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What's So Great About Studying in Korea?

There's this mythos among martial artists that if you want to learn the "real" art you must at some point make the pilgrimage to the homeland, whether it's Korea, China, Japan or whatever. If you have done so, you have instant credibility. "He trained with the Masters in Korea, you know." I'm susceptible to this too. As soon as I got serious about Hapkido I started thinking, "Someday I must go to Korea devote a year to studying Hapkido there."

Is that really valid? Some of the greatest Hapkido masters (Korean and non-Korean) live in the West.

My question is, what can you get in Korea that you can't get anywhere else? An understanding of the culture, I'm sure. Maybe learn the language. Maybe more intensive training since classes are held daily?

Is the art taken more seriously there? Is the training tougher? What's the reality behind the myth?

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Permalink Reply by Daniel McCullar on June 20, 2011 at 4:16pm
Though when I was stationed in Korea I did not train. My teacher is an old school Korean. He has always said that the way I train and my preference for traditional instruction, I would love teaching in Korea.
He says the art is view less seriously here. To much as a hobby and a past time. In Korea it is taken as seriously as football in a small football town, it is the focus of the lives of the local people. We can't do that here cause of the way the American public views the martial arts. Just as an insignificant past time that is far less important than any American sport.
Permalink Reply by Brett Huelsmann on June 20, 2011 at 4:24pm
True, here in korea its thought as just another school or way of life by everyone. If you own a school your not rich but people respect you for your life long tribute to learning and teaching.
Permalink Reply by Paul Meek on June 26, 2011 at 12:45pm
Like Wael I have also dreamed of going to Korea to train, my Master has done so and tells his stories of enduring tough hard sessions and the rigorous and continuous training. Once again its probably different for us down under because hapkido is not a dominant style, so GM's are few, I believe Master Booth was recently given his 10th Dan and would be our only one, Master Salievski has just done 6th Dan I believe. But I live in the bush and we are rarely exposed to other hapkido Masters, Ive only trained with Dojonim Kim Yun Sang and Master Salievski, all other visitors here have been in different styles, noteworthy is John Will BJJ. So I think I would still like to go and train Korea, Im just not sure that my 48 yr old joints would appreciate the intensity so much !
Permalink Reply by Brett Huelsmann on June 26, 2011 at 12:50pm
You could come teach english for a yr. If you have your 4yr degree and wanted a change in senery. I know several 50yr and 50yr old aussies here teaching
Permalink Reply by Alessandro Vivone on September 29, 2011 at 4:28pm
I think that this kind of thing is because of the korean philosophy, the real hapkido's philosophy.
Permalink Reply by Kevin Sogor on March 14, 2012 at 9:53am

The current head of the Choi Dojunim lineage of Hapkido, Chang Chil Il Dojunim lives in New York City. 

Training in Korea is fun not just for the culture, but because in my experience, the Koreans I have trained with really love the fact that we make the effort to come there and train!

Permalink Reply by Zack Brogdon on March 24, 2012 at 6:37am

My experience thus far.  I've only trained Hapkido here in Seoul, and only for 6 months, so I don't know first hand how it is outside Korea.  We do have a number of people that are 1st, 2nd, 3rd dans that come in for month long "smoker" training sessions to have that Korean experience before they open their own dojang in their own country.  According to the American ones I have talked to, there are two main differences.

1.  Release Forms.  We don't use em.  Responsibility is on both consenting adults who are practicing the techniques to be professional in your applications and to take care of yourself.  Break your fall properly, tap if it hurts badly dummy, and be extra careful with white belts.  They will hurt you the most because they don't know when to stop.

2. Low stances.  Direct quote from my master.  " Koreans eat, sleep, and sh*t low to the floor.  Get low."  He makes us glide across the dojang with our knees bent, torso upright, and feet sliding.  The only time the whole night when we are not in a lowered bent knee stance during or after a technique is one in which bending your knees would actually lessen the pain of the lock. 

Permalink Reply by Wael on March 24, 2012 at 9:33am

Really interesting observations, thanks. Yeah, I've noticed that we Americans don't like to get low in our stances. It's the one thing I have to correct beginners on over and over again.

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