Tag Archives: self defense

How effective is Hapkido?

I’m looking to get back into martial arts and there’s a place in my small town that offers to teach Hapkido,Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi, and Kung Fu. So my question is how effective is Hapkido for self defense? Is it practical? Is there an emphasis on actual fighting, like would I get to practice with a real person who will move and fight back as opposed to just breaking boards or useless crap like that.

I did judo for 3 years and I’m looking for something similar to that, but there’s no Jujutsu places nearby. There’s a BJJ places about an hour away, but I want something that teaches ground and standing fighting.

Thanks.
Yuck. Okay some research shows Hapkido doing stupid flying kicks and other stuff that I don’t have any interest in learning. So if there’s a martial art that can teach me how to fight, and won’t waste time learning stupid high kicks, it’d be nice to know about it. Thanks.

Are there any non-contemporary kung fu based dojos that teach pure self defense only kung fu in Chicago area?

yo im from Chicago, IL.. no bs answers yahoo pplz this is the real deal.. im tired of going to wushu-sport dojos that i waste tons of money every month not learning how to fight… are there any decent self-defense only and the instructor teaches it well dojos out there in the chicagoland area. i dont follow any of the mma crap because without traditional martial arts mma wouldnt be what it is today.. i dont care what style of kung fu it is as long as its traditional and works and the teachers arent fraud but in synch with a somewhat deemed authentic style im not willing to learn wing chun because im not a bruce lee follower. i want a style that fits me… ya feel me.. northern shaolin kung fu is ideal for me.. seeming as there’s no true tai chi masters in the western world nor baguazhang,xingyi,hung gar, southern dragon claw,chu gar praying mantis,northern praying mantis, etc.. im 15 years old by the way turning 16 at the beginning of summer.. thank you pplz and give me a decent response…

I think my friend’s 10 year old son broke his big toe, read the story for more details and to enter your input

My friend just got her kids back out of foster care in Jan 06, the kids were ages 8 and 10. Well, the kids were taken for “dirty house” issues. My friend has cleaned her house and is doing great! Well, the other day while she was napping, the 10 year old was playing with the 8 year old in the middle of the den. According to the 10 year old, he was gonna karate kick his 8 year old bro, the 8 year old drawed up his knee to his stomach, like a crouching position in self defense, (to block the kick) well the older boys foot hit the knee and they heard a small pop, and the older boy went crying to his mom. she felt it was broke and had her neighbor (a veteran 22 year R.N) to look at it. She thought it was broke too, but said that they don’t usually put cast on, the only thing a doc could do is make a diagnosis and administer pain medicine. My friend is scared to take the boy to the hospital because of past dealings with Child Protective Services, they just left her alone. What can she do?!!
The boy is able to walk on it and isn’t in any big pain as long as he doesn’t put too much pressure on his toe. he has been going to school and is doing good.

Taekwondo and boxing is a good combination?

Currently I’m taking boxing and wanted to try out taekwondo too. Will it be very effective for self defense when your taking both taekwondo and boxing rather than muay thai or krav maga?

what can i expect form kung fu?

i’m considering starting kung fu. i think that business with the energy stuff woudl be so hard but so worth it if you can achieve it. is it good for self defense? will you work up a sweat? lots of physical training? major advantages and disadvantages to this style?