Last night I went to see my hapkido master to invite him to a lunch I'm having with my wife and other people. I haven't gone to hapkido in some four months or so mainly due to circumstances - I now live with my wife and wish to spend as much time as possible with her while before I lived on my own and had the time and inclination to get off my backside and practice after work.
I hadn't contacted my master during my absence and have been studying taekwondo in the meantime. I didn't know how he'd react to seeing me because of the gap and also to me taking up taekwondo. I needn't have been worried. He seemed happy to see me and being a married man himself understood my reasons.
Hapkido has been one of the many great things I have got out of coming to Korea. I wish to return to hapkido in the future but can't make any promises and this felt like a goodbye rather than a hello, a rather sad feeling but you never know what the future has in store. I am just lucky to have studied under him for over two years and it's a pleasure to have been taught by someone so generous and knowledgeable.
Showing posts with label martial arts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label martial arts. Show all posts
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Hapkido black belt success
In the lead up to todays test I felt confident that I knew enough to pass but also enough to show I have improved a lot in the twelve months since my 1st degree black belt test. Though I have practised hard in the past year it has not always shown in my tests so I was a little anxious to actually show what I could do. Anxious but not really nervous, which is in total contrast to this time last year.
Feeling more relaxed certainly helped me as I did quite well, the best I have done so far. I have definitely passed this test (though they wont tell me officially until I pick up my new belt in two months time). The reason I know I have passed is because I won an award. I won a trophy and a certificate. At every test at my dojang after everything has been completed there are prizes handed out for best kicks etc etc and a prize called 최우수상, which translates to roughly 'best of the best' and that was the award I was given. Shocked and surprised, I've had a big smile on my face since. I also got a lot of praise from my fellow students, many of whom speak only a few random words in English. This meant a lot to me as many a time I have felt that my technique lacks something when compared to some of the kids who I see. To be honest I don't know if I deserved the award, but it feels good to have won!
The thought of winning an award has been a motivation for me for a long while and there have been one or two times where some eleven year old has beaten me, much to my chagrin! I have to admit that for a long while I thought that I wouldn't get an award because a) I'm not good enough or b) I'm not Korean. I am glad to be proved wrong on both counts. I am still very surprised that I was awarded the best 'performer' on the day. It proves that I am improving and there is a sense of vindication and validation for me taking up hapkido and continuing even though I am the only foreigner at my dojang. I wonder if I am the only foreigner to have won 최우수상 or any trophy at my dojang?
Overall I would rate my test 7/10 for my performance but 10/10 for the experience. I feel that I made a few mistakes but some can be put down to adrenalin but looking back at the video I can see things that I messed up but don't do when I'm not training. I now cannot wait to get back to training for my next test at the end of November. Picking up the new belt is going to be a fantastic feeling. I already feel extremely satisfied. Getting a black belt here in Korea is not so difficult especially if you dedicate some time and make some sacrifices but getting a 2nd degree one is not so common for foreigners here as many stay for only one year. One thing I know is that I can get better as long as I train hard. I know I can train harder. I hope I continue to improve and wonder what great experiences there are for me in the future. Suddenly all the aches and pains feel worth it.
In shock, some how I was awarded the 'best of the best' award
Receiving my award, still in shock
A proud picture with my hapkido Master, a 6th degree black belt
With the Master's assistant who oversees much of my training. He is a 4th degree black belt
Feeling more relaxed certainly helped me as I did quite well, the best I have done so far. I have definitely passed this test (though they wont tell me officially until I pick up my new belt in two months time). The reason I know I have passed is because I won an award. I won a trophy and a certificate. At every test at my dojang after everything has been completed there are prizes handed out for best kicks etc etc and a prize called 최우수상, which translates to roughly 'best of the best' and that was the award I was given. Shocked and surprised, I've had a big smile on my face since. I also got a lot of praise from my fellow students, many of whom speak only a few random words in English. This meant a lot to me as many a time I have felt that my technique lacks something when compared to some of the kids who I see. To be honest I don't know if I deserved the award, but it feels good to have won!
