity if you can leave your teacher and open your own dojang using your former teacher’s syllabus? I liken this to a gym membership: If you join a gym, you pay your monthly fees. If you stop paying your fees, you stop using the equipment. You can’t take the equipment to start your own gym. To me. The syllabus is the gym equipment? However, if you became a qualified trainer in that gym, you might be able to buy the rights to open your own branch.

Students join Hapkido for a number of different reasons and some journeys last longer than others. I guide them the best that I can while they are with me and I have no problem if they get what they came for and then move on. What is important to me is that students are honest with me about what their intentions are, however Hapkido is not suited to short term membership. There are some students that I form a more traditional and formal student / teacher bond with, but not every student is looking for that and that’s not a problem for me. Some would prefer to just train and not grade, but I am unable to agree to that training style. Students must grade so they can move on to the next level, and to train with other students at a higher-grade level.

Sometimes, after students become a black belt, they might be expected to help more or to run class while I am dealing with a potential new member (as you know, I have an open-door policy for free trials), or whatever else keeps me from the front of class. This should not be a problem if you have allowed the right people to become black belts in your club, they will be happy to help ensure the smooth running of the class. They will also understand that helping others with their techniques is an important learning method for themselves. Loyalty to your instructor and association are crucial to the development of the student as the teacher to student transmission of knowledge is a lifelong journey.

Terms of rank explained

Jokyo nim = 1st Dan black belt

Jokyo nim is helper. Help out in class, sweeping, cleaning, partnering colour belts, help instructor demonstrate techniques. Practicing 1st Dan techniques and learning 2nd Dan techniques.

Kyosa nim = 2nd Dan black belt

Kyosa nim helps out in class. Organising the cleaning etc and taking attendance, collecting fees. Teaching some colour belt techniques. Practicing 1st and 2nd Dan techniques and learning 3rd Dan techniques.

Kyobum nim = 3rd Dan black belt

Kyobum nim is learning to teach. Taking class, solving problems with the guidance of their teacher.

Can grade students up to 1st Dan with supervision.

Sabum nim = 4th Dan black belt

Sabum nim is teacher. Sabum nim has passed teacher exam and proven they want to do all they can for Hapkido.

Can grade up to 3rd Dan.

Note: Nim = sir when following rank/level

Time required between grades.

Colour belts: minimum 12 hours training.

1st Dan to 2nd Dan: 1 year training

2nd Dan to 3rd Dan: 2 years training

3rd Dan to 4th Dan: 3 years training

Respect and Manner

• Respect comes from yourself and from your heart
• Your teacher is yours for your entire life.
• If you want to be respected by your students then you have to respect your teacher first.
• Respect all teachers like your teacher.
• Always be mindful of your Teacher’s feeling.
• If your feeling is not good then you can’t teach properly.
• If you don’t respect your Teacher and Founder then your students will not respect them or
• you.
• A good teacher doesn’t give respect only to themselves, they give it to everyone.
• A teacher should always be the example their students should aspire to be in all things.