New Taekwondo and Hapkido School Clermont, Florida
New Hapkido School in Clermont, Florida
American Dragon Martial Arts Academies is EXPANDING! We have become so popular in Lake Country that we are adding a second location to better serve the community.
We now have a second Hapkido and Taekwondo location serving the West Clermont, Groveland and Mascotte area.
The location is at 1158 Fifth St. Clermont, FL 34711 at the intersection of Fifth Street and Hwy 50, just two blocks West of the Winn Dixie shopping center with classes in Taekwondo and Hapkido.
The Chief Instructor is former Korean Marine Corp Demonstration Team Captain 5th Degree Korean Hapkido and Taekwondo Master KiPyo Lee serving as Hapkido teacher. Grand Opening Party announcement coming SOON! Call 352-536-5063 for registration details. Registration starts August 17th, 2010. Watch our TV Show on World Martial Arts TV. Listen to our radio show on World Martial Arts Radio and read our Magazine at World Martial Arts Magazine.
NEW LOCATION COMING TO WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA OCTOBER 2010
American Dragon Martial Arts Academies Korea Hapkido Federation Haemukwan World Martial Arts Media
The Truth About Martial Arts: Part 1
The Martial Arts Instructor - by Jim Carrey from "Living Color"
Self-Defense Gone Wrong
Answers to the most commonly asked questions about the martial arts industry.
Question: I heard That Sport Karate is a good form of Self Defense. Is that true?
Answer: Most people don't know that there is a big difference between Sport Karate and Traditional Martial arts schools. The above video is a good example of this. Sport Karate schools train to fight under a certain set of rules. The fact is that there are no rules in place when a car-jacker confronts you asking for your wallet and keys.
Training in a Sport Karate school like that leaves you unprepared for the realities of self defense in a violent attack. Some Sport Karate Schools claim to teach both Karate and self defense but the fact is their ego forces them to focus on getting trophies and medals to display at their school. Their philosophy is that: "You prove you are superior by physically beating down another human being". A traditional school focuses on self development and self improvement.
I often get asked about these types of schools and why there are so many "Founders" and "World Champions" out there, so I will try to answer the most common questions.
Question: Both sports schools and traditional martial arts schools spar so how do you tell the difference?
Why women should learn Hapkido
At least 7 Reasons Women Should Learn Hapkido
Dr. Ronald W. Stone
American Dragon Martial Arts Academy
Clermont, Florida
In this day and age making a distinction of the benefit of martial arts training between men and women is becoming less pertinent. More simply put, as the role of women in the job force increases and with today's recognition that women are capable of more tasks than previously were allowed in a male dominated society, the more similar will be the benefits that training in Hapkido offer both males and females.
Traditionally one of the first benefits discussed whenever the subject of women in the martial arts comes up is the self defence aspect. The "women are the weaker sex" argument is always mentioned as a reason for them to consider training in the martial arts. While it is true that they are typically smaller and less muscular than their male counterparts, modern scientific studies have concluded that in most instances women are capable of more endurance and have a more resilient cardiovascular system than men.
With modern weight training techniques women can actually train to be more fit. While statistics as a class indicate they will never equal men in raw strength they often will surpass men in size to ability percentages.
What doesn't change however is the basic core hormonal differences that put women at risk to aggression. By this I mean that the testosterone driven male will always desire to overpower or dominate his female counterpart. Usually this is harmless and is either buried subconsciously or manifests romantically which most women can more than adequately handle verbally or with body language. In a small percentage of males however the sex drive or the desire to physically dominate and control the opposite sex is overwhelming and can result in cases of sexual aggression or domestic abuse.
Any woman can fall victim to these sorts of predators and things like age or physical appearance are sometimes not factors the predator concerns himself with. Being old, very young or atypical in appearance does not automatically eliminate a female from the threat of a predator or stalker.
The beauty of Hapkido is that it combines three fundamental principles, the water principle, the circular principle and the sum principle into a martial art that is ideal for female learners. Since it is both a hard and a soft art it utilizes the concept of not meeting force with resistance but rather being fluid when necessary, hard whenever possible and learning to use the opponents force against himself while concentrating one's own Ki energy in a focused manner against specific Ki and pressure points, against weak joint angles and using leverage against the opponent.
Instead of meeting hard force with hard force which will always give the advantage to the taller, more muscular opponent, Hapkido teaches its students to avoid, absorb, redirect, and trap the opponents attacks.
Hapkido Ki Breathing: Danjun Hohup
Hapkido Ki Breathing (DanJun Hohup)
By Action Radio Network Spokes Model, Andrea Stone, Hapkido Black Belt at the American Dragon Martial Arts Academies in Clermont, Florida, certified by the Korean Hapkido Federation.
