On Monday I finally convinced Mohamed that Omar and Yousef should enroll in Hapkido. We all started back up on Tuesday. At first Mohamed was resistant that it wasn't cheaper (as a discount for two kids-- he thought half off the second kid would be good, but the instructor insisted that he gives 20,000 off for two kids making it a 10% discount or 180,000 instead of 200,000 for two kids but that includes monthly test fees) but after the last 4 days, I think it should be more expensive. It's not easy teaching young boys who kind of want to goof off, don't understand the language of instruction, have obviously a limited athletic background, and are culturally out of step with Korea.
However, it's also been very fun/cute.
Tuesday:
The boys are in seventh heaven to have padded floor, padded walls, trampoline, balls of various sizes and other kids to run around with. The lack of common language was easily defeated by the enthusiasm of everyone and the sweetness of a couple of the Korean kids (as well as Yousef and Omar being pretty darn sweet!). When class started it was hard for them to follow along at all, and from the first day we had issues with them wanting to just stop, rest, drink water, etc. during class. None of which is okay. You need to get permission to do anything other than continue to follow directions.
Wednesday:
The boys follow along a tiny amount better, and I get to experience news things, like making sure they stand up to bow to the instructor. Yousef declares "tomorrow let's go 50 minutes earlier."
Thursday:
This week has made me closer to the kids in the studio than I ever was before, as they suddenly have a reason to talk to me. They ask about the boys or ask me to translate, all except one middle school boy who adorably speaks broken English to Yousef and Omar and slips them candy. The boys found out they're getting their own 도복 (dobok- martial arts uniform), Yousef declares "I will wear it all day, and then go home, and then wear my PJs, and then wake up and put it on again."
Friday:
The boys get their uniforms, and I message a photo to their dad who responds with "my heroes!" It is obvious that the boys are in the right place, as they rough and tumble with everyone like mad, no hard feelings. However because there is a test on Saturday and only the boys and I are not taking it, again I end up spending most of class teaching them, and not getting to do any of my own practice. I am not the most patient teacher for boys who cannot cartwheel, cannot jump rope, and are generally not able to easily see the difference between their motion and mine. Omar spends the whole time we're practicing falls (rolls) falling wrong, but then posing at the end perfectly and waiting for me to compliment him before he gets back up. On the bright side, both boys are doing well with "get up" "again" "ready" start" etc.
Showing posts with label 합기도. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 합기도. Show all posts
Friday, February 21, 2014
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Hapkido
Almost one month ago I started training in Hapkido again.
For those of you who don't know, I am a 4th degree black belt. 3rd degree can teach in a secondary studio (but still technically supervised by their own instructor). 4th degree can open their own studio, if they choose to, or remain affiliated with their parent studio. Hapkido is only one of the many martial arts I've studied to greater or lesser degrees, and the one I have focused on the most-- I began in 1996 and for several years I spent up to seven hours a day leading class and practicing.
None of that is to say that I am some bad ass "grandmaster." I'm good, but not incredible, and I have spent years without any practice of Hapkido (although during many of those years I was practicing other arts-- in 2003-4 I was in China and learned wushu there, in 2004-2006 I was in Seoul and only occasionally went to Daegu to my studio to do Hapkido, but I did taekkyon almost everyday (I'm not going to get into my taekkyon story, but suffice to say it's not a short and simple one). In 2006-07 I was walking to Lhasa and in transition, in 2007-2008 I was dancing a lot but not doing any martial arts, 2008-2010 I did taiji seriously at UCLA and became an assistant instructor, then 2010-2011 I was in Korea practicing multiple arts (not martial arts), but sometimes I went down to Daegu to practice Hapkido in my original studio (although it's moved about 5 times). I did my 4th degree test in early 2011. In 2011-2012 I was back in LA doing taiji, and I kept doing taiji back on Lopez in 2012-2013 (it's the only martial art I've ever been able to practice on my own on a regular basis). Of course now I'm back in Korea.
At first I thought I could take the bus to Seoul and do my normal classes (Bongsan Talchum mask dance drama, and sangmo ribbon hat dance, plus rehearsing with Songpa Sandae Noli mask dance drama) but every time I leave Mohyeon I lose four hours or more to transportation, and the buses are horribly uncomfortable (when returning you don't always get a seat until you're halfway home). So I decided to find a local place to exercise. I interviewed the two closest Hapkido studios and watched their teaching style, both were acceptable, but Yi Sangsu's teaching style seemed better for me (if his studio not quite as nice inside). That was in September, and I planned to start in October, but... Karjam came and I was so busy, then I had the conference, so I finally started almost one month ago and I've been loving it.
I've written many times before about choosing martial arts studios-- and if anyone wants my opinion about it, please leave a question in the comments-- but I won't be going into that today except to say this:
If you think you need a martial arts studio where they speak English or whatever your language is, you're wrong. Watch and imitate, watch and imitate. This is about your body, not your intellectual understanding. I understand how to do a high scissors kick, that doesn't mean I'm able to leap off the ground and do one! Furthermore the studio is great place to practice Korean. And if you live in Korea, learn Korean already. No matter how long or how short you plan to stay, start learning Korean. It will improve your life.
For those of you who don't know, I am a 4th degree black belt. 3rd degree can teach in a secondary studio (but still technically supervised by their own instructor). 4th degree can open their own studio, if they choose to, or remain affiliated with their parent studio. Hapkido is only one of the many martial arts I've studied to greater or lesser degrees, and the one I have focused on the most-- I began in 1996 and for several years I spent up to seven hours a day leading class and practicing.
