BJJ/Hapkido

[AP]

Hello, I am brand new to the forum and I have a couple of questions. I am getting ready to start training again but I have a dilema. I am thinking about taking Gracie Jui Jitsu or traditional Hapkido. I have 0 experience in either one. I have a limited Wing Chun background, but at 6'3 and 200 lbs most Wing Chun techniques are difficult for me to execute efficiently. I know a lot depends on the instructor but can anyone provide some advice? Does anyone have Hapkido experience? Are the joint locking and grapling techniqes of Hapkido practical? I am thinking about Hapkido because they include striking techniques. I know some of these questions are vague but I appreciate any input.

[dan downard]

I would have to say at your size,take the jiu jitsu.You are plenty big enough to discourage most people from messing with you in the first place.Then you can compete and have fun with it.There arnt too mant Hapkido tournys.If you get a good BJJ teacher,he should be able to teach you all the wrist locks and throws of Hapkido.Hapkido does have some beutiful takedowns for kickers and strickers.They practice taking each other down while kicking at 100%.

[yusul]

B4 this turns into a style vs. style pissing contest, i would say if you are just interested in learning efficient and effective techniques at a almost-guaranteed-to-be-quality school, BJJ is the way to go. for some unknown reason, BJJ has been able to maintain its technical standards, despite its rapid spread.
(unlike karate, judo, etc.)

while there are some excellent traditional hapkido schools that might rival BJJ for self-defense IMO, its learn at your own risk, since many/majority of the Hapkido schools are watered down. if you can find a legit Hapkido instructor who maintains the original standards (find out his lineage and watch some classes), then i would say either choice would be fine, but you would have to go to at least several hapkido schools to get a feel for which ones are "McDojos" or legit. safer bet with less time wasted is BJJ.

don't forget, you are on a BJJ dominated forum, so some of the answers might be a little biased.

[sccr06]

Definitely make your desicion after watching the class. I am in a Hapkido class right now but my instructor teaches a lot of BJJ techniques. I think you should also think about which you enjoy more, mat time or stand-up sparring time?