Hapkido Ki Breathing is an essential part of the Hapkido system. In the martial art of Hapkido we breath in, inhale, to build or develop Ki energy and we breath out, exhale, to move Ki energy. This allows the Hapkido practitioner to apply the moving Ki energy to their techniques. The Haemukwan Hapkido system is well know for this application of Ki energy in all of the techniques.
Hapkido Ki Breathing Exercise #1
Make Friends at World Martial Arts Network
The instructors and students of the American Dragon Martial Arts Academies in Clermont, Florida invite you to join www.worldmartialartsnetwork.ning.com! Where you will find Taekwondo and Hapkido enthusiasts just as passionate about the traditions and benefits as you are. Whether you are a Martial Artist in Taekwondo or Hapkido, Parent, Grandparent, Fan, Instructor or School Owner; Please feel free to browse our forums to find the information that you need. You can also sign up for a FREE account. You'll have access to our live instant messenger, groups, articles, activity points and so much more!
Start a Group for your Dojang, Dojo, Association or Style and share information, Pics etc... You can also post your Martial Arts articles in your blog which will be available for all to see. Your articles or blog posts can range from Martial Arts Tournaments, Training Tips, Styles, upcoming shows or General Martial Arts discussion or anything else that you wish to post about! Special Note: Please Keep this site Positive and Constructive. We have a large Youth Membership....Parents please monitor your child's activity on this site.
Don't forget to visit our parent site at http://worldmartialartsmagazine.com and be sure to tell your friends about it. You can meet new friends and share at http://martialarts-discussion.worldmartialartsmagazine.com . There is an archive of martial arts articles and information waiting for you at http://martialarts-comments.worldmartialartsmagazine.com. Be sure not to miss the newest episode of "The World Martial Arts Magazine Show" with Grand Master Gary Pointer and Dr. Richard Hackworth at www.actionradio.net
Best Regards,
Richard Hackworth
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Seminar of Hapkido Cali Colombia
Cane Baston & Hapkido Techniques
Posted by Dr. Richard Hackworth. President & CEO American Dragon Martial Arts Academies Inc. Clermont Florida
Benefits of Training With Martial Arts Weapons
Benefits of Training With Martial Arts Weapons
There are many benefits and opportunities in martial arts training. Some of those benefits come from learning to use various martial arts weapons. Many traditional martial arts schools, especially those that teach Korean Hapkido and Chinese kung fu styles have weaponry as part of their overall curriculum. Popular weapons from Hapkido systems include the long staff, short stick, cane, sword, belt and fan. Chinese kung fu styles utilize broadsword, 3 section staff, kwan do, whip chain, butterfly knives as well as their own versions of the staff. Of course, there are many other types of weapons in martial arts but the above are the more common ones taught. Some of the more exotic weapons include the iron fan, rope dart and the hook swords.
Martial arts weapons can be divided into those for short and long range. An example of a short range weapon would be a pair of short sticks. The bo staff would be a long range weapon because of its longer reach. Weapons can also be divided into bladed and non-bladed. Knives and swords of course would be bladed weapons whereas staffs and canes would be non-bladed. In most training situations with bladed weapons, the blades are not live. That is, the blades of swords and knives are blunt rather than sharp. This adds to the safety aspect of martial arts weapons training. Weapons can also come in different weights from heavy traditional models down to ultra light weight modern versions for forms competition.
In Hapkido and other martial arts systems, weapons are considered as extensions of the martial artist’s own body. For example, strikes with a Hapkido short stick are really extended hand techniques. Blocks with weapons like the Hapkido cane or staff are modeled after traditional martial art empty hand blocking techniques. Therefore, it is important for martial arts students to be relatively proficient with empty hand techniques first before learning to use any martial arts weapon. This will help the students to better understand the applications behind each weapons technique much better. In most Korean Hapkido Federation schools, weapons training won’t be offered until students reach an intermediate level such as green or blue belt. There are martial arts that are strictly weapons oriented. An example is Korean kumdo which is modeled after shilla warrior sword fighting. Philipino arnis is stick fighting which was developed in the South Pacific islands.
In Hapkido I learned the many benefits in training with martial arts weaponry. Because most weapons have some weight to them, their use will help develop muscle tone and strength. Performing forms or poomse with weapons will also develop coordination. In today’s world, martial arts weapons may not be as practical as in past days when it was acceptable to carry weapons wherever one traveled. However, with some understanding of proper weapons techniques, a martial artist today can turn almost any household item such as an
10 Reasons Why American Dragon Martial Arts Academies is the BEST School for YOUR Family!
Ten Reasons Why American Dragon Martial Arts Academies Is The Best School For Your Family
1. Our Staff: The Taekwondo and Hapkido instructors at our school are among the best in the world. They are highly skilled martial artists, and motivators who lead by example and teach with patience and enthusiasm. All of our teachers are licensed and certified by the world headquarters in Korea. They will take a personal interest and be committed to your child’s success.