None of that is to say that I am some bad ass "grandmaster." I'm good, but not incredible, and I have spent years without any practice of Hapkido (although during many of those years I was practicing other arts-- in 2003-4 I was in China and learned wushu there, in 2004-2006 I was in Seoul and only occasionally went to Daegu to my studio to do Hapkido, but I did taekkyon almost everyday (I'm not going to get into my taekkyon story, but suffice to say it's not a short and simple one). In 2006-07 I was walking to Lhasa and in transition, in 2007-2008 I was dancing a lot but not doing any martial arts, 2008-2010 I did taiji seriously at UCLA and became an assistant instructor, then 2010-2011 I was in Korea practicing multiple arts (not martial arts), but sometimes I went down to Daegu to practice Hapkido in my original studio (although it's moved about 5 times). I did my 4th degree test in early 2011. In 2011-2012 I was back in LA doing taiji, and I kept doing taiji back on Lopez in 2012-2013 (it's the only martial art I've ever been able to practice on my own on a regular basis). Of course now I'm back in Korea.
At first I thought I could take the bus to Seoul and do my normal classes (Bongsan Talchum mask dance drama, and sangmo ribbon hat dance, plus rehearsing with Songpa Sandae Noli mask dance drama) but every time I leave Mohyeon I lose four hours or more to transportation, and the buses are horribly uncomfortable (when returning you don't always get a seat until you're halfway home). So I decided to find a local place to exercise. I interviewed the two closest Hapkido studios and watched their teaching style, both were acceptable, but Yi Sangsu's teaching style seemed better for me (if his studio not quite as nice inside). That was in September, and I planned to start in October, but... Karjam came and I was so busy, then I had the conference, so I finally started almost one month ago and I've been loving it.
At my age, I'm proud that I can still do a flip this well. I actually can do a little better than this, but after a couple more months of practice, I might have to upload another video to show the improvement!
I've written many times before about choosing martial arts studios-- and if anyone wants my opinion about it, please leave a question in the comments-- but I won't be going into that today except to say this:
If you think you need a martial arts studio where they speak English or whatever your language is, you're wrong. Watch and imitate, watch and imitate. This is about your body, not your intellectual understanding. I understand how to do a high scissors kick, that doesn't mean I'm able to leap off the ground and do one! Furthermore the studio is great place to practice Korean. And if you live in Korea, learn Korean already. No matter how long or how short you plan to stay, start learning Korean. It will improve your life.
Friday, August 5, 2011
A Quick Last Trip to Daegu
July 26th, 2011
Because I assigned the students to do several things
outside of class time (and they're in vacation mode) I had written in this day
as a day off of class. So I headed out in the morning for Daegu—carrying a
heavy tub of things to leave at Jinhong and Georgy's house. After some lunch I
headed to 신라합기도체육관 Shilla Hapkido Studio, where I
trained from 4 until just after 10, then rushed back to Georgy and Jinhong's.
At Hapkido all was well with the world—the kids were cute (and a bunch of
yellow belts in the late afternoon decided I was a seat, so every time I sat
down they rushed to sit on my legs and lean their adorable little heads
trustingly against me—they were also imps that were hard to keep in control but
my overall impression was cute as could be. 박형건 Bak
Hyeong-geun, my little brother, arrived in the early evening and we ate dinner
with the 관장님 instructor, 김유림 Kim
Yurim. The workout was pretty intense and I spent a good two hours just
practicing nun-chucks so I was really surprised that I wasn't totally destroyed
by the end of the day, but it was fine. Jinhong, Georgy and I had a little 막걸리 makgeolli party, except Georgy doesn't actually like it. Anyway, Jinhong
made a bunch of 전 jeon which was eaten with gusto.
July 27th, 2011
I hung out with Georgy and Jinhong all morning, then
stopped by my glasses place quick before Hapkido (they'll send me a new pair of
prescription sunglasses to Seoul). It was a really good time at Hapkido again,
I will miss everyone there, and the instructor, even though I didn't get a chance
to spend much time there this year.
I took the KTX train (Georgy can get really great
discounts during the week) back to Seoul and got home around 1 a.m.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Jeonju and Daegu
April 21st, 2011
Mom and I woke up early and went to 광화문 Gwanghwamun area to catch a special free tourist bus to 전주 Jeonju. These buses, which go to 경주 Gyeongju and 부산 Busan as well, are widely advertised as a great way to get foreigners a chance to see things outside of Seoul. A lot of foreign residents in Korea pan them because you can't ride the bus in the opposite direction if you wanted to go to Seoul for a day or a few. However I think it's a pretty good idea to get people around the country if they're just visiting Korea for a short trip. There are several ways in which the system is not so good, though. First of all it's not done on a first come, first served basis. It's done on a lottery system. I entered our names a couple weeks ago and got a confirmation email. Then I waited. I didn't see any other email, so on the 20th I got on the internet and went to the site where I entered our passport numbers and it said "reservation confirmed" and it also showed that there were (unless I was totally misunderstanding) still tickets available on the bus. But when we checked in at the site they said that we had not 'won' tickets (although every other name of every other person and the person(s) accompanying them on the list had 'won' tickets). I protested that we'd seen a confirmation email but never seen any other follow up email such as a 'sorry, you didn't win, try again' email. The young lady was apologetic and explained that she often gets people with the same complaint but there is nothing she can do; her job is just to check people in not to send emails related to the program. Fortunately some people who had 'won' seats didn't show up, so mom and I were able to get on the bus after all but it was a bit stressful and I had lots to say about how bad it made Korea look to foreign tourists if they experience something as confusing as that.
In Jeonju (and this is basically why I even decided to go) the bus took us to the 한옥 hanok village; an area of Jeonju where traditional style one story buildings made of wood with tile roofs are still common. We walked around the streets, and checked out the scenery, a couple 한지 hanji (paper) making workshop/factories and their associated gift shops, a calligraphy museum, some other craft halls and had a marvelous lunch. Overall I found the area too developed for tourism—it was a bit gross how much of it was predicated on rapidly relieving the visitors of their money. Most of the tourists, of course, were domestic, including several school groups, but I started feeling really claustrophobic and uncomfortable. The best part of the entire Jeonju experience (except for the lunch which was just the type of ordinary home-cooking I love) was our visit to the 경기전 Gyeonggijeon with a shrine for 태조 Taejo, the founder of the dynasty. The inside of Gyeonggijeon was just as run over with visitors but the area was far larger and the birds were chirping, the sun shining and the new leaves were practically unfurling as we watched. 
