[part 1] Before Christmas I surveyed some of Chang’s Hapkido Academy (CHA) black belts to discover what keeps them coming back after achieving their black belt. I’ve received over a dozen responses now from black belts across four of our schools, which gives me quite a bit of data to start noticing various recurring themes. [...]
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Training beyond black belt (part two)
By Ms Parlour on January 30, 2012 in Black belt, Learning in martial arts, Martial arts etiquette and discipline, Mental training for martial arts, Motivation for training
Training beyond black belt (part one)
By Ms Parlour on January 9, 2012 in Black belt, Learning in martial arts, Mental training for martial arts, Motivation for training
To achieve a black belt in Hapkido requires many years of practice. Practicing anything long term requires energy, passion and commitment. But like anything else, our ability to perform a technique effectively will eventually decay – that’s why continued practice, even after achieving black belt is essential if we want to maintain and hopefully improve [...]
Mentally tough Hapkido.
By Ms Parlour on December 5, 2011 in Martial arts etiquette and discipline, Mental training for martial arts
There are three factors that will influence our sporting ability: our fitness, technical skills and mental skills. Many people spend loads of time on the first two, but neglect number three. In sport however, an athlete’s mental toughness is a strong predictor of their success. So what is mental toughness? A study by Jones et. [...]
Believing it to be so.
The Guardian newspaper recently reported on a study done by Charles Lee at the University of Virginia. He took 41 undergraduates who had previous golf experience and enthusiasm for the sport, and randomly split them into two groups. The first was the control; the second group were told that the putter they had been given [...]
Experiencing Hapkido.
I like the occasional cappuccino; I frequent a few cafes, but there is definitely one that I prefer. If you asked me why this cappuccino in particular, I’m not sure that I could answer you. Strong, but not too strong, the milk is creamy but not sickly the froth is light, but doesn’t evaporate… The [...]
From stress to personality trait.
I read somewhere that 70% of people who show up at hospital have a stress related disorder. That’s huge – our stress level is something we should take notice of! One could say that stress is our reaction to the outside world. To have a reaction is natural, it’s human. But if our emotional reaction [...]
Changing ourselves first.
By Ms Parlour on November 8, 2011 in Ki Meditation, Martial arts etiquette and discipline, Martial arts myths, legends and stories, Mental training for martial arts
Students often tell me that as they progress in Hapkido other parts of their lives also seems to move forward, to improve… like somehow things are linked… The following is an epitaph from an anonymous Anglican bishop who was buried in the crypt of Westminster Abbey in A.D. 1100. I think it speaks for itself… [...]
What happens on the mat…
What is the single biggest factor that will affect your Hapkido? Your mind. If you are upset, carried away, scattered, preoccupied…your Hapkido will be poor. If you are relaxed, focused, attentive, calm…your Hapkido will be good and your ki will flow fluently. One could say that Hapkido is a microcosm of what is happening in [...]
Special conditions.
I read a definition of meditation a few years ago. “To see our original nature and not become confused”. I’ve always loved that quote. In our Hapkido training, and meditation practice, Master Chang often says that we should, ‘surrender our ego’. So we could say that our Hapkido training and meditation practice is about letting [...]
Boredom vs. concentration in sparring.
Recently, a lower belt student told me that when he spars with more junior belts he is often afraid of hitting them. He also disclosed that he gets bored sparring with the junior or less ‘able’ students. My response to this lower belt was, “If you are worried about hitting the junior belt then either [...]