Hapkido questions

[KDH]

I am seriously considering crosstraining in Hapkido to supplement my TKD. Is that a wise choice? I am looking for some opinions please. Why or why not?

Is a TKD/HKD combo very effective for fighting?

Also, TKD today is unfortunately mostly kicks. Does HKD teach good hand strikes? How much percent of HKD is hand strikes as opposed to kicks? Are good HKD practitioners skilled in in-range hand fighting?

Thanks.

[Maxx]

Hapkido for the most part is a combination of japanese aikijujitsu and korean kicking techniques similar to what you would expect to see in TKD or TSD. Of course, that depends on who you are training under as well. Many schools teach both and it is not uncommon to see instructors with high ranks in both arts.

However, if you are looking to develop your hand strikes, go to a boxing gym. Boxing training is the best way to develop functional hand strikes. No single Martial Art is going to be able to answer all of your questions or provide you with the best tactics for any situation.

[KDH]

I don't mean just punches. I mean hand strikes in general, open, closed, whatever. I heard that Hapkido is a complete system that teaches its practitioners sound hand skills. I just wanted to confirm that with you guys.

[Maxx]

With regards, Taekwondo is a complete system... assuming that you are receiving instruction in the complete art. It includes techniques and strategies for all ranges of combat including dealing with armed assailants. You just have to find one of those rare individuals that actually teaches "REAL TAEKWONDO".

Hapkido is a martial art which covers a wide range of elements from kicking, punching, joint manipulation, throwing and grappling. Based on the Hapkido that I have seen, most of the hand strikes that are taught are similar to those practiced in TKD.

A proper TKD school will teach you basic punches, knife hand strikes, foreknuckle strikes, middleknuckle strikes, arc hand strikes, various finger tip stikres, palm strikes, raking strikes with the finger tips, etc. I've studied a lot of various systems and I haven't seen much in the way of hand strikes that is not covered in TKD.

My adivse would be this: Study the boxing, do your research on TKD hand strikes and learn to apply the same training principles to those techniques that you would to boxing training.

For references, I suggest that you get ahold of a set of General Choi, Hong Hi's 14 volume (I think that's the correct number) encyclopedia of Taekwon-do and look through the volume concerning hand techniques. I think that you will be surprised at the large number of elements that are NOT taught in most schools.

[Tom Yum]

I don't mean just punches. I mean hand strikes in general, open, closed, whatever. I heard that Hapkido is a complete system that teaches its practitioners sound hand skills. I just wanted to confirm that with you guys.

Look into a combat hapkido system or hwarangdo.

[Piston]

For references, I suggest that you get ahold of a set of General Choi, Hong Hi's 14 volume (I think that's the correct number) encyclopedia of Taekwon-do and look through the volume concerning hand techniques. I think that you will be surprised at the large number of elements that are NOT taught in most schools.

Do you reckon I could get those off Amazon?

[Maxx]

Do you reckon I could get those off Amazon?

Piston, I haven't checked to see if they are available on Amazon, but if you pick up a recent copy of Taekwondo Times, they usually have advertisements for the full encyclopedia set. I think there are 14 volumes and the entire set usually runs between 300-450 dollars.