Taekwondo vs Hapkido For Limited Time Schedule

Billy Jack · White Belt

Due to work, I have a limited time available (2 nights per week. Maybe 3 on occasion). I would like to get "rooted and grounded" in one system, with the option to branch out in the future if I choose. There are a million taekwondo dojangs in my area, compared to only 1 quality Hapkido dojang, where taekwondo is also taught. I am told the instructor is much harder and demanding on Hapkido students than Taekwondo students, and it takes far longer to achieve 1st Dan with Hapkido. My solution? Pick the best taekwondo school in my area. Immerse myself in taekwondo with the goal of achieving black belt within 4 years. Then, if I choose, I can take hapkido because the kicks, punches, and strikes will be related. Everybody says that Hapkido is better than Taekwondo for self-defense; however, I have a belt in nothing right now. I'm thinking that a green belt in taekwondo from a great instructor will dramatically improve my self defense ability. What do you experts think?

TKD_McGee · Purple Belt

Hapikido is pretty sweet, although you have to be willing to be thrown around a lot. I'd see what kind of qualifications each school has, take a free lesson from each school, then make a choice. The choice is yours... based on rates, respect, and facility you should be able to make an accurate choice.

Nice name BTW, that movie is good.

_________________
Do unto others, as they done to you.

Bretty101 · Green Belt

Can't really speak for Hapkido however in my experience Taekwondo being one of the newer martial arts is not set in it's ways and is an excellent base martial art from which to approach other martial arts.

I know many people who once they have reached Black belt level in TKD have gone away and stolen bits of other martial arts then applied them to Taekwondo.

Taekwondo has a little bit of everything. and will give you an insight into Kicks, punches, kicks, Grappling, Self defence, kicks, pressure points, locks and kicks. It's also a well known kicking martial art!

Don't know how our UK styles of TKD compare to yours.

Bretty

koreantiger81 · Blue Belt

I started off with hap ki do and now i'm in tae kwon do. I switched because i didn't enjoy learning a lot of "joint lock" techniques. I wanted to kick and be more offensive. That's my own personal preference. When choosing a martial art, know what your purpose is in trainning and what you expect to learn. Sure you can jump around from each martial arts and learn bits and pieces from each. I've been cross-trainning in different styles for a long time. However, i've come to the point that i have to commit to one art and grow in that art. It takes a life time to truly experience the fruits of one martial art.

Based on what you've said, it seems to me you want a more defensive style with some kicks. MIght as well do Hap Ki do now instead of tae kwon do, if you're going to do hap ki do in the future. If you still want to do TKD, join an International Tae kwon do Federation club since they are more defensive compared to the World federation club.

[ This Message was edited by: koreantiger81 on 2002-04-21 06:08 ]

TKDMASTER · Yellow Belt

Its your choice man. But if it was i def go tkd.

Karateka_latino · Black Belt

I'd take Hapkido...It doesn't matter if it takes longer to archive a black belt.. is the belt more important than the Art itself?.

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