We took a taxi to the Express Bus Terminal and took the 3:10 bus to 대구 Daegu, arriving shortly before 6:00. We took another taxi to my 합기도 Hapkido studio and we spent the rest of the evening there until I felt that mom would turn into a pumpkin if I didn't take her to Georgy and Jinhong's and a bed. At Hapkido I led class (it was a day to focus on kicks) and had a pretty good time. It was fun that mom got see the 관장님instructor 15 years after she first met him.
April 22nd, 2011 Earth Day
I'm afraid I didn't do anything special for Earth Day. I guess I just have to say "every day is Earth Day!" In the morning I made pancakes for the four of us. Jinhong took mom to see some things and I worked on an application while Georgy made cupcakes (I had given her a cupcake cookbook because she loves cupcakes). After a lunch that Jinhong made I went to the post office to send my application (Jinhong drove me to a print shop and the post office, so sweet), and mom and Georgy went fabrics shopping at the traditional market.
I went back to 합기도 Hapkido and stayed there until 10:45. It was a test day so I mostly helped run the test, but I got some exercise in as well. When I got back to Georgy and Jinhong's only the latter was still awake.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Hapkido Test, Songpa Sandae Noli and Angelique Kidjo Live!
March 12th, 2011
The test: went well, I think. I don't know the results yet. I was the only person testing for 4th degree (5th and above test in Seoul), there were 3 people for 3rd degree black belt, twenty-two for 2nd degree and something around fifteen for first degree black belt. Most people had a partner who was not testing as well, although a few people partnered each other on the same test. Several parents came and there were also the instructors and assistant instructors from the various studios who brought people to the test, in other words around 50 people were watching me. I was nervous as heck and my kicks were weak, but I did spectacularly well on falls (I jumped over blocks more than chest height!) and my self-defense moves were totally tight. I was not asked to spar, but neither was anyone else. I guess that has been taken off the standard testing menu.
I had lunch at the 관장님 instructor's house with his wife and kids (he was in Seoul) and then headed back to Seoul myself on the bus.
March 13th, 2011
I had 송파산대놀이 Songpa Sandae Noli in the morning. We practiced Act 3 under professor 이병옥 Yi Byeong-ok repeatedly after we did the basic motions. We did it with all the stage blocking and dance motions. It was amazing how much more detailed it became when you tried to actually do the full scene. I was 목중을 Mokjung Eul again. I am managing the dialogue fairly well. Afterwards 김영숙 Kim Yeongsuk and the three college girls who are also practicing on Sundays and I went for lunch. Pretty unimpressive food today.
I bought tickets to Angelique Kidjo weeks ago, before I knew Karjam wouldn't be around to go with me. So I had to find someone else, and my first few picks (people who would already know Angelique's music) were busy. So I asked 양은석 Yang Eunseok, a 풍물 pungmul friend who I find interesting and open-minded. Also he loves live music and we've seen several other shows together. The show was beyond amazing. Especially since Angelique invited the audience onto the stage and we went up and danced for thirty minutes on the stage, with Angelique coming right over and practically bumping hips with us, dancing one on one with me—it was so awesome.
The test: went well, I think. I don't know the results yet. I was the only person testing for 4th degree (5th and above test in Seoul), there were 3 people for 3rd degree black belt, twenty-two for 2nd degree and something around fifteen for first degree black belt. Most people had a partner who was not testing as well, although a few people partnered each other on the same test. Several parents came and there were also the instructors and assistant instructors from the various studios who brought people to the test, in other words around 50 people were watching me. I was nervous as heck and my kicks were weak, but I did spectacularly well on falls (I jumped over blocks more than chest height!) and my self-defense moves were totally tight. I was not asked to spar, but neither was anyone else. I guess that has been taken off the standard testing menu.
I had lunch at the 관장님 instructor's house with his wife and kids (he was in Seoul) and then headed back to Seoul myself on the bus.
March 13th, 2011
I had 송파산대놀이 Songpa Sandae Noli in the morning. We practiced Act 3 under professor 이병옥 Yi Byeong-ok repeatedly after we did the basic motions. We did it with all the stage blocking and dance motions. It was amazing how much more detailed it became when you tried to actually do the full scene. I was 목중을 Mokjung Eul again. I am managing the dialogue fairly well. Afterwards 김영숙 Kim Yeongsuk and the three college girls who are also practicing on Sundays and I went for lunch. Pretty unimpressive food today.
I bought tickets to Angelique Kidjo weeks ago, before I knew Karjam wouldn't be around to go with me. So I had to find someone else, and my first few picks (people who would already know Angelique's music) were busy. So I asked 양은석 Yang Eunseok, a 풍물 pungmul friend who I find interesting and open-minded. Also he loves live music and we've seen several other shows together. The show was beyond amazing. Especially since Angelique invited the audience onto the stage and we went up and danced for thirty minutes on the stage, with Angelique coming right over and practically bumping hips with us, dancing one on one with me—it was so awesome.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Big Lunch Meeting
March 10th, 2011
I practiced 합기도 Hapkido until 9:30, went to 동대구 Dongdaegu Station and caught a train back to Seoul. I arrived in the early morning and since the taxi line was long I decided to see if there was still a bus (although I didn't expect there to be as it was after 1 a.m.). Miracle of miracles, there was, although I had to wait 18 minutes to catch it (fortunately the bus stop sign tells me how many minutes I have to wait, the 402 was one of the only buses still running).
