I apologize if there are past threads on this subject.
No apologies necesary. I am glad to see activity in the hapkido section!
In the past couple weeks in the Taekwondo class I teach I have had some extra time, so I introduced some basic Hapkido to my students (I know some people have a problem with Hapkido being taught as something extra in Taekwondo, but that's not the point I'm trying to make right now).
I think that introducing hapkido techniques into a taekwondo class is actually a good thing. It was the first introduction that many have to hapkido. I view taekwondo as kind of a gateway martial art. Everyone has access to it and often, aspects of other arts are blended in by instructors who have a diverse background.
One nice thing about taekwondo with some hapkido is that both are Korean arts, so all of the language and terminology is the same. I also tend to consider Taekwondo more appropriate for kids, as the hyung help the kids learn to control themselves with solo work, but blending in hapkido concepts is a good segue into hapkido.
The only real issue with blending hapkido into a taekwondo class is that often, the students think that they actually know hapkido. Unless the TKD class is really Hapkido with TKD forms as an add on, then the students really do not know Hapkido, though they may have a very well rounded style of taekwondo when all is said and done.
I had some teenage students who caught on to it pretty well, and even a couple of kids who got a handle on the concepts after a few tries. Though, these kids pay attention exceptionally well compared to most of the kids I've taught.
How does everyone feel about teaching such a "controlling" style to kids? Are there any particular methods you use? Do you have a separate curriculum for them?
Actually, I think that it is a good idea.
Teaching kids a means of defending themselves that does not always default to punches and kicks is very beneficial. I realize that hapkido does not teach to endlessly defend the way some Aikido schools do, but in the public schools of my area (Montgomery county, MD), if you strike back in self defense, you could wind up suspended or expelled, even if you are the victim. Hapkido does provide tools to 'peacefully' defend, as well as tools to escalate if the situation calls for it; essentially a much more graded response than karate based styles like TKD.
Also, kids are flexible enough to do it well, though I agree with Tigerlove: be careful with locks and such with kids under thirteen.
I am occasionally asked to take the childrens' hapkido class at our school. I am not a BB, but our location has no HKD BB's, but I am the highest ranking student in the class. Additionally, I am a TKD BB and a third dan kendo instructor at the school, so GM Kim feels that I can handle teaching young white belts. I really enjoy teaching the kids. They love the rolls and I have them do ukemi from a kneeling stance (sonkyo, for those who are familiar with kendo) and have them apply any locks with light pressure. Enough to get the concept and the flow. I do a lot of footwork with them. Some of the kids are under twelve, some are in their early teens.
By and large, they enjoy it more than TKD, mainly because it does not involve the memorization of forms and they can roll on the ground and be praised for it.
Daniel
