Given that Chang’s Hapkido Academy (UK) moved premises earlier this year, this is an interesting question. Two months after an unexpected loss of our venue, we are pleased to have a full timetable back in action and proudly hang our
Feeling a connection
When a beginner learns a new technique they naturally rely on their five physical senses and try to understand the skill at an intellectual level. They commit to memory what they can see and take pride in being able to explain the
Right now, stress melts away.
It’s unfortunate, but most of us spend a high percentage of our time suffering from stress. Anxious and frazzled, we become distracted, worried and as a consequence, unproductive. We slog away at a problem or task resenting it, wishing we were
Loosening the grip.
Last time I discussed how personal growth within Hapkido training requires that we look within ourselves. With that in mind, I’d like to comment on two important qualities that help us do just that. Developing these qualities will not only
Asking deep questions.
I was recalling a conversation I had with Master Chang a good twenty years ago. I was interviewing him for a martial arts magazine and asked him whether he encourages his Hapkido students to question? He responded, “I assume that
Being the best
Another old story for you… A young man turned up at the school of a famous martial arts instructor. Upon arriving, he told the Master that he wanted to become his student and be the best martial artist in Japan.
The power of deliberate practice
CHA STUDENT BLOG: This month’s blog is written by Chang’s