March 11th, 2011
I had only returned to Seoul in order to attend an important meeting I had coordinated on Friday with 엄승용Eom Seungyong from the 문화재청 Cultural Properties Administration, his staff member 김인규 Kim Ingyu, 탄종원 Tahn Jongwon from 송파산대놀이 Songpa Sandae Noli, 허창열 Heo Changyeol from 고성오광대 Goseong Ogwangdae and 황민왕 Hwang Minwang from 남해안별신굿 Namhae'an Byeolshin'gut. The meeting was a little less productive than I had hoped. Partially because Korean culture kicked in with so many Koreans in the room, which meant that Changyeol who is quite vocal, normally, was suddenly quiet, and Tahn Jongwon was fairly loud because he's probably around the same age as Eom and certainly he's older than everyone else. Hwang cut in fairly often, but I ended up talking more than I had intended to. We discussed a wide variety of topics, although Eom had to leave after a little more than an hour and we were left talking to Kim, who honestly probably is the person who has to put things into effect anyway, even though it's up to Eom how Kim uses his time. We had a nice lunch, too, but the dish I chose was much too small, and I was left feeling pretty hungry. The details of the lunch discussion would be too many to type and some of the discussion was quite speculative and "what if the CPA does this?" or "as artists what would you think if the CPA did that?" So it would be appropriate to put it all up here. However I did record the entire 2.5 hours, so I can review the discussion later and see what's there that might be included in the dissertation.
I went home changed my clothes, repacked my bag and left for 대구 Daegu. I got to my 합기도 Hapkido studio at 8:30 and practiced until 11:30 (seriously), when the 관장님 Instructor drove everyone home. I had elected to stay at his house since the test was early and I didn't want to bother Georgy and 진홍 Jinhong and spend all that time on the subway just to sleep. I had a nice dinner (at midnight) with the instructor and stole the neighbors' internet which worked just well enough to check my email and read more on the devastation in Japan.
I practiced 합기도 Hapkido until 9:30, went to 동대구 Dongdaegu Station and caught a train back to Seoul. I arrived in the early morning and since the taxi line was long I decided to see if there was still a bus (although I didn't expect there to be as it was after 1 a.m.). Miracle of miracles, there was, although I had to wait 18 minutes to catch it (fortunately the bus stop sign tells me how many minutes I have to wait, the 402 was one of the only buses still running).
March 11th, 2011
I had only returned to Seoul in order to attend an important meeting I had coordinated on Friday with 엄승용Eom Seungyong from the 문화재청 Cultural Properties Administration, his staff member 김인규 Kim Ingyu, 탄종원 Tahn Jongwon from 송파산대놀이 Songpa Sandae Noli, 허창열 Heo Changyeol from 고성오광대 Goseong Ogwangdae and 황민왕 Hwang Minwang from 남해안별신굿 Namhae'an Byeolshin'gut. The meeting was a little less productive than I had hoped. Partially because Korean culture kicked in with so many Koreans in the room, which meant that Changyeol who is quite vocal, normally, was suddenly quiet, and Tahn Jongwon was fairly loud because he's probably around the same age as Eom and certainly he's older than everyone else. Hwang cut in fairly often, but I ended up talking more than I had intended to. We discussed a wide variety of topics, although Eom had to leave after a little more than an hour and we were left talking to Kim, who honestly probably is the person who has to put things into effect anyway, even though it's up to Eom how Kim uses his time. We had a nice lunch, too, but the dish I chose was much too small, and I was left feeling pretty hungry. The details of the lunch discussion would be too many to type and some of the discussion was quite speculative and "what if the CPA does this?" or "as artists what would you think if the CPA did that?" So it would be appropriate to put it all up here. However I did record the entire 2.5 hours, so I can review the discussion later and see what's there that might be included in the dissertation.
I went home changed my clothes, repacked my bag and left for 대구 Daegu. I got to my 합기도 Hapkido studio at 8:30 and practiced until 11:30 (seriously), when the 관장님 Instructor drove everyone home. I had elected to stay at his house since the test was early and I didn't want to bother Georgy and 진홍 Jinhong and spend all that time on the subway just to sleep. I had a nice dinner (at midnight) with the instructor and stole the neighbors' internet which worked just well enough to check my email and read more on the devastation in Japan.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Flying Visit to Andong
March 9th, 2011
I figured out that to meet 손영애 Son Yeong'ae, my friend from 하회별신굿탈놀이 Hahoi Byeolshin'gut Talnoli, I had to catch the 7:30 bus to 안동 Andong, but set my alarm for 6:55 and didn’t realize that wasn't too smart until halfway through breakfast (when it was 7:11). I ran down the street, caught a taxi who drove like a video-game and got the bus, then had a nice nap to the brand new Andong Bus Terminal (wow, such a difference, the old one was from the 60s, in use over 40 years!). Yeong'ae and I decided that I would go with her to 하회마울 Hahoi Village where they were performing Hahoi Byeolshin'gut Talnoli at 2pm. I interviewed her on the entire drive to the village, and then sat in her car to finish the interview. We ate lunch in the village and I wandered around while she changed clothes.
The performance was outside at the open air theatre they constructed about 6 years ago. The seating area is covered but not the stage, however with the wind and cold temperatures I happily positioned myself in the watery sunbeam but was still freezing by the time the show ended. 65 people attended by my count, though many were late and some left part-way through. They performed an abridged version, all the performers looking cold, too. First Yeong'ae came out, performing 각시 gakshi, followed by the butcher scene, old monk and young woman scene, 이매 Imae scene, yangban scene and finally grandmother scene. However each scene was significantly cut, and the show ended at 2:45. It appeared that they almost didn't have enough players there to run the show at all.
Cell phone photos of the performance space and the main education building for the art.
