Hapkido

[Shinobi_Kokujin]

Originally Posted by damen

if you dont mind me asking.. what, exactly, do you know about Tai Chi?

Have you ever studied it?

I know it looks a little silly, but I PROMISE you that someone with proper Tai Chi training can tear it up like you wouldnt believe.

i know enough to know that particular school was a silly display of tai chi. besides the daniel-san headbands they were wearing Karate uniforms and the techniques were sloppy. never trained in Tai Chi but met better true Tai Chi artists first time i was Korea and got a taste of its power

Originally Posted by Joemoplata

I don't disagree with what you're saying, but what you're describing is simply real world experience or security employment and not necessarily in combat experience. For example, one of our very first American promoted Black Belts in BJJ at my school was a security officer for Faifax County's Juvenile Detention Center. Obviously he uses what he learned and teaches, but for sure there are a lot of elements of BJJ that have little or nothing to do with his real world experiences. So at that point, the training for "real world" is supplemental...it's helpful but it's not the only reason for training.

thats why i dont use it as the only way to gauge but it is helpful in that your training in something that you can effectively use if that situation arises such as level of aliveness instead of over-compliance and rigidness. that prepares troops better for combat

Originally Posted by WC_Lun

I would be careful about using Iraq/Afganastan combat experience as an indication of an arts effectiveness. I have had students from a previous system I studied go into the military, do multiple tours of duty (some as SF), and even have had hand to hand incidents. The art that was taught them was watered down to the point that a person's physical attributes counted as much as or more than any skills taught these young men. When a person's physical attributes become the determining factor of an altercation then the martial arts a person has becomes almost useless.

thats why i also look at different aspects.... or at least try to if i can, not just what someone claims. thats how some people in army combatives are.....they dont really have much technique and skill, so they rely on using brute strenght an instead of grappling they are "crappling" an then claim that they doing MMA or Combatives.

so i agree its important also in how the student is recieving transmission of the particular art and using it under pressure they way they was taught in accordance with the art and not just doing thier own thing an then still claiming that art

[Joemoplata]

Originally Posted by Shinobi_Kokujin

thats why i dont use it as the only way to gauge but it is helpful in that your training in something that you can effectively use if that situation arises such as level of aliveness instead of over-compliance and rigidness. that prepares troops better for combat

Fair enough, makes sense.

[Ramsey5150]

hey has anyone seen the DVD Hapkido videos from Steve Sexton? I am thinking about getting them and wondered if any of you Hapkido practiciners would recommend them or not?

[H@pkid0ist]

Sexton and I have the same teacher. Though over the years he has adapted his training to his way. i have heard nothing but positive things about Sexton. So I would say that it is worth a shot.