Attacker/Defender Sparring - Hapkido Technique January 2009

[JustAintthatWay]

t/y for these videos

they re very helpful

as a new student

it is helpful to see others

who have started out from ground zero

[Science4life1]

nice

[01pyccku]

no offence practice is good and everything, i enjoy the lessons that u give josh, but i would think that hapkido sparring would be a little faster pace! are these guys taking it seriously? they look too relaxed just casually walking around like theyre on a stroll in the park!.. isnt there any sence of stances in hapkido? (of course some people were definately better then other, im not talking about all)

[HapkidoJosh]

I could understand if this was a video of black belts or people who have been doing this for a while but there are only 4 people in this video and 2 of them are beginners. One of the beginners is a 15 year old female and she has come a long way since this video. I'm always trying to work on my students' intensity and it will come with time. Sometimes people go slow because they don't know what to do yet.

[HapkidoJosh]

As for stances, we begin this type of sparring in a Natural or Nonaggressive stance. The thought is that this is where a self defense situation would begin with the defender trying to calm the other person down and not appear aggressive for several reasons. This is not a contest or tournament sparring this is more of a role play to simulate an attack. Taking a fighting stance before the fight begins may make you look like an aggressor to on lookers or may escalate the conflict.

[01pyccku]

Oh ok tnx for clearing it up Josh, it makes sence now :)

[Science4life1]

how long do you actually need to get to black belt in hpd

[HapkidoJosh]

It really depends on the school and the student dedication. I would say between 3 and 5 years.

[Andy1987TKD]

Good =D

[kempobrad]

i don't think there is a better confidence booster than actually seeing your stuff work. but it's also a good reality check, if something isn't working you can see it, see why, and work on it. underneath all the hype, isn't that confidence one of the main things we're all after?

[kempobrad]

nice step in the right direction. how did the students like it? looked like fun.

[HapkidoJosh]

It is fun and we don't do it often enough. I wish I had more time to teach so we could do a class like this once a week.

I try to keep a fine line between improving technique and sparring. All of the students really enjoy it. It can be frustrating at times for newer students but as they progress they see the value of the static training mixed with the sparring. I'm impressed with all of the students in the vid for their level.