Recent Gradings Recent Gradings Grandmaster`s Message

Student Articles
Recent Gradings
Grandmaster’s Message
New Members
Do you train for real, or do you train for reality? The
difference is a lot bigger than you think, regardless of
style.
The idea of a difference between real or reality training is
more focussed on those arts that have a combat focus or
combat based history. It is less true with those arts that are
predominantly philosophical or health-related. And in
using the term reality I am not referring to the more
recent crop of ‘reality’ fighting styles.
If we go back in time to the foundation of our arts it was
common for them to have come from times of trouble,
times of war or times when conflict was a general way of
life. As such they were designed to be used; it was common
for the techniques to be tested in actual battle. Even in
times when there was no actual war or fighting it was well
known that the seniors would go out and test their skills.
This is evident in Korea where many instructors would
challenge others to fight, or they would test their skills on
the streets in the more criminal parts of the cities.
When it became less accepted to ‘test’ skills this way, some
instructors came up with other ways to check that their
training was based in reality. Mas Oyama was one of
these, not only did he test his skills against bulls, he also
created the 100 man kumite as a test of ability and spirit.
Society has changed and with it the ways we can test our
skills. That being said the option for the Kyokushin 100
person kumite still exists if attempted rarely.
Where does this put us today? The first step is to train for
reality as opposed to just real training. The difference
comes from the intent and the way you train. I define
training for real as someone who attends classes and
follows the directions they are given. They train
reasonably hard 2-3 times a week and put in a decent
effort. Does this translate to being ready for reality? Will
their training support the ability to be able to use those
skills in a real situation? This is really dependant on the
person, not on their training.
In training for reality the focus in the training needs to
shift. For example, kicking skills need to not only be
I would like to give you my opinion on
what Hapkido means to me. Hapkido
is not all about knowing how to
defend yourself. It gives you
confidence in yourself, it teaches you
discipline and respect for others. It
gives you inner strength and
knowledge that develops over time.
One of the best things about Hapkido
is the friends you make along the way.
We might come from different
backgrounds, but we all have one
thing in common, the love we all
share for training and learning
together.
My journey started when I was 6
trained in the air but in a real context. Firstly, you have to
be able to develop power from the kick on a target or bag.
Then the kick needs to be put into a reality focus through
training the kick the way it may be required. Try kicking
when the opponent rushes in randomly, try kicking when
the target is off centre and also try kicking when you need
to shift your weight or balance first. When you are able to
kick with power in each of these situations the kick then
becomes a tool that would be more likely to work in
reality.
The same goes for those arts that use locking, throwing or
grappling. The locking should be trained against grabs
that include resistance, different angles and different
force. Try using the lock while blind-folded and try using
the lock while your balance is disrupted. These training
tools will help prepare the skill for use in the ever
changing environment that is reality. A combination of
training your skills to be usable and effective in as many
variable situations is most definitely the first step.
The next one is to work on intent and focus. When you
kick or lock, make the technique the focus; make the goal
to complete the technique regardless of the variables. One
good drill is to have a partner Kiyap/Kiai loudly and
randomly during a drill to disrupt your focus. When you
are confident of your skill, test it in the class. This does not
mean taking out your opponent, more that you get your
opponent to push your limits. As an example, if the
technique is a kick defence, get a skilled kicker to be your
opponent and ask them to hit you with that kick. You still
are aware that a X Kick is coming but now you are facing
an opponent who has the skill to hit you with it. This will
bring into play an adrenal reaction which is another way
to be ready for the street.
The ideas here are not style-based more a way to train
skills so that they are more likely to be practical in reality.
Taking your training up to this level will not only provide
better martial art tools but also a greater sense of
confidence. Really train and train for Reality!
years old at Liverpool with Ma’am
Gaye. I was doing gymnastics at the
same time and unfortunately
gymnastics was taking up a lot of
hours, so after 18 months I had to give
up Hapkido. I then went on to
represent New South Wales in
gymnastics for the next 8 years. I
went to the Nationals for the last 5
years and was ranked in the top 6
over those years. My ambition at that
time was to represent Australia at the
Commonwealth Games, but this was
not to happen.
My problem was I grew too tall. I was
upset and didn’t know what to do
- Grandmaster Geoff
with myself. After training for 30
hours a week to doing nothing was
very hard. My dad then suggested that
I go back to Hapkido. I did remember
how much I enjoyed my time at
Liverpool with Ma’am Gaye and Sir
Jimmy.