2. Our Teaching Methods: Watch any of our Taekwondo or Hapkido classes and you will notice how we combine respectful discipline with a friendly hands-on approach. You will also notice the use of praise to provide positive motivation, explanations, and physical demonstrations to accommodate all learning styles.
3. Our Curriculum: Designed by the world headquarters in Korea, our curriculum includes the most exciting and beneficial aspects of Taekwondo and Hapkido. These include kicking to improve flexibility, forms for balance, and partner drills to improve speed and reflexes. Your child will also be introduced to board breaking to increase confidence. Your child will experience cultural diversity learning some of the simple phrases of the Korean language giving them valuable skills for the future. Our students also get an opportunity to participate in our summer cultural exchange program working with student from Korea or traveling with our school to Korea for training in Taekwondo and Hapkido.
4. Our Class Structure: No two Taekwondo or Hapkido classes are exactly alike. A variety of drills are used to disguise repetition and keep your child interested while refining their skills at the same time.
5. Our Students: Where else can you surround your child with a dedicated group of young people all working together to develop their physical, mental, and emotional strength? Training side by side with other children of their same level will not only develop your child’s cooperation skills but will encourage friendships that motivate them to attend Taekwondo and Hapkido classes regularly.
6. Our Belt System: Traditional sports are limited in their ability to recognize a student’s increase in knowledge and ability. Our 10 different colored belts
Korean Hapkido Federation President
Hapkido Grand Master Dong Kyun Kim
Leading the Future of Hapkido
In November of 2007 several of the Hapkido organizations united to form the Korean Hapkido Federation. This organization is dedicated to the support of Hapkido worldwide. Teaching the Korean standards for Hapkido on a worldwide scale has rarely been accomplished.
Grand Master Dong Kyun Kim is a R.O.K. Army Commando who has studied Hapkido all of his life. As a Commando he has also studied TukongMuSool. A military form of Hapkido that is also gaining popularity worldwide.
One of the goals of the Korean Hapkido Federation is to demonstrate the beauty of Hapkido around the globe. One way they have accomplished this is by encouraging the establishment of National Demonstration Teams. The Korean Hapkido Federation will be hosting the World Demonstration Team Championship in KwangJu, Korea. (Visit Korean Hapkido Federation.org for complete details). Martial Arts teams of all styles from around the world will be gathering in KwangJu to demonstrate the beauty of their arts.
Grand Master Dong Kyun Kim has decided to make himself as accessible as possible for training events to personally oversea the progression of raising the standards of Hapkido in all countries. He has been appointing national representatives in as many countries as possible. Grand Master Kim appoints natives of that country whenever possible. "Hapkido can only grow if foreign masters are given the same training and support as Korean masters." said Grand Master Kim. He went on to say: "Many of the Hapkido organizations were Korean based and did not teach the same level of Hapkido outside of Korea. Offering advanced certifications to non-Korean masters only as a way of generating income for the headquarters. We have put a stop to such promotion practices. ALL members of the Korean Hapkido Federation are given the same level of training no matter where they live in the world. We welcome everyone to join."
Before becoming the President of the Korean Hapkido Federation, Grand Master Kim was recognized as the world's leading expert on ancient Korean military arts weapons. A master of 16 ancient Korean weapons, Grand Master Kim also serves as the Vice President of the World Sword Arts Federation. (www.worldswordarts.org) He has encouraged Hapkido instructors to include many of these weapons in their systems to preserve these ancient fighting skills.
Grand Master Dong Kyun Kim invites everyone to visit Korea and participate in the World Demonstration Team Championships. If you would like to register a team from your country to participate in this historical event or to host Grand Master Kim for a Hapkido or Weapons seminar or promotion exam, please e-mail admin@worldmartialartsmagazine.com .
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Hapkido Grand Master Bong Soo Han
Hapkido Movie Star: Grand Master Bong Soo Han
Born Han Bong-Soo on August 25, 1933 in Incheon, South Korea, known as Bong Soo Han in the United States, died on January 8, 2007 in Santa Monica, California. Han was a martial arts instructor, author, the founder of the International Hapkido Federation and one of the foremost promoters of Korean hapkido through his participation in books, magazine articles and popular films featuring the art.
Han Bong-Soo was one of the world's foremost practitioners of the Korean martial art of Hapkido. He is often referred to as the "Father of Hapkido" in America.
Han began his study of hapkido as a teenager with Yong Sul Choi in Seoul, Korea.He studied and refined this powerful Korean martial art for more than 50 years. He held the rank of 9th Dan Black Belt. He was the founder of the International Hapkido Federation, and was its president until his death.