The thought of winning an award has been a motivation for me for a long while and there have been one or two times where some eleven year old has beaten me, much to my chagrin! I have to admit that for a long while I thought that I wouldn't get an award because a) I'm not good enough or b) I'm not Korean. I am glad to be proved wrong on both counts. I am still very surprised that I was awarded the best 'performer' on the day. It proves that I am improving and there is a sense of vindication and validation for me taking up hapkido and continuing even though I am the only foreigner at my dojang. I wonder if I am the only foreigner to have won 최우수상 or any trophy at my dojang?
Overall I would rate my test 7/10 for my performance but 10/10 for the experience. I feel that I made a few mistakes but some can be put down to adrenalin but looking back at the video I can see things that I messed up but don't do when I'm not training. I now cannot wait to get back to training for my next test at the end of November. Picking up the new belt is going to be a fantastic feeling. I already feel extremely satisfied. Getting a black belt here in Korea is not so difficult especially if you dedicate some time and make some sacrifices but getting a 2nd degree one is not so common for foreigners here as many stay for only one year. One thing I know is that I can get better as long as I train hard. I know I can train harder. I hope I continue to improve and wonder what great experiences there are for me in the future. Suddenly all the aches and pains feel worth it.
In shock, some how I was awarded the 'best of the best' awardReceiving my award, still in shockA proud picture with my hapkido Master, a 6th degree black beltWith the Master's assistant who oversees much of my training. He is a 4th degree black beltAbove is the video for the test with some edits (I left a few things out). Looking back at the video I remembered how much fun I had during the test and even watching it again made me smile. Despite my technique flaws its important to remind myself why I go to hapkido, because its fun and that's while I'll keep going.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Hapkido AND Taekwondo
As my 2nd degree black test edges closer and closer I find that my mind is not just focused on this but on what I might do next. I'm ready for Saturdays test and feel I could pass it today if need be but there is something else. After getting this belt there will be a relative ceiling on how far I can progress rank-wise so I'm thinking of looking into taking up something new. I find hapkido both enjoyable and challenging but to some extent there has been a lot of repetition over the past two years and I continue to wonder how far I can go with it past getting my 2nd dan. I do not want to stop hapkido this year but I have been thinking that some time around March or May I may stop going. I certainly doubt that I will be training at night when the summertime comes around again in 2010.
Over the past few months I have had the thought running through my mind that perhaps it could be time to take up taekwondo. There are a few hapkido gyms (dojangs, 도장) around where I live but there are lots of taekwondo dojangs within a twenty minute walk from my apartment. With nearly two years of hapkido training I believe I could pick up the basics without too much hassle. I have been told by a few people that it is mainly kicking but I find this hard to believe. Reading up on taekwondo over the internet, several sites claim that many of hapkidos kicks are derived from taekwondo so I would have a nice head start if this is true. It would be very interesting to find out more on the sport as so many people grow up studying it in Korea. Many of my past and present students have learned it for years. It is far more popular than hapkido and it is rare on a week day to not see some kid on the street wearing a taekwondo uniform.
Is it possible to train in both martial arts at the same time? Time-wise, yes. I train at hapkido at night, after work. I start work at around 4pm so after then it is not possible, but before then I would have plenty of time. Money-wise there is no problem. I pay 80,00won a month at hapkido and would imagine something similar for taekwondo so that's easily manageable. One potential problem would be that IF I trained early (I can't define early other than being before 4pm) then I would probably train with a bunch very young students and that would not be ideal for both me and the instructor. Perhaps there are some very early am classes where only adults train. The big problem of course would be finding someone who speaks decent enough English to train me. I believe it to be possible as somebody I knew when she was in Korea studied at a place very near where I live and told me that her instructor spoke English. I think I will pop in one day and ask a few questions.
Let's think about the up-side of doing both together. Surely learning taekwondo would compliment my hapkido, leaving me more flexible and maybe stronger. Fitness-wise it would help. I need to lose a few kilograms and hapkido alone isn't always an intensive workout. Studying taekwondo would help be exercise more and perhaps be a little more self-disciplined. A wonderful bonus may be that I would actually be tired before 3am and get more sleep. Of course one of the factors running around my brain is the prospect of picking up another black belt but this time in another martial art. Back home, picking up a black belt would take a lot longer than here where I would be getting expert guidance. My feeling is that it could be an unmissable opportunity. At the very least I would be learning something new and meeting new people which can only be a good thing. I ask myself, is it possible to study and train in both hapkido AND taekwondo at the same time? Much to think about.
