Hapkido Self-defense Volume 1

Buy This Item Hapkido Self-defense Volume 1 by Turtle Press  Available from Amazon  $26.99  on 11-16-2008     Hapkido’s reputation as a self-defense art is unrivaled. In this first of two Hapkido Self- Defense DVDs, Grandmaster Myung Yong Kim and Grandmaster Chang Soo Lee teach you the standing defenses of Hapkido Jin Jung Kwan including locking, takedown and throwing defenses against: <P>* single, double, cross and rear wrist grabs * front and rear bear hugs * punches * kicks * front and rear collar grabs * belt grabs * elbow grabs <P>Hapkido Self-defense Volume 1 will give you a solid foundation in hapkido’s stand-up defenses. This comprehensive instructional DVD was filmed on location in Korea. Learn directly from the headmaster, founder and international demonstration team members of this dynamic Korean art. <P>Includes both English and Korean language tracks. Reader Reviews Volume 1 (about 1 hour) Locks from wrist grabs (same side, cross, two hands, etc) - techniques 1-29 Throws - techniques 30-39 Standing Self Defense (collar grabs, belt grabs, wrist grabs) - techniques 40-48 Self Defense vs Hug (front and rear bear hugs, collar grabs, elbow grabs) - techniques 49-58 Defenses vs Punches - techniques 59-78 Defense vs Kicks (side and roundhouse) - techniques 79-100 Volume one packs a lot of material onto a one hour video. The English overdub is clear and concise and accentuates the excellent picture quality. There is a limited number of replays and not many close ups. In general, the video provides a very nice catalog of material but I wouldn't consider it an "instructional" video, i.e. this is a reference for people who know this material already for the most part. The material in general is very good and is representative of Jin Jung Kwan's material and the Korea Hapkido Federation (KHF) material as far as I know. I have a few quibbles based on my own opinions (although judging by the number of stripes GM Myung Yong Kim is wearing on his belt, I think he's been around this art a long time!) -In many of the techniques, he leans very far forward at the end of the technique, with his body and arms extended. I personally would prefer a more "straight up" finish and closer arms to keep my balance. -Some of the finishes leave the opponent within easy grabbing distance of the defender's legs... hopefully the pain will keep them from taking advantage of that but I'd rather be "safe than sorry". -I like the material shown and I think the attention paid to certain manipulations is very valuable. More close ups and descriptions of the manipulations would be useful. On areas where "tips" are given, they are excellent. - This style seems to use a lot of dropping to a knee to complete the techniques and has a few where the defender ends up on a knee while the attacker is still standing. I'm not a big fan of this personally. - Some of the throws seem contrived and overly complicated, including a few where the person being thrown gets thrown along a very different trajectory than the easiest path. -The punch defenses are decent, including a nice group of simple ones (69-73) although many of the others are very complicated even at a slow speed and some seem to leave the defender very much extended and off balance. The kick defenses work off a nice progression of introducing the basics and becoming more difficult. Some are quite complicated though and seem clumsy at slow speed, let alone high speed. -The videos in general don't seem to have any real pattern of material or progression of techniques. Some very complicated techniques are shown before easy ones, and there doesn't seem to be any sort of spiral curriculum of building on previous material. Then again, I look at the video as a catalog instead of an "instructional" tape. -Some of the partners whine and scream to excess, distracting from the techniques being shown. In general I like this volume. The techniques are shown with speed and power and with a clear description. There is a lot of material on here without too many replays or "fluff". I imagine that when put with the "essentials" volume that the necessary striking, footwork, breathing, and falling all come into focus. For videos on traditional Korean Hapkido this is pretty good. Keep in mind that this is actually the second video in the series, the first being "Hapkido Essentials" that covers basic strikes, movement, and etc.

Hapkido Self-defense Volume 1 Available from Amazon Price: $26.99 Updated on 11-16-2008.

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