Throughout his life, Han led a dedicated effort in the ongoing development of Hapkido.
During the occupation of Korea by Japan, between the years of 1910 and 1945, all school-age children were required to read, write and speak Japanese. In addition they were taught judo and kendo for discipline and physical education. Han Bong Soo studied these arts from 1943-1945.
From 1948 to 1950, Han studied kwon bup, which was a mixture of Chinese chuan fa methods and Shudokan karate, and earned a black belt in the art under the late Master Byung In Yoon. Yoon's teachings later led to the development of one of the Korean schools of kong soo do and greatly influenced two of the early schools who helped to form modern Taekwondo, the changmookwan and the jidokwan. At the outbreak of the Korean War all schools of the martial arts were closed in Korea.
There is some controversy as to how Han was introduced to the art of hapkido. In previously cited sources and a personal interview Han stated that he first began his study of Hapkido under its founder, Yong Sul Choi, in 1953. However some of his contemporaries like Kwon Tae-Man and Kimm He-Young assert that his training began first in Ji Han Jae's SungMooKwan group and training with Choi Yong Sul came at a later time.
In the late 1950s, Han Bong Soo would meet with other instructors to train and exchange ideas. From time to time, between 1956 to 1959, he traveled to Hwa Chun, Kang Won Province, where he spent time training in the art of tae kyon, under Master Bok Yong Lee.
Discovering hapkido
Han and his friend Choi Seo-Oh were both employed by the Hankuk Shil Up Company which assisted other companies in bidding on Army surplus goods. Both had prior training in striking based martial arts, Choi in the Jido kwan Taekwondo and Han in kwon bup and tae kyon. However they both joined Ji's Joongbooshijang hapkido dojang in 1958 to receive extra training in order to become bodyguards to Korean Labour Party presidential candidate Jun Jin-Han. When Jun withdrew his candidacy they both decided to continue their training in hapkido.
Han Bong-Soo being older and a native of Seoul was instrumental in assisting Ji Han Jae, a senior student of Choi Yong Sul, promote the first hapkido school in the country's capital city. In 1959 Bong Soo Han opened his own hapkido school in the Samgangji section of Seoul. Han became one of the most important teachers in the very influential Korea Hapkido Association and taught many important people in the both the Korean military and the Korean presidential guard. Eventually he secured a position teaching martial arts to U.S. security personnel at the Osan American air force base where he continued to teach for 6 years.
In 1967, during the Vietnam War, Han taught self-defense to hundreds of American and Korean military personnel as part of a demonstration team for the Korea Hapkido Association that later became the Korea Hapkido Federation.
The United States
Later in 1967 he immigrated to the United States first staying with and teaching at his friend Choi Sea-Oh's hapkido school in California later opening his own school in Los Angeles in 1968. His early years were difficult and he worked in factory during the day while he taught at a struggling hapkido school in the evening located in an economically depressed area. Later he relocated his school to the Pacific Palisades area in an effort to be closer to Hollywood and the movie industry.
On July 4, 1969, Han Bong Soo was performing a demonstration at a park in the Pacific Palisades, California. In the audience was Tom Laughlin. After a spectacular demonstration, Laughlin approached Han about being involved in a movie project called Billy Jack. Han gained critical acclaim for creating and staging some of the most realistic martial arts fight sequences in a film. Before Billy Jack, movies contained at most brief references to martial arts, with fights portrayed by actors who had little training. With Billy Jack, Han had introduced Hapkido to the West. In its sequel he received a co-starring part where he spoke about and demonstrated the art, mentioning the art by name for the first time.
Han continued to choreograph, double, star in, and produce films with martial arts sequences. In 1977, he played the evil Dr. Klahn in the segment A Fistful of Yen in the spoof film, The Kentucky Fried Movie.
Han Bong Soo has been the subject of many magazine and newspaper articles, martial arts magazine cover stories, and was a member of the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also featured in the A&E documentary, The Martial Arts and the Wesley Snipes-produced Master of the Martial Arts.
In addition to being cited in dozens of martial arts books, he wrote many articles on the Way of martial arts, and also authored the book, Hapkido, The Korean Art of Self-Defense, that was published by Ohara Publications in 1974, which is now in its 23rd printing. He completed a series of ten instructional Hapkido DVDs which are in worldwide distribution.
In 1974, Han founded the International Hapkido Federation. On July 6, 2006 Black Belt Magazine presented the International Hapkido Federation with its 2006 Industry Award for Best Traditional School for its commitment to preserving the legacy of Hapkido.
Han Bong Soo died at his home in Santa Monica, California on January 8, 2007. He will be truly missed by all but his contribution to the growth of Hapkido will never be forgotten.
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