So here I am back after 8 years and
having a great time (I even like the
warm ups). I know I will continue and
I realise it will get harder, but I am
determined to get my Black Belt
alongside my friends.
- Callum J
How long ago did you start training and what made you
get into Hapkido?
I started training I think in 1962 when I was 7 years old. I
started, as many little children, with Judo. Judo was the
only possibility of learning Self Defence in our village.
When we moved to Tilburg I stopped training. I was at
that time 11 years old. I had to find my place in the new
school and often I had to "defend" myself. In that time the
movies of Bruce Lee were in the cinema in Holland.
Everybody wanted to learn fighting. Taekwondo was a
relatively new style in Holland and I wanted to train. My
mother told me that I was allowed to learn
Taekwondo if I didn't fight on the street
anymore. So when I was 14 or 15 years old I
started to learn Taekwondo at Master Harrie
Bottse (who attended the last seminar we hosted
with Grandmaster Booth). I trained for several
years with him, until I moved to another part
of the country to study physiotherapy. During
this period I did a little bit of Karate. There
were times I trained with one of my fellow
students. We started after our study time at
about 12.00pm and trained till1.30am. This
was the best time to train. Just before sleeping.
After the training we drunk a beer (only for the
vitamin B) and went to sleep.
After my study I trained again some
Taekwondo and some private survival training
(in-fighting) with Master Bottse. I also studied
hypnosis, acupressure/shiatsu and reflexology,
and had my own physiotherapy practice
during that time. In 1989 I became severely ill
for a few years and training became, and still is,
a struggle. However, my daughter wanted to do
Hapkido (the style was introduced by GM
Myung Jae Nam) and I went along with her just
to watch and dream about the past. Then
people invited me to train along with them. I
decided to join. I started with a few minutes of
training at a time. At that time I could walk
only a few hundred metres. After a while
though, I trained fulltime. I liked it very much
and it gave me joy in my life again. The
concept of meditation, breathing exercises and the rest of
the training made me feel better.
After a few years I assisted in teaching. When I was 44
years old I got my first degree in Hapkido. I often taught
the class and my trainer Mark van den Bosch and I
decided to add some kicks and ground techniques to the
Hapkido style we were teaching. After a while Mark
decided to stop teaching. I asked him if I could take his
place because there was no trainer anymore.
Since that time I've been teaching and studying Hapkido.
I'm a person who likes to teach Self Defence which you
can use on the street. So I looked for someone who could
teach me more effective stuff. I went to Belgium to a
seminar with GM Jung T Freda at the Dojang of GM R
Dassen. It gave me an "I love it" feeling. So I decided to
learn Sin Moo Hapkido. At that time I already had some
contact with GM G Booth. I downloaded his mpeg-files
and studied them all. I also ordered some Sin Moo Hapkido
material from GM J Ziegler. Hapkido was and is my daily
activity right to this day. I learned a lot from Sin Moo
Hapkido and other styles, like BJJ, kickboxing etc and I
have been to 2 seminars with Dojunim Ji Han Jae.
Every year I am in contact with GM G Booth. When he
was visiting Belgium I ask him if he wanted to give a
workshop to my students. He wanted to come. This was the
beginning of a big development. GM Booth’s way of
thinking and training was exactly like I see Self Defence.
The way the concepts works is very good. It is like
mathematics.
From your experience what do you consider to
be the secret to sticking with Hapkido?
My secret to sticking with Hapkido is that in my
opinion Self Defence is health care. I'm a
physiotherapist and have been working in health
care. I see it like this: You are concerned for how
you eat, drink, sleep, what you wear, what you
learn, how you look. You are precious!
Nowadays you have an alarm system in your car,
in your house. Very good, because they are
precious! But... what about yourself? You are
also precious. The most precious thing on earth.
Why no alarm system? Take an alarm and learn
Complete Self Defence - "Hapkido."
How did you first get involved with Grandmaster
Geoff and the IHA?
I think it was in 1999/2000. I saw an mpeg on
the website. I tried to train those techniques.
Then I wrote an email to make a compliment
about the mpeg. Of course I downloaded them.
After that time I sometimes wrote to GM Booth.
Until the day he was in Belgium. I asked if he
could come and he said YES! I told him I just had
a little school. He told me he didn't care. I was
very proud to announce to my students that GM
Booth would come to Holland!