Over the past few months I have had the thought running through my mind that perhaps it could be time to take up taekwondo. There are a few hapkido gyms (dojangs, 도장) around where I live but there are lots of taekwondo dojangs within a twenty minute walk from my apartment. With nearly two years of hapkido training I believe I could pick up the basics without too much hassle. I have been told by a few people that it is mainly kicking but I find this hard to believe. Reading up on taekwondo over the internet, several sites claim that many of hapkidos kicks are derived from taekwondo so I would have a nice head start if this is true. It would be very interesting to find out more on the sport as so many people grow up studying it in Korea. Many of my past and present students have learned it for years. It is far more popular than hapkido and it is rare on a week day to not see some kid on the street wearing a taekwondo uniform.
Is it possible to train in both martial arts at the same time? Time-wise, yes. I train at hapkido at night, after work. I start work at around 4pm so after then it is not possible, but before then I would have plenty of time. Money-wise there is no problem. I pay 80,00won a month at hapkido and would imagine something similar for taekwondo so that's easily manageable. One potential problem would be that IF I trained early (I can't define early other than being before 4pm) then I would probably train with a bunch very young students and that would not be ideal for both me and the instructor. Perhaps there are some very early am classes where only adults train. The big problem of course would be finding someone who speaks decent enough English to train me. I believe it to be possible as somebody I knew when she was in Korea studied at a place very near where I live and told me that her instructor spoke English. I think I will pop in one day and ask a few questions.
Let's think about the up-side of doing both together. Surely learning taekwondo would compliment my hapkido, leaving me more flexible and maybe stronger. Fitness-wise it would help. I need to lose a few kilograms and hapkido alone isn't always an intensive workout. Studying taekwondo would help be exercise more and perhaps be a little more self-disciplined. A wonderful bonus may be that I would actually be tired before 3am and get more sleep. Of course one of the factors running around my brain is the prospect of picking up another black belt but this time in another martial art. Back home, picking up a black belt would take a lot longer than here where I would be getting expert guidance. My feeling is that it could be an unmissable opportunity. At the very least I would be learning something new and meeting new people which can only be a good thing. I ask myself, is it possible to study and train in both hapkido AND taekwondo at the same time? Much to think about.
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Hapkdip black belt test coming up
I've pretty much learned all the things I need to learn for my next hapkido test. There is just some fine tuning left before next weekends test for my 2nd degree black belt. This is the thing that's been a big motivation for me over the past twelve months. As in previous tests I am a little nervous but my technique is sound enough to pass. Also, like previous tests I feel compelled to try extra hard because I am the only 'foreigner' at my dojang, where a whole bunch of kids and their relatives will be gawping at me for a while.
Another motivation arrived yesterday when I was handed the form I need to fill in to take the test. Every time I take a test I have to pay a fee. As was with my 1st degree black belt test this time the fee is a lot higher because you get a new belt plus other things when you pass. The belt is very nice to look at. Last time the fee was £75 but this time it is £100 (200,000 won). Doh. It will be worth it when I pass the test and pick up the new belt at the pre-test ceremony in November. I have no fear of failing. My Master knows my strengths and weakness' and seems to think my technique is getting better and better.
Right now my body is aching after all the jumping around and falling I've been doing this week. There are just six more practice sessions before the test and hopefully I can get some rest when I'm not training - i.e. at work. After the test I will take some time out to relax, go on holiday and get some small medical problems looked at. Beyond that I feel that maybe I have perhaps six-eight months left of hapkido in Korea. It will be a sad day when I pack it in here but that's some way off for now.
Another motivation arrived yesterday when I was handed the form I need to fill in to take the test. Every time I take a test I have to pay a fee. As was with my 1st degree black belt test this time the fee is a lot higher because you get a new belt plus other things when you pass. The belt is very nice to look at. Last time the fee was £75 but this time it is £100 (200,000 won). Doh. It will be worth it when I pass the test and pick up the new belt at the pre-test ceremony in November. I have no fear of failing. My Master knows my strengths and weakness' and seems to think my technique is getting better and better.
