Hapkido is a comprehensive Korean self-defense system involving joint locks, pressure points, throws, kicks, strikes, and a few weapons. Han Jae Ji synthesized techniques brought to Korea by Yong Sool Choi with traditional Taoist temple arts to form a nonaggressive martial art that stresses self-development. In Hapkido you learn how to protect yourself in the full range of self-defense situations -- from an unwelcome touch to an immediate threat to your life. This range of control allows you to protect yourself fully without needing to hurt the opponent more than is necessary for the situation, which is why every police officer in Korea must have a black belt in Hapkido. Size, strength, and gender are unimportant in Hapkido -- a woman or child can control a large man with proper technique.
Beck Martial Arts is one of very few places around Dallas or in the DFW area where Hapkido is taught as it should be -- not just a few techniques folded into some other style, an occasional seminar, or once a week only to black belts.
Study of Hapkido can benefit you in many ways:
In the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Hapkido is hard to find. There are many schools that claim to teach it but only have a few techniques. Some are of the '8 martial arts in one' type that take a few (usually poorly done) techniques from many arts and put them together into a mismatch. Some are a combination of Taekwondo and Hapkido (usually about 95%/5%). Sometimes schools throw in a few Hapkido techniques as their self-defense, or only teach a little bit in their black belt classes. Beck Martial Arts approach to Hapkido is that Hapkido is a superb martial art that takes a long time to learn; it is *very* difficult to master only via seminars or occasional classes. Hapkido takes much effort but returns great rewards. Master Beck has studied both Hapkido and Taekwondo under separate teachers for many years and feels that although the two arts merge well they are best taught as separate arts.
Master Beck's approach to Hapkido is self-defense oriented. If your primary goal in training is physical conditioning consider Aerobic Kickboxing. If your primary goal is self-improvement or you want to compete, consider Taekwondo. Hapkido will aid in both those goals and others; in fact one BMA Hapkido student has lost over 100 pounds; but again - the primary focus is self-defense. Master Beck teaches in a conceptual manner, which makes things easier to learn and practical more quickly than in many Hapkido schools. You do not have to memorize hundreds of techniques to advance. There are thousands of techniques, but they are boiled down to 5 concepts per belt level. See the Syllabus page for a fuller explanation of the conceptual approach. Master Beck's approach is also non-regimented; the class is a relaxed, fun atmosphere focusing on adults; it is not the military or a school classroom.
Master Beck invites anyone with experience or interest in Hapkido or any HKD related art such as Kuk Sul Won or Hwarangdo in the DFW Metroplex to join the DFW Hapkido Seminar Mailing List. BMA has hosted numerous seminars with some the world's best Hapkido instructors, including the founder of Hapkido and Sin Moo Hapkido himself, Dojunim Han Jae Ji.
See the Training page for current schedules and rates.
See the Videos page for some examples of Master Beck demonstrating Hapkido.