What do you like the most about Hapkido?
What I like the most about our style of Hapkido
is the concepts. This creates the possibility to
play with techniques and to make them yours. It
gives a lot of freedom and it gives you an understanding of
how things really work. The water, circle and nonresistance theories are easy to understand. But also ABC,
BMT and TLC are very important to know and to
understand. This makes the style special among other
styles around the world.
Do you enjoy teaching?
I love teaching. I have taught a number of different styles
of martial arts over the years but since being part of the
IHA and learning more and more about Kwan Nyom
Hapkido this is all I teach. Kwan Nyom Hapkido uses a
modern way of thinking and it has been a pleasure to be in
contact with GM Booth and a part of the IHA. Besides, this
Hapkido is so rich, it covers a lot of techniques from a lot
of styles. It not only gives you skill in physically defending
yourself but also mentally defending yourself. I take great
pleasure in teaching Kwan Nyom Hapkido with all its ins
and outs. And... it is awesome.
In March of 2010 The Toodokan Self
Defence Academy was privileged to
host a seminar given by world
renowned Hapkido Grandmaster
Geoff Booth. The timing didn’t prove
to be the best with Easter and school
holidays preventing the majority of
students being able to attend. Having
said that the students who did attend
not only had a great time, but learned
some excellent locks, holds and
takedowns. The teaching style of
Grandmaster Geoff with its humour
and expertise won him a fan base at
the Toodokan school and I am
I remember fondly the early days of
my friendship with Geoff; one of the
things that really stood out was his
passion and dedication for
Hapkido. At that time Grandmaster
Geoff was one of the only full-time
professional school operators, and the
one that paved the way for many
martial arts instructors including
myself to make the transition from
part-time to full-time professional
school owners. His example gave me
the inspiration to take my teaching to
the next level, and for that I will
always be grateful.
A year later, after thousands of pushups, crunches, squats, front rolls,
back falls, side falls, and you know
the rest, I’m still at it. Even all the
good pain is fun! (I know, sounds
sick!)
I’m just now realising how it all
comes together to make a good
Hapkidoist. I am in the best shape I’ve
been in for years and loving it. I am
able to do things I wouldn’t have
thought of doing before, and willing
to try other new things as I get better
at the ones that I am learning at my
belt level.
At age 57, your brain tells you that
you can’t do front falls much less
front to side falls. But as you relax
more and keep at it, you become
aware that your brain is not always
right.
“Grandmaster Geoff is one of
the few true Masters of the
martial arts remaining.”
Over the last 32 years that I have
been studying the martial arts I have
had the privilege to meet and train
with some of the great Masters, and I
continually asked when Grandmaster
Geoff is coming back for his next
seminar.
“The students learned some
excellent locks, holds and
takedowns.”
As an instructor I was proud to be able
to host a seminar from my close friend
of twenty years, but I was also
impressed with the skill and
professionalism displayed by him, and
the highly skilled instructors that
came to assist. Many thanks to Sir
Jimmy, Ma’am Tina, Sir Adrian and
Sir Yash for taking their time to come
and assist Grandmaster Geoff.
So, I was invited to attend a Hapkido
demonstration and thought... sounds
interesting!
can say that Grandmaster Geoff is one
of the few true Masters of the martial
arts remaining.
I have enjoyed my journey so far and
plan to keep at it, at least until my
body says slow down. My body is
smarter than my brain in this case!
I am looking forward to the
challenges ahead and I know I will
have to push myself to get through
them.
But with my Instructor, Sir Corey and
fellow Hapkidoists, I know I will be
able to continue for some time to
come. I’m awaiting Grandmaster
Geoff’s return to Hutch, to see some
more cool material, and get some
more of his thoughts on Hapkido.
I look forward to meeting other
Hapkidoists from other parts of the
world and maybe someday
participating with them. I am happy
Sir Corey encouraged me to write
this, and perhaps I will continue to
write some short comments on my
Hapkido adventure.
- Master John Tooby
Hit or Myth?
Hapkido is like Taekwondo but with locks.
- Tim I
Congratulations to the following Adult students who recently graded!