Yeong'ae drove me back to the terminal, where I got a coffee and talked to an English teacher with a proud Zulu name (which I could not pronounce). I taught her to read Korean, as well as I could in twenty minutes, since she just arrived two weeks ago. I took a bus to North Daegu Station.
At my 합기도 Hapkido studio I practiced and led class until just before 11, then sprinted to the subway to get back to Georgy and 진홍 Jinhong's house.
I figured out that to meet 손영애 Son Yeong'ae, my friend from 하회별신굿탈놀이 Hahoi Byeolshin'gut Talnoli, I had to catch the 7:30 bus to 안동 Andong, but set my alarm for 6:55 and didn’t realize that wasn't too smart until halfway through breakfast (when it was 7:11). I ran down the street, caught a taxi who drove like a video-game and got the bus, then had a nice nap to the brand new Andong Bus Terminal (wow, such a difference, the old one was from the 60s, in use over 40 years!). Yeong'ae and I decided that I would go with her to 하회마울 Hahoi Village where they were performing Hahoi Byeolshin'gut Talnoli at 2pm. I interviewed her on the entire drive to the village, and then sat in her car to finish the interview. We ate lunch in the village and I wandered around while she changed clothes.
The performance was outside at the open air theatre they constructed about 6 years ago. The seating area is covered but not the stage, however with the wind and cold temperatures I happily positioned myself in the watery sunbeam but was still freezing by the time the show ended. 65 people attended by my count, though many were late and some left part-way through. They performed an abridged version, all the performers looking cold, too. First Yeong'ae came out, performing 각시 gakshi, followed by the butcher scene, old monk and young woman scene, 이매 Imae scene, yangban scene and finally grandmother scene. However each scene was significantly cut, and the show ended at 2:45. It appeared that they almost didn't have enough players there to run the show at all.
Cell phone photos of the performance space and the main education building for the art.
At my 합기도 Hapkido studio I practiced and led class until just before 11, then sprinted to the subway to get back to Georgy and 진홍 Jinhong's house.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Two Days of Hapkido in Daegu
February 23rd and 24th, 2011
I woke up late, but still made it to the bus station and to my Hapkido Studio (한양대 신라 합기도 체육관) by just after 4pm. This is a bit off-topic from my research but I am in 대구 Daegu again practicing Hapkido for a myriad of reasons great and small including
1) It is very hard to find really good instruction in martial arts. Since I've had some of the best instruction ever, I find going other places to be quite unsatisfying. And yes, I've gone plenty of other places. The only other truly good instructor I've found is Jason Tsou (UCLA, Taiji)
2) My Hapkido instructor and I have been working together on my Hapkido skills (except for a couple of years when I tried to find some place more convenient) since 1996, that's a lot of history. To say that he is one of the people I trust most completely in the world is an understatement. He's someone I would and have trusted to speak for me.
Taken on my 관장님's iPhone:
3) When you move from one teacher to another, it's hard to not go through a fairly long period of satisfying that person before they'll sponsor you to advance in degree. I want to finally get my 4th Dan (I tested for 4th Dan with my instructor in 2005 but not with the federation). I'll be able to take that 4th degree black belt test in just over two weeks (with that certification I am able to open my own studio anywhere, instead of running a studio for someone else. That I've already done, as those who have known me for a long while know).
For my Hapkido test, of course, I need a partner. Being a partner for someone who is testing for a high level is not fun. We practice moves again and again, but since 4th Dan takes years to attain, it's not like 1st Dan where you partner someone and they partner you. I throw my partner around but he doesn't throw me around. My partner is 박형건 Bak Hyeong-geon. Hyeong-geon has known me his –entire- life. He started Hapkido when he was 5. That's 5 in Korean age, so really it means 4. From when he was 5 to when he was 10, I was one of his primary instructors. Now he's a full grown high school senior who is 5 centimeters taller than me. Pretty wild to think about that, for both of us. On Wednesday we were joking around and we told one of the classes we were teaching that we were brother and sister and one of the students actually told us that we resembled each other. Koreans say you resemble someone when you spend so much time with someone that you sort of act alike and speak alike and have similar mannerisms.
Photo taken by the instructor on his DSLR:
Teaching with Hyeong-geon (which we did all day on both Wednesday and Thursday, practicing our own stuff between classes and when we could assign an activity and keep an eye on the students while we were practicing) is amazing. We teach in perfect sync, just tagging each other back and forth without even once misunderstanding, it's sort of mind-blowing. It's actually a little like having two bodies and one brain. In terms of Hapkido, I think it's true. Hyeong-geon has been shouldering a lot of teaching duties (with the 관장님 instructor teaching the most advanced moves and designing the lessons for the day) and his skills are fabulous, he's 3rd dan, now (which is unusually high for his age, but like I said, he started when he was 5). There are 50 minute classes from 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 (not a Hapkido class) and 10:00.
On the actual test I will primarily be working with weapons: cane, belt and staff, although I also have to do a series of moves which are how to counter when someone tries to put you in a lock/hold. I don't like working with any of these weapons (I mostly trained on a different weapon), but I particularly dislike working with the belt. It's not fun for me or Hyeong-geon because almost all belt moves end up with me choking him with the belt. Seriously, I was trying hard to make it look like I was choking him more than I actually was, but still imagine someone practicing four moves that include choking you with a cloth belt (you know, like the belts we wear in martial arts) several hundred times over two days. Not fun for the chokee. I will be executing five belt moves. One is a non-choke move. I will also have to demonstrate all basic kicks and they must be perfect (the idea for the 4th Dan is that you have to be able to teach the basics perfectly, not that you're able to do all the flashy moves). The most advanced sequence I will be required to do is 3 consecutive spinning kicks (done as three spins in one continuous motion) at head height, waist height and knee height. I will have to demonstrate all basic falls, again, perfectly. This includes being able take a running and diving roll over 8 people crouched side to side and being able to do a diving roll over something that is at least the height of my chest. Those aren't the tough falls for me although they are supposed to be the hardest, an easier fall really hurt so much on Wednesday I only practiced it twice. And I will be required, more than likely, to spar. We haven't talked about that yet. I am not as fast as I once was, and haven't sparred seriously in years.