Right now my body is aching after all the jumping around and falling I've been doing this week. There are just six more practice sessions before the test and hopefully I can get some rest when I'm not training - i.e. at work. After the test I will take some time out to relax, go on holiday and get some small medical problems looked at. Beyond that I feel that maybe I have perhaps six-eight months left of hapkido in Korea. It will be a sad day when I pack it in here but that's some way off for now.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
(an) End in sight?: Hapkido test approaching
My bi-monthly hapkido test is coming up on Saturday morning. I feel very confident. No nerves, my technique is sound, all the self defence moves practiced and honed over the last few weeks. There is no fear at all of not passing. How well I do in the test is another matter. I have reached the stage where I want to look good in the test. I don't want a pass, I want an unequivocal pass and one where I can pull off all the moves I attempt.
Deep down I also want some kind of recognition from the judges who attend my dojangs tests - four or five awards are given out at each test and I believe I came close last time only to be beaten by a boy who is young enough to be my son - humbling indignation! Being the only foreigner at my dojang I kind of represent not just myself but other countries as well and I feel it's important to prove that not just Koreans can do well at this martial art.
Day after day I practice a series of moves that I will 'perform' in the test. I hope adrenalin will push me to some kind of success. Niggling doubts remain on my actual ability but month by month I improve. This is not a feeling. It is borne out by being able to do things I couldn't previously. Hopefully I can show some of my progression this weekend. The tests starts in the morning and I am expecting mine to take place at maybe 12 or 12:30 in the afternoon. Hopefully there will be a nice nights rest for me on Friday.
Anyway, this test, should I pass will put me at a level described by one of my Korean trainers as 'almost 2nd degree'. After some talking on the progression I am going through I finally found out that it looks like (this is not set in stone but it is my understanding) that in September I will take the test to become a 2nd degree hapkido black belt. Finally some news that I have been waiting on for almost a year. This has been keeping me going at times in Korea, the prospect of getting that belt.
Later on I found out that it is supposed to take three more years to become a 3rd degree hapkido black belt. So unless something totally insane and unpredictable such as the exchange rate becoming outrageously good for me happens then that will be a ceiling on how high I can go at hapkido. Depending on how I feel it could be that I stop taking classes around March time next year. We'll see. Some big decisions in store for me after the turn of the year. If this weekend's test goes well I'll post it on this blog.
Deep down I also want some kind of recognition from the judges who attend my dojangs tests - four or five awards are given out at each test and I believe I came close last time only to be beaten by a boy who is young enough to be my son - humbling indignation! Being the only foreigner at my dojang I kind of represent not just myself but other countries as well and I feel it's important to prove that not just Koreans can do well at this martial art.
Day after day I practice a series of moves that I will 'perform' in the test. I hope adrenalin will push me to some kind of success. Niggling doubts remain on my actual ability but month by month I improve. This is not a feeling. It is borne out by being able to do things I couldn't previously. Hopefully I can show some of my progression this weekend. The tests starts in the morning and I am expecting mine to take place at maybe 12 or 12:30 in the afternoon. Hopefully there will be a nice nights rest for me on Friday.
Anyway, this test, should I pass will put me at a level described by one of my Korean trainers as 'almost 2nd degree'. After some talking on the progression I am going through I finally found out that it looks like (this is not set in stone but it is my understanding) that in September I will take the test to become a 2nd degree hapkido black belt. Finally some news that I have been waiting on for almost a year. This has been keeping me going at times in Korea, the prospect of getting that belt.
Later on I found out that it is supposed to take three more years to become a 3rd degree hapkido black belt. So unless something totally insane and unpredictable such as the exchange rate becoming outrageously good for me happens then that will be a ceiling on how high I can go at hapkido. Depending on how I feel it could be that I stop taking classes around March time next year. We'll see. Some big decisions in store for me after the turn of the year. If this weekend's test goes well I'll post it on this blog.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Blood, sweat and beers
Every few weeks or so I try to push myself harder when I go to hapkido especially as a test appears on the horizon. This is because I often feel that I'm not giving it everything when I train even though I always have the best intentions. At the moment pushing myself harder is very difficult. We're in Summer and it's not just roasting outside but inside buildings get deceptively hot. I am sweating buckets every night, washing my uniforms nearly every night too.