Jelena T - DSD
Van T - CSD
Ronald N - CMA
Kassandra D - DSD
Chris E - DSD
Brijesh J - DSD
Asaeli K - DSD
Hannah R - DSD
Tim D - CSD
Nathan N - CMA
Justin T - CMA
Craig L - DSD
Michael S - DSD
Les R - CSD
Dylan V - CSD
Greg K - CMA
Clement M - CMA
Cassandra T - CMA
Garry A - CMA
Belal Q - DSD
Grace T - CSD
Shane H - CSD
Jennifer G - CMA
Alex I - CMA
Bianca H - CSD
Stella A - CMA
Tyler P - CSD
Luke D - CSD
Paul D - CSD
Kevin A - CMA
Gerard B - CSD
Shirisha N - CSD
Grant H - CSD Hutch
Dave M - CSD Hutch
Effie D - CMA
Muralidhar N - CSD
Hannei K - DSD
Karam K - DSD
Boscow C - CMA
Daniel S - CMA
Gina Y - CMA
Brett W - CSD
Thomas U - CMA
Donna D - CSD
Edward L - CMA
Amadeus H - CSD
Alex G - CMA
Callum J - DSD
Nachi M - DSD
Congratulations to the following Kids who recently graded!
Nicholas T (DSD Falcon)
Tara D (DSD Hawk)
Tayla W (DSD Falcon)
Darren F (DSD Hawk)
Simran N (DSD Falcon)
Leonard M (DSD Falcon)
Alankar G (DSD Hawk)
Yianni M (CSD Hawk)
Alex C (CSD Hawk)
Evren T (DSD Hawk)
Thelonious L (CSD Falcon)
Joseph K (DSD Hawk)
Jesse V (CSD Falcon)
Reece F (CMA Hawk)
Jesse R (CSD Hawk)
Shavan P (DSD Falcon)
Sarkis N (DSD Hawk)
Kathleen M (CSD Hawk)
Jake R (CSD Falcon)
Paras J (DSD Falcon)
Kyle H (CSD Hawk)
Dino M (CSD Hawk)
Jacqueline B (CSD Falcon)
Daniel K (CSD Falcon)
Yasmin T (CSD Hawk)
Phoebe V (CSD Hawk)
Benjamin B (CSD Falcon)
Masen EM (DSD Falcon)
Max W (CMA Hawk)
Jordan R (CSD Falcon)
Despina P (CMA Hawk)
Karan G (DSD Falcon)
Jack A (CSD Hawk)
Iqbal Q (DSD Falcon)
Phillip P (CMA Hawk)
Jessica P (CMA Falcon)
Isaiah S-A (DSD Hawk)
Marcus D (DSD Hawk)
Christine O (CMA Falcon)
Peter M (CMA Hawk)
Tarlia N (DSD Hawk)
Edward O (CMA Falcon)
Annabelle S-A (DSD Falcon)
Shannon B (CSD Hawk)
Phillip G (CSD Falcon)
Cassie B (CSD Hawk)
Kelvin H (CMA Hawk)
Claire K (CSD Falcon)
Ethan A (CMA Hawk)
Buddy N (DSD Hawk)
Matias C (DSD Hawk)
Vas K (CSD Hawk)
Alex J (CSD Hawk)
Owen M (CSD Hawk)
Dylan H (CSD Falcon)
Julian G (DSD Falcon)
Martin C (DSD Falcon)
Christopher T (DSD Hawk)
Joshua P (CSD Falcon)
Ethan L (CMA Falcon)
Georgia K (CSD Falcon)
Tarron Z (CMA Hawk)
Jeevi M (DSD Falcon)
Caitlin L (CSD Hawk)
Jordan L (CSD Hawk)
Cory S (CSD Hawk)
Phillip P (CSD Falcon)
Flora L (CMA Hawk)
Tarron Z (CMA Hawk)
Jeremy O (DSD Falcon)
George P (CMA Hawk)
Dylan G (CMA Falcon)
Cassandra B (CSD Hawk)
Artemis P (CMA Hawk)
Christopher T (DSD Hawk)
Elise P (Youth CSD Hutch)
Richard W (CMA Falcon)
Nathaniel O (Youth CSD Hutch)
Brier Z (Youth CSD Hutch)
Audrey S (Youth CSD Hutch)
I started doing Hapkido early last
November and after 6 months and 50
odd classes (I had a bit of a
problem with doing catrolls) I
finally obtained from Ma`am Tina my
last signature and she informed me I
was ready to grade to Orange belt. So I
handed in my form to Ma`am and she
told me that the following Thursday
night was it.
Now I had seen any number of my
training partners grade to Orange belt
but I never thought how hard it really
could be.