Wednesday we worked from 4 to 11 without a break and I forgot that I had only had some sun chips on the bus for lunch and no dinner at all. Afterwards my instructor, 김유림 Kim Yurim and I went out for 막걸리 makgeolli, and I had to take a taxi back to Georgy and Jinhong's house on the far end of Daegu. 25,000! Thursday I had lunch with long time friend 문정호 Mun Jeongho who quit smoking! I picked up my new glasses (chosen and paid for in December as a present from Karjam) and got to the studio by 4 again. During the 6:30 class when our instructor was leading the students Hyeong-geon and I ran out to the nearest restaurant and had a super fast dinner. We were gone 15 minutes. Otherwise I practiced the whole time until 10, when I left and took the subway back to Georgy and Jinhong's with the former.
I woke up late, but still made it to the bus station and to my Hapkido Studio (한양대 신라 합기도 체육관) by just after 4pm. This is a bit off-topic from my research but I am in 대구 Daegu again practicing Hapkido for a myriad of reasons great and small including
1) It is very hard to find really good instruction in martial arts. Since I've had some of the best instruction ever, I find going other places to be quite unsatisfying. And yes, I've gone plenty of other places. The only other truly good instructor I've found is Jason Tsou (UCLA, Taiji)
2) My Hapkido instructor and I have been working together on my Hapkido skills (except for a couple of years when I tried to find some place more convenient) since 1996, that's a lot of history. To say that he is one of the people I trust most completely in the world is an understatement. He's someone I would and have trusted to speak for me.
Taken on my 관장님's iPhone:
For my Hapkido test, of course, I need a partner. Being a partner for someone who is testing for a high level is not fun. We practice moves again and again, but since 4th Dan takes years to attain, it's not like 1st Dan where you partner someone and they partner you. I throw my partner around but he doesn't throw me around. My partner is 박형건 Bak Hyeong-geon. Hyeong-geon has known me his –entire- life. He started Hapkido when he was 5. That's 5 in Korean age, so really it means 4. From when he was 5 to when he was 10, I was one of his primary instructors. Now he's a full grown high school senior who is 5 centimeters taller than me. Pretty wild to think about that, for both of us. On Wednesday we were joking around and we told one of the classes we were teaching that we were brother and sister and one of the students actually told us that we resembled each other. Koreans say you resemble someone when you spend so much time with someone that you sort of act alike and speak alike and have similar mannerisms.
Photo taken by the instructor on his DSLR:
Teaching with Hyeong-geon (which we did all day on both Wednesday and Thursday, practicing our own stuff between classes and when we could assign an activity and keep an eye on the students while we were practicing) is amazing. We teach in perfect sync, just tagging each other back and forth without even once misunderstanding, it's sort of mind-blowing. It's actually a little like having two bodies and one brain. In terms of Hapkido, I think it's true. Hyeong-geon has been shouldering a lot of teaching duties (with the 관장님 instructor teaching the most advanced moves and designing the lessons for the day) and his skills are fabulous, he's 3rd dan, now (which is unusually high for his age, but like I said, he started when he was 5). There are 50 minute classes from 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 (not a Hapkido class) and 10:00.
On the actual test I will primarily be working with weapons: cane, belt and staff, although I also have to do a series of moves which are how to counter when someone tries to put you in a lock/hold. I don't like working with any of these weapons (I mostly trained on a different weapon), but I particularly dislike working with the belt. It's not fun for me or Hyeong-geon because almost all belt moves end up with me choking him with the belt. Seriously, I was trying hard to make it look like I was choking him more than I actually was, but still imagine someone practicing four moves that include choking you with a cloth belt (you know, like the belts we wear in martial arts) several hundred times over two days. Not fun for the chokee. I will be executing five belt moves. One is a non-choke move. I will also have to demonstrate all basic kicks and they must be perfect (the idea for the 4th Dan is that you have to be able to teach the basics perfectly, not that you're able to do all the flashy moves). The most advanced sequence I will be required to do is 3 consecutive spinning kicks (done as three spins in one continuous motion) at head height, waist height and knee height. I will have to demonstrate all basic falls, again, perfectly. This includes being able take a running and diving roll over 8 people crouched side to side and being able to do a diving roll over something that is at least the height of my chest. Those aren't the tough falls for me although they are supposed to be the hardest, an easier fall really hurt so much on Wednesday I only practiced it twice. And I will be required, more than likely, to spar. We haven't talked about that yet. I am not as fast as I once was, and haven't sparred seriously in years.
Wednesday we worked from 4 to 11 without a break and I forgot that I had only had some sun chips on the bus for lunch and no dinner at all. Afterwards my instructor, 김유림 Kim Yurim and I went out for 막걸리 makgeolli, and I had to take a taxi back to Georgy and Jinhong's house on the far end of Daegu. 25,000! Thursday I had lunch with long time friend 문정호 Mun Jeongho who quit smoking! I picked up my new glasses (chosen and paid for in December as a present from Karjam) and got to the studio by 4 again. During the 6:30 class when our instructor was leading the students Hyeong-geon and I ran out to the nearest restaurant and had a super fast dinner. We were gone 15 minutes. Otherwise I practiced the whole time until 10, when I left and took the subway back to Georgy and Jinhong's with the former.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Two More Days of Hapkido
December 9th, 2010
We visited 유미 Yoomi’s dad at his camera shop and he cleaned my sensor for free while I was there (I also picked up some filters and a new strap). It was sad talking to him about what a hit his business has taken from online shopping. Especially considering how much of the online stuff is somewhat or all fake and how often these people later need service on their camera gear and have to pay through the teeth since they don’t get any A/S on online sales…
Then Karjam bought me two new pairs of glasses for my birthday and we went to 합기도 Hapkido.