From time to time I see my technique improve and it's really a thrill. I still see myself as a novice who is bumbling his way through the ranks but when you can see and feel yourself getting better and doing things you couldn't previously then it makes all the effort worthwhile. Right now I am laying off the beers despite the extreme temptations provided by the heat. I'm crossing my fingers that it works and that I can lose weight, become healthier and also save some money. It won't last but for now my intentions remain good.
Today I trained as hard as my body and the heat would let me (not as hard as I want to though). I took my camera to film a move or two that I've been working on for many many months but have started to perform ok. In the video I am doing a neck spring and sometimes I can do it, sometimes I can't. Usually I do this while in motion (jumping up and backward then rolling backwards to spring up onto my feet) but I've been trying to do it sitting at the start. The clip was taken at the end of a long day (midnight) and at the end of the training session. If you stumble on this blog and watch this clip you may think it's easy to do or not impressive - and maybe you're right, but I know that I've tried for months and months to do make this look a little easy and it feels good to get something right after struggling for so long. I still look a little awkward but things are improving.
From time to time I see my technique improve and it's really a thrill. I still see myself as a novice who is bumbling his way through the ranks but when you can see and feel yourself getting better and doing things you couldn't previously then it makes all the effort worthwhile. Right now I am laying off the beers despite the extreme temptations provided by the heat. I'm crossing my fingers that it works and that I can lose weight, become healthier and also save some money. It won't last but for now my intentions remain good.
Today I trained as hard as my body and the heat would let me (not as hard as I want to though). I took my camera to film a move or two that I've been working on for many many months but have started to perform ok. In the video I am doing a neck spring and sometimes I can do it, sometimes I can't. Usually I do this while in motion (jumping up and backward then rolling backwards to spring up onto my feet) but I've been trying to do it sitting at the start. The clip was taken at the end of a long day (midnight) and at the end of the training session. If you stumble on this blog and watch this clip you may think it's easy to do or not impressive - and maybe you're right, but I know that I've tried for months and months to do make this look a little easy and it feels good to get something right after struggling for so long. I still look a little awkward but things are improving.
Saturday, 30 May 2009
Hapkido: Latest belt test
Today saw me take my latest Hapkido test at my Blue Dragon dojang here in Korea. Up to this point I have been making steady progress but lagging behind some of the students who have been taking classes for longer than me - in my opinion. My flexibility hasn't been so good and at times I've looked a bit sluggish too. I have to keep remembering that I am in my thirties and this is still new to me while some kids have been taking lessons for years. Today's test went so great that hours later I am still buzzing. I'll give it a seven out of ten. I managed to do some things I haven't done before in the test and made some big technique improvements. It's nice to feel improvement in practice but doing things well in the test felt good. One thing I also noticed was how much the kids there were smiling. It was really uplifting to see so many happy kids especially considering how miserable some of my actual students are. Anyway here is a video of today.
As well as I felt I did, clearly I have a long way to go before I leave Korea and probably Hapkido behind. I feel like I did well deep down inside and a lot of the students kept saying well done to me in their basic English. In practice my kicking is a lot better and so too is my self defence. Being honest I thought maybe I could win an award (trophies and certificates are given to outstanding performances of the day), but it was not to be. Regardless, today was a big improvement. Perhaps in the future I can do well enough to win something but that's not my primary objective. My next test is two months from now and I know that I cannot let up. This is the time to push on and work even harder. After that I think there are no tests for my level until maybe January where I should be testing for a 2nd degree black belt. Truly something that is keeping me going in Korea-land.
As well as I felt I did, clearly I have a long way to go before I leave Korea and probably Hapkido behind. I feel like I did well deep down inside and a lot of the students kept saying well done to me in their basic English. In practice my kicking is a lot better and so too is my self defence. Being honest I thought maybe I could win an award (trophies and certificates are given to outstanding performances of the day), but it was not to be. Regardless, today was a big improvement. Perhaps in the future I can do well enough to win something but that's not my primary objective. My next test is two months from now and I know that I cannot let up. This is the time to push on and work even harder. After that I think there are no tests for my level until maybe January where I should be testing for a 2nd degree black belt. Truly something that is keeping me going in Korea-land.
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