So finally the big night came around, I
made sure I had an easy day at work
(you can do that when you’re self
employed) and I made sure I had a
restful afternoon (ok, I did have an
afternoon catnap), but I knew I was
going to need it because if there is one
thing I have learnt, when you do a
Ma`am Tina class you’re in for a hard
warmup and you come prepared to
sweat it out.
So the class started and surprise
surprise what exercise did we do first?
In early July, 60 DSD students, family
and friends headed to the cinemas to
watch the remade Karate Kid movie. A
great deal of fun was had by all!
Also as part of the launch of the remade
movie, DSD was invited to do a Hapkido
demonstration at the cinemas. The demo
Yep, you got it in one - the dreaded
tunnel of doom with about 20 people
on the mats I thought to myself,
tonight is not exactly going to be a
Sunday school picnic. Anyway I made
it through the tunnel of doom (if I
ever find out who invented the tunnel
of doom I’m going to wipe them off
my Christmas card list). After we did
the tunnel of doom Ma`am Tina had
another little surprise for us,
commando crawls up and down the
Dojang - oh the joy of it all.
“...if I ever find out who
invented the tunnel of
doom...”
Well, we finished the warm up and
started on all the strikes and kicks,
Ma`am was never far away from me
and from time to time I got the LOOK.
Then we started doing our self defence
and going through our grabs,
Ma`am was scrutinising everything I
did and I was under no illusion that if
I didn’t get this right I was going to
fail, make no bones about it. Now I
had been to 3 other coloured belt
gradings since I started Hapkido to
watch my training partners grade to
their next belt and I had seen how
Grandmaster Geoff and Sir Jimmy
and Ma`am Tina do these gradings
but it was nothing like what I
experienced when I graded to Orange
belt, I can honestly say I have not been
so nervous since my wedding day.
“...I have not been so nervous
since my wedding day.
Well, the end of the night came and
Ma`am made the big announcement
that I had been successful at my
grading. To receive my Orange belt
and certificate was truly wonderful,
but what was even more special to me
was all the congratulations and pats
on the back I got from all my training
partners it made all the sweat
and effort I had put in over the
previous 50 classes worthwhile.
was such a success that we were asked
back to do a second demo the week after!
A big thank you to all the DSD, CSD and
CMA students who came along to help
with the demo.
- Ma’am Tina
- Craig L
Tarlia N – Parramatta
Kyle H – Moorebank
Loni P – Parramatta
Eric L – Moorebank
Matias C – Parramatta
Aaron C – Wagga
Mina Y – Parramatta
John C – Moorebank
Martin C – Parramatta
James A – Wagga
Naomi S – Parramatta
Liliana C – Moorebank
Ross H – Moorebank
Thomas W – Wagga
Adrian F – Parramatta
Kenny C – Hurstville
Dean M – Hurstville
Andreas H – Germany
Aidan F – Parramatta
Tudi H – Hurstville
Henry C – Hurstville
Thomas H – Germany
Maurice S – Parramatta
Nick A – Hurstville
Christian B – Hurtsville
John K – Moorebank
Tyson S – Parramatta
Aveline C – Hurstville
Deron F – Hurstville
Timo S – Finland
Randy T – Hurstville
William N – Hurstville
Dylan U – Hurstville
Elmar S – Finland
Nicolas P – Moorebank
Hans X – Hurstville
Grace S – Parramatta
Teemu T – Finland
Jay W – Moorebank
Ming L – Hurstville
Renata H – Parramatta
Tero T – Finland
Jasmine B – Moorebank
Troy S – Minnesota
Mihi H – Parramatta
Jyrki S – Finland
Steven S – Hurstville
Henrik V – Bayside
Kaina H – Parramatta
Shane H – Moorebank
Jim A – Hurstville
Kurt C – Bayside
Tatu L – Finland
Jacob E – Parramatta
James B – Moorebank
Bhuvan B – Moorebank
Viivi L – Finland
Guy G – Parramatta
Aaron B – Moorebank
Jordan H – Bayside
Ville L – Finland
Timothy M – Parramatta
Tenielle T – Wagga
Ross H – Bayside
Mikael E – Finland
Jeremy O – Parramatta
Bree C – Wagga
Kai B – Bayside
Saku V – Finland
Susanna O – Parramatta
Cameron A – Hurstville
Toomas M – Finland
Claudia M – Parramatta
Tian Y-H – Hurstville
Jannek M – Finland
Nicholas B – Parramatta
Blake A – Hurstville
As Dojang Owner and Instructor, I am working on
developing my Dojang to be the top Martial Arts Dojang in
the area. To help me achieve this, I have put together a
group of 5 adult students that I am calling the Dojang
Development Team (DDT). These students were chosen for
their focus, commitment and time that they put into their
training and assistance at the Dojang. I see this team as
having a key role in helping make CSD Hutch the top
Dojang in the area. My situation is slightly different from
most of the other IHA Dojangs as I am the only IHA Black
Belt and Instructor in the area. The members of the DDT
are getting an opportunity that is usually reserved only for
Black Belts and Instructors. I have a scheduled meeting
with the team every 2 months as well as the option of an
occasional short meeting after adult class if needed.
