Unlike a non-live-in program, where you merely learn Hapkido, a live-in program lets you live and breath Hapkido. You absorb skills faster.
So your wanting to train in Hapkido all day? Like from 8am in the morning to 5pm in evening? Something like that? I know you didn't say that specifically, but from what you just said you seem to imply that you want to 'live and breath Hapkido', so I take it that your meaning more of an all day type of training. Somewhere around 8 or 9 hours or at least 6 hours worth a training per day (?)
It leaves me a little confused because earlier you said:
5-6 days a week, a few hours each day.
To me, a few hours would be 2 or 3, which is a normal class time for any dojang in the U.S, Canada, Europe, and beyond.
So if that is what you meant (2 or 3 hours a day), how would that standard of "live and breath Hapkido" be any different from the usual?
I don't mean to sound confrontational or contrary, but I am trying to honestly help you with what your wanting to do. I'm just trying to get you to clarify for me, if you would please, the details of what your wanting such as: how many hours exactly you would want to train, what type of training throughout the day you would expect, and any preferences to what style of Hapkido (because Hapkido these days can vary greatly to how it was taught in the 60's)...etc.
Seems like most live-in training facilities I've ever heard of mostly come from China. Usually you get up in the morning, go for a jog for about an hour, do your chores (sweeping and cleaning), train for 4 or 5 hours, then maybe dinner, and you have the rest of the day to yourself. But very few, if any, actually train all day. Unless of course your part of the Olympic Wushu team, then yes, 'you be training long time'. But that's China, not South Korea.
In Korea, it seems like martial arts is viewed more as 'something for kids to do' or as we know it, 'Daycare'. I saw one documentary where a Muye Tobo Tongji researcher left Korea to teach his understanding of the manual to westerners in Europe because adults in Korea don't show much interest anymore in martial arts or their cultural heritage like they used (similar to the U.S).
Anyway, I personally would love to train in Korea to learn from the source of Hapkido or sources of Hapkido.
Here is a thought, maybe you could see if a school that your interested in has a student that would be willing to be your host for a small fee? Then you could train at several Hapkido places throughout the day.
And another thought.
One of my instructors in Hapkido, trained in Chicago. For about 5 days a week I believe. He studied under Master Hyun, then the Kuk Sool Ma' brothers (Master Ma and Master Suh I think?), and Master Lee (who was ex-HwarangDo), and one or two other people.
Anyway, he trained everyday. He became an assistant instructor and taught for many hours. After class was over, he and his fellow classmates would train at either his or their yard. They would go over the techniques over and over and over again.
My point of bringing that story up is how much training you get in Hapkido really depends on How Much You Put Into It. You don't have to go to a 'Live-In' school to get the same benefit that you just training with a friend after class everyday in your back yard.
Many 'Grandmasters' of various styles of Hapkido would train with Grandmaster Choi, and afterwards go home and train with one another. Thats how so many of them developed the skills they were known for whether that be for joint locking or kicking, thats how they done it.
Myself, I start a Hapkido study group just so I can supplement my training so I could be better, and work on the things that I know that I need to polish up on.
The reason I mention all this, is that I want to give you options. You may go to Korea, and find some live in schools, but they might be of inferior quality, thus a waste of money, while on the other hand you might find a school that teaches all week that is quality teaching, but just for a few hours a day.
And one last note, the reason I posted the link to the article about the womans experience in Korea was not express Xenophobia, but rather to offer someone else insight as to what it is like training in Korea. Also, she was teaching English which was something that I recommend you do. I would imagine that would be for a few hours a day because your not really teaching English, your helping English speaking Koreans sound more fluent, and understand western culture better. So your just getting paid to talk.
At any rate, I hope I was helpful. If you supply more details, I might be able to help you find what you are looking for.
