Washido Studio Hapkido Karate School
Frequently
Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
Women & Children
- Should my child study Hapkido?
- Read this article.
- If my child quits Hapkido for another sport, will they be able
to start Hapkido again when the sport season ends? Will they fall behind?
- It is standard for children to leave Hapkido temporarily while
a school sport is in season. They may return to Washido Studio at any
time (even years later). The student will pick up exactly where they
left off. One of the benefits of Hapkido is that it's not a team activity.
Your child's success falls upon his or her individual efforts.
- Can a woman study Hapkido?
- Absolutely! In fact, because Hapkido places a great emphasis
upon flexibility (and women tend to be more flexible than men) and employs
a great number of kicking techniques (leg muscles in women are incredibly
strong), Hapkido is the one martial art that is ideally suited to the
female anatomy. Read more about Women
in Martial Arts.
- How old does my child have to be to start classes?
- 8 years old.
- I want to take my child out of a different Martial Art to start
Hapkido. Will they have to start all over?
- Yes. All Martial Arts are different, but since your child already
has Martial Arts experience, it shouldn't take them long to move through
the ranks.
- I’m nervous about enrolling my child in an activity taught
by former military men. Do you teach "military style"?
- No. Since we have served in the military, we understand that kind
of instruction belongs only in the military. Most people who say they
teach "military style" have never served. We teach with patience
and gentleness, and we don't use punishments (like push-ups). Success
is achieved by the individual - not forced by instructors.
- Do you offer a women's self defense class?
- Yes. Visit our women's self defense page.
Gear & Dress Code
- Can I wear jewelry?
- Yes, jewelry is accepted. We train for real life situations and
it is unlikely that your attacker will wait for you to remove your jewelry.
- I have a Gi and belt from a different Martial Art. Can I wear them
for Hapkido?
- You may wear any GI or exercise attire for the one free class,
after that you must wear our uniform.
- What if I came from a different Hapkido studio. Can I wear my old
GI and can I keep my current belt/rank at the Washido Studio?
- If your GI is the same as ours, you may wear it (just change the
studio patch). As far as your current belt, we will honor your rank,
but we will ask to see a review of your former belts.
- Do I need any equipment or special clothing to start classes?
- You need a GI (uniform) to start Hapkido and it’s is included
with your registration fee. If you want to spar, you will need special
equipment like groin cups and shin guards (see catalog) but sparring
is only required for the Black Belt test. For all other classes, you
can wear regular workout gear.
- Where can I buy sparring gear or more uniforms?
- From the Washido Studio (see an instructor for a catalog). When
you buy from the Washido Studio, you don’t have to pay for shipping
or sales tax and you will get your items faster.
Hapkido
- What is Hapkido?
- Hapkido is a Korean Martial Art. It is taught in the traditional
style, ascending through belts by the necessary application of discipline,
dedication and focus. Learn more on our Hapkido
page.
- What does Hapkido mean?
- Hapkido is Korean for "The Way of Coordinated Power".
- How does Hapkido compare to other Martial Arts?
- Hapkido's kicking and punching make it appear like traditional
Karate or Tae Kwon Do. It has the throwing techniques of Judo, the wrist
and joint locks of Aikido and the grappling and escapes of Jujitsu.
However, Korean Hapkido includes all these different techniques in the
single art because it is a self-defense (combat) Martial Art.
- Is Hapkido a "hard style" Martial Art?
- No. Tai Kwon do and Shotokan are examples of a "hard style" Martial
Art. They're considered hard styles because you block kicks with kicks
and punches with punches. Hapkido is considered a "soft style" because
it uses the redirection of energy for blocks like Aikido and Jujitsu.
- Do you participate in Tournaments?
- No. We do not train for tournaments, we train for combat. The techniques
taught at Washido Studio deal with real life situations. People are
attacked very differently in real life than in a tournament. As a result,
we must train accordingly.
- What happens if I have an injury or physical limitation that prevents
me from doing certain techniques?
- We understand that injuries and physical limitations are bound
to occur in life. At Washido Studio we do everything possible to accommodate
those limitations.
- How old is the art of Hapkido?
- About 60 years old. Since it's so young, Hapkido is a more practical
Martial Art because it's techniques apply to situations that are likely
to occur. And although it's the youngest of Martial Arts, Hapkido has
Kata that dates back 600 years.
- Why do we bow twice after meditation?
- The first bow is for respect to Martial Arts and Hapkido. The second
is for respect to those who are teaching it to you.
-
- Why do we bow to the flags?
- We bow to two country's flags - USA and South Korea. We bow to
the US flag because the US is the country that hosts us. We bow to the
South Korean flag because this is the country where Hapkido was founded.
- Why do we bow to the instructors?
- This is to show respect to the rank of Black Belt and respect to
the knowledge that your instructors have. It is also a way for the instructors
to show respect for the student's commitment to this way of life.
Test Information
- What is your testing cycle like?
- Washido Studio holds a promotional exam each month. Of course,
you probably won't be ready to test for your next belt every month,
but you don’t have to wait six months when you’re ready in
four.
- Who judges the test?
- Merlin Eagle.
- Is there a fee for each test?
- Yes. This is required by the International Hapkido Federation.
See an instructor for a test fee schedule.
- I think I’m ready to advance to the next belt, when can I
test?
- Testing will be held on the last Tuesday of every month (after
the last class – 6:30p.m.). Your instructors will have you do
a “practice test” first. They will determine if you’re
ready for the test before you pay the test fee. The next test is scheduled
for January 29, 2008.
- I've just taken the test, when will I find out if I've passed?
- Usually the next day of class, but your instructors will tell you
after the test when you will find out. Latest test
results.
- Can I re-test if I fail the first test?
- Yes. There is no charge for re-testing if the applicant should
fail the test. If, however, the applicant fails two successive tests,
the fee must again be submitted.
About Us
- Where is the studio located?
- 1782 North First Street, Suite D in Hamilton. View
map.
- What does Washido mean?
- Washido is Japanese for "The Way of the Eagle".
- Is the Washido Studio certified?
- Yes. We are certified by the International Hapkido Federation.
- Who can I contact with comments or suggestions about this website?
- Send an e-mail to the webmaster
or visit the site designer's website at Stage38.com.
- I still have other questions.
- You can contact us by phone, in person,
by e-mail or mail.
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