The first meeting I had with the team I put them to work
mentally. It was a brainstorming meeting. The topic was
"What could we do to improve the Dojang?" I gave them
each a blank sheet of paper and asked them to open their
minds without talking to each other and list a minimum of
10 ideas. Once they had their lists done I had them all
share it with the group and we compiled one larger list and
noted the duplicates.
Lots of great ideas came out of the brainstorming session.
Priorities on incorporating these changes was fairly easy as
the ones with the most duplicate ideas moved up the
priority list. For example, all 5 members wanted more
signage for the Dojang and 2 of them wanted more
freestanding kickbags, therefore the signage moved to the
top for priority.
Here is what I found to be interesting. Before I put the team
together I had made my own list of changes that I had
planned on making. When Grandmaster Geoff visited in
April I asked him what he thought I could do to improve
the Dojang and made notes. Surprisingly, when I compare
the three of the lists there is an overlap on about 75
percent. With the list we set some goals and already have
incorporated a few. We have some nice signage on the
windows, Dojang T-shirts, a Kick-A-Thon and Picnic in
planning for September to help raise money for wall
mirrors and another kickbag.
With the help of DDT, CSD Hutch will be the best Martial
Arts program in the area.
- Sir Corey
Did You Know?
The number 1 sign a bully looks for is lack of
self-confidence and low self-esteem. You
need to step up and take action! Ask your
Instructor how.
When I came to Freiburg in July 2009 I knew it was
probably going to be for a long time, so I had to make
choices about how I would continue with Hapkido or not. I
knew that I could train with a Martial Arts group in
Taekwondo or Karate, and go along with it but not really
be satisfied, or I could try to start a Hapkido class.
This was an unknown – how I was going to do this, where,
who with etc. There were limitations – I wasn’t able to
open a Dojang of my own - but I had some choices; I had
been coming here for a while and knew some
people who did Martial Arts. So it became a matter of
asking who would be interested in allowing a Hapkido
group to start within their Dojang and who would be
willing to accommodate that.
“When I came to Freiburg...I had to
make choices about how I would
continue with Hapkido or not.”
There were some disappointments but luckily I didn’t have
to wait long. In late July Silvia and Rüdiger agreed to let me
start a Hapkido class in their Dojo (Karate term for
Dojang). This was fantastic – I was to have a Dojang to
train in and do the Hapkido that I knew and wanted to
continue. However, the summer holidays were starting,
everything was closing down, so it wasn’t until midSeptember that I could start to train in the Dojang. In the
meantime, as there really wasn’t anywhere else to train
that I could rely on, two evenings each week I rode my bike
into an area of flat farm land where I found a quiet area in
the middle of some corn fields and some open space to at
least move and do something like some training.
Although it wasn’t ideal, it was a nice time; the summer
evenings were long and pleasant, I was lucky with the
weather and the few people who sometimes came by
usually with their dogs were generally just curious, or
surprised, and passed on.
But after this, getting into the Dojang was a major
achievement for me. I wanted to train for myself, and in
the Dojang I could do that. But that also meant having
someone, or some number of people to train with, and then
thinking about and organising how to do that. For some
months a few people came and were interested but only a
couple wanted to make a commitment. I had always had in
mind forming some contact with GMG but just how that
was to happen I had no idea. So when I eventually
contacted him about this and his response was positive and
encouraging I made my second important step in forming
the Hapkido group.
There would not be a Freiburg Hapkido group without the
support and the generosity from Silvia & Rüdiger on the
one hand, and GMG.