I met the kid who’ll be my partner for the test, or rather I re-met him. I’ve known him since he was four. Okay, that’s just weird, right? Then some other girls I’ve taught before (who are now 2nd dan) came in and were all excited to see me. I didn’t really remember them, either. Seriously, when you see them and they are tiny and then you see them and they probably have boyfriends, it’s really hard to skip through all the intervening years.
I was there and exercising for five hours, which was about four hours more than my body wanted. I did a lot of falls, including running, leaping and rolling (length and height), kicking practice (I can see what I need to go back and polish, but the cool thing is I only need to do things on my good side, it’s not like I have to do kicks equally well with both legs. Not that there is a large difference, but still, it’s a source of comfort not to have to train hard on both sides. I also was able to work up to full speed on some of the cane and belt techniques, then the 관장님 Gwanjangnim taught me to use the staff some. Why do I have to use these three? The staff will need the most practice of all.
Near the end of the evening I was just sort of sitting and having a rest while I watched the Gwanjangnim teach and I started thinking about how he was teaching and how martial arts are taught in Korea (very successfully, obviously, with large numbers of students) and I started contemplating how and why the traditional arts are taught differently—something I hope to pursue more later on as I write my dissertation.
December 10th, 2010
I went to 합기도 Hapkido again, but my partner had too many final exams to show up, so I mostly worked on the staff by myself (something I could do in Seoul, too, so I felt it was a waste of time). Karjam doesn’t want to go back to Seoul until tomorrow, so that’s what’s happening.
We visited 유미 Yoomi’s dad at his camera shop and he cleaned my sensor for free while I was there (I also picked up some filters and a new strap). It was sad talking to him about what a hit his business has taken from online shopping. Especially considering how much of the online stuff is somewhat or all fake and how often these people later need service on their camera gear and have to pay through the teeth since they don’t get any A/S on online sales…
Then Karjam bought me two new pairs of glasses for my birthday and we went to 합기도 Hapkido.
I met the kid who’ll be my partner for the test, or rather I re-met him. I’ve known him since he was four. Okay, that’s just weird, right? Then some other girls I’ve taught before (who are now 2nd dan) came in and were all excited to see me. I didn’t really remember them, either. Seriously, when you see them and they are tiny and then you see them and they probably have boyfriends, it’s really hard to skip through all the intervening years.
I was there and exercising for five hours, which was about four hours more than my body wanted. I did a lot of falls, including running, leaping and rolling (length and height), kicking practice (I can see what I need to go back and polish, but the cool thing is I only need to do things on my good side, it’s not like I have to do kicks equally well with both legs. Not that there is a large difference, but still, it’s a source of comfort not to have to train hard on both sides. I also was able to work up to full speed on some of the cane and belt techniques, then the 관장님 Gwanjangnim taught me to use the staff some. Why do I have to use these three? The staff will need the most practice of all.
Near the end of the evening I was just sort of sitting and having a rest while I watched the Gwanjangnim teach and I started thinking about how he was teaching and how martial arts are taught in Korea (very successfully, obviously, with large numbers of students) and I started contemplating how and why the traditional arts are taught differently—something I hope to pursue more later on as I write my dissertation.
December 10th, 2010
I went to 합기도 Hapkido again, but my partner had too many final exams to show up, so I mostly worked on the staff by myself (something I could do in Seoul, too, so I felt it was a waste of time). Karjam doesn’t want to go back to Seoul until tomorrow, so that’s what’s happening.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Hapkido in Daegu
December 8th, 2010
Karjam and I woke up this morning and braving fat heavy swirling snowflakes headed to the Express Bus Terminal and then to Daegu. Cell photo as the snow started to fall:
I’m in Daegu preparing for a 합기도 hapkido 단 dan test that I’ll take next March. I actually was supposed to do this test in 2005 or 2006 but it didn’t happen because of all the time I was putting into my MA, so I’ll be doing it in 2011 instead. The 관장님 gwanjangnim/my instructor and I went over a little over half of what I’d be tested on. Since it’s a high level exam it’s pretty rigorous, at least five master instructors will be required to grade my exam, which will (only me, no one else moving around) take 15-20 minutes. I have to test on –everything- basically, because this test means I’m a fully licensed instructor of a rank to open my own 체육관 martial arts training center, not as an assistant, but as the main instructor. Today I reviewed kicks and falls (do you have any idea how long it’s been since I did 회전축방 (flip in the air feet over head and land on your side)? And I started to learn the 지팡이 cane and belt techniques I’ll have to do for the exam as well. Neither cane nor belt has been my favorite weapon/defensive tool in the past—I really have always focused more on 쌍절곤 (laugh if you want to, nunchuks. I never meant to get into that as my weapon, it's just that I’m good at them. Two hands, two sets, very fast).
We had a lovely dinner that 박진홍 Bak Jinhong made us, then Georgy and I went to E-mart because in Daegu they still have the olive oil margarine that Seoul stopped carrying. Check out the E-mart Christmas spirit from this photo from Georgy’s cell phone.