Silvia and Rüdiger have a passion for Karate, and have
established their own school here. But they are not closed
to other styles and this openness and willingness to learn
and foster something new has been the difference for me
between whether I had a Dojang to train in or not. They
have assisted me in anything that I’ve asked for and have
been very good to me. In addition to this, I would not have
the framework and direction for my Hapkido here
without the giving of time and guidance that I have
received from GMG. GMG’s support means that I have a
program and path that I can plan with and take students
along with me. The planning, thought and
professionalism that GMG offers with the IHA is by any
standards exceptional. And then there is all the support
within the IHA itself which is also incredible. So to train
and learn, and be accepted into the IHA, is an exceptional
privilege.
The Freiburg affiliation of the IHA started officially on 26
March 2010. Apart from myself there are 4 members. This
small number is no reflection of the time and
commitment that I have to give to what I am doing. There
are many things to plan and organise and what was
relatively straight forward in Wagga, like learning new
skills and doing signatures is far from the case now. And
training a group is a responsibility - but it’s also very
satisfying when you have students who want to learn and
are making a commitment to do that. So I am/we are
getting there – training is a pleasure, and step by step I’m
getting closer to making arrangements for things like
videoing signatures and gradings, as well as thinking about
how to progress my students and myself.
“...it is very satisfying when you have
students who want to learn and are
making a commitment to do that.”
And already some incredible things have
happened. GMG visited here on 3 and 4 May and for a
little while the German-Japanese Karate Dojo became an
Australian Hapkido enclave. GMG demonstrated the skill
and art of Hapkido and everyone, from little children to
much older adults, was ecstatic with what they were given.
It has already had a great influence on how things here can
develop and progress – his presence here has been an
incredible demonstration of support and gives enormous
encouragement for continuing training and teaching the
concepts and skills that he has developed to my group. It
has had a great influence on the students who want to
train with me.
“...already some incredible things
have happened… now there is
Hapkido in Freiburg, not just
something that pretends to be.”
So now there is Hapkido in Freiburg, not just something
that pretends to be, like an attachment to a Taekwondo
class. I am really pleased about that and in a sense a bit
amazed. Mostly however, Hapkido in Freiburg means that I
can continue doing Hapkido with the support of a
Grandmaster who is true to what that title means, and
within a completely supportive and professional
organisation. That is the truly incredible part of this story.
- Sir Guy
Thank you to everyone who
contributed to Issue 7 of The
Hapkido Scrolls.
Join us at the 2010
AHG Christmas Party!
Contributors:
Ma’am Tina, AHG Parramatta
GM Geoff, AHG Moorebank
Callum J, AHG Parramatta
Sir Ron, IHA Holland
Master John Tooby
Sir Corey, IHA Hutchinson USA
Sir Guy, Freiburg Germany
Craig L, AHG Parramatta
Tim I, IHA Hutchinson USA
There’ll be:
☯
The 2010 Spirit Awards
☯
Competitions
☯
Special DVD screenings
☯
Prizes
☯
Great company
☯
Plenty of food
Date: Sunday 5 December 2010
Where: Bankstown Sports Events Centre 8 Greenfield Parade, Bankstown
Time: 12:00pm – 3:30pm
Buffet: Adults $48.50; Kids $25
Moorebank, Australia
hapkido.com.au
completeselfdefence.com
Parramatta
dynamicselfdefence.com.au
Hurstville
conceptmartialarts.com.au
Croydon
powerhapkido.com.au
And don’t forget to submit your contribution to the ‘Design the 2010
Hapkido Christmas Card Competition’ by no later than Friday 26
November 2010 for your chance to win a $100 Hapkido Voucher All
contributions welcome. The winner will be announced at the AHG
Christmas Party!
☯ 27 November 2010 - BBC Seminar “How To Use Weaponry!”
☯ 5 December 2010 - AHG Sydney Christmas Party
☯ 18 December 2010 - AHG Sydney Adults Grading @ Moorebank
Wagga Wagga
Bayside
Finland
Netherlands
America
Germany
For more information on upcoming Hapkido Events go to
hapkido.com.au/forum and click on Event Calendar
Contributions for The Hapkido Scrolls
are always welcome!
If you would like to write an article or if
you have something you would like to
share with fellow students eg: a martial
arts related cartoon or joke, please send
to hapkido@dojang.com.au
Never underestimate
your opponent. Watch.
Adapt.
Every strike
should be your best.