Karjam and I woke up this morning and braving fat heavy swirling snowflakes headed to the Express Bus Terminal and then to Daegu. Cell photo as the snow started to fall:
I’m in Daegu preparing for a 합기도 hapkido 단 dan test that I’ll take next March. I actually was supposed to do this test in 2005 or 2006 but it didn’t happen because of all the time I was putting into my MA, so I’ll be doing it in 2011 instead. The 관장님 gwanjangnim/my instructor and I went over a little over half of what I’d be tested on. Since it’s a high level exam it’s pretty rigorous, at least five master instructors will be required to grade my exam, which will (only me, no one else moving around) take 15-20 minutes. I have to test on –everything- basically, because this test means I’m a fully licensed instructor of a rank to open my own 체육관 martial arts training center, not as an assistant, but as the main instructor. Today I reviewed kicks and falls (do you have any idea how long it’s been since I did 회전축방 (flip in the air feet over head and land on your side)? And I started to learn the 지팡이 cane and belt techniques I’ll have to do for the exam as well. Neither cane nor belt has been my favorite weapon/defensive tool in the past—I really have always focused more on 쌍절곤 (laugh if you want to, nunchuks. I never meant to get into that as my weapon, it's just that I’m good at them. Two hands, two sets, very fast).
We had a lovely dinner that 박진홍 Bak Jinhong made us, then Georgy and I went to E-mart because in Daegu they still have the olive oil margarine that Seoul stopped carrying. Check out the E-mart Christmas spirit from this photo from Georgy’s cell phone.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Second Housewarming Party
September 17th, 2010
I went to the Korean language grad seminar on life in the 조선 Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) in the morning, met Karjam, had lunch, went to E-mart, came home and that’s about it (except for computer work and such).
September 18th, 2010
Went to the 아현시장 Ahyeon traditional outdoor style market for some ingredients, 김치 kimchi and other good stuffs, came home and prepped some food. Then I went to meet my 합기도 관장님 Hapkido instructor from 대구Daegu, 김유림 Kim Yurim, who was up in Seoul for the day and had a really great talk. We met at Hanyang University, decorated with protest signs but, as you can still see, built on a Western university model.
After that I rushed home and finished cooking shortly after three of my guests and before the final guest arrived for my second sort of house-warming. These were all friends I’d met at 임실필봉농악전수관 Imshil Pilbong Nongak Training Center last summer. It’s hard to mix Koreans of age, educational and class backgrounds, so I didn’t bother, plus our house is too small. Our guests were 최유미 Choi Yumi, 윤원로 Yun Wonno, 권은정 (도령) Gweon Eunjeong, and 양은석 Yang Eunseok. They all know each other, but the first three are members of 개전연 and Eunseok is not.
I wish I’d taken a photo of the amazing feast I made them (I may get some off FB from Wonno later). I made several 반찬 banchan (side dishes) from scratch, soup, kimchi and tuna to go with rice. It all came out well and was a big hit, But enough was left (and enough exclamations of being stuffed were voiced) that I don’t worry I underfed my guests. I did much better than for the previous party, partially because I prepped earlier and partially because I didn’t try to make a dish I wasn’t highly familiar with. After we ate we had fun with music- Karjam sang as did everyone else, and Yang Eunseok (who is an excellent singer and works for an arts organization now that he’s done with college) did a solo and taught us all a singing game, too. Everyone, including Karjam, had a great time despite the general lack of English or Chinese or Tibetan amongst our guests (only Wonno speaks English and he’s shy, also it seemed Yumi had studied a little Chinese, but long enough ago to forget a lot).
Photo on Wonno's cell phone of Wonno, Karjam and yours truly.
Photo:
I saw this outfit on the subway on a Japanese girl. She was practically on top of me, so this is the best I could get, I wanted to include the fact that the outfit was shorts that cut off barely past her butt cheeks and was worn over black tights, and the outlandish make-up, but this was the best photo I could take. It's like Madonna in 1985, but without the skin.
I went to the Korean language grad seminar on life in the 조선 Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) in the morning, met Karjam, had lunch, went to E-mart, came home and that’s about it (except for computer work and such).
September 18th, 2010
Went to the 아현시장 Ahyeon traditional outdoor style market for some ingredients, 김치 kimchi and other good stuffs, came home and prepped some food. Then I went to meet my 합기도 관장님 Hapkido instructor from 대구Daegu, 김유림 Kim Yurim, who was up in Seoul for the day and had a really great talk. We met at Hanyang University, decorated with protest signs but, as you can still see, built on a Western university model.
After that I rushed home and finished cooking shortly after three of my guests and before the final guest arrived for my second sort of house-warming. These were all friends I’d met at 임실필봉농악전수관 Imshil Pilbong Nongak Training Center last summer. It’s hard to mix Koreans of age, educational and class backgrounds, so I didn’t bother, plus our house is too small. Our guests were 최유미 Choi Yumi, 윤원로 Yun Wonno, 권은정 (도령) Gweon Eunjeong, and 양은석 Yang Eunseok. They all know each other, but the first three are members of 개전연 and Eunseok is not.
I wish I’d taken a photo of the amazing feast I made them (I may get some off FB from Wonno later). I made several 반찬 banchan (side dishes) from scratch, soup, kimchi and tuna to go with rice. It all came out well and was a big hit, But enough was left (and enough exclamations of being stuffed were voiced) that I don’t worry I underfed my guests. I did much better than for the previous party, partially because I prepped earlier and partially because I didn’t try to make a dish I wasn’t highly familiar with. After we ate we had fun with music- Karjam sang as did everyone else, and Yang Eunseok (who is an excellent singer and works for an arts organization now that he’s done with college) did a solo and taught us all a singing game, too. Everyone, including Karjam, had a great time despite the general lack of English or Chinese or Tibetan amongst our guests (only Wonno speaks English and he’s shy, also it seemed Yumi had studied a little Chinese, but long enough ago to forget a lot).
Photo on Wonno's cell phone of Wonno, Karjam and yours truly.
Photo:
I saw this outfit on the subway on a Japanese girl. She was practically on top of me, so this is the best I could get, I wanted to include the fact that the outfit was shorts that cut off barely past her butt cheeks and was worn over black tights, and the outlandish make-up, but this was the best photo I could take. It's like Madonna in 1985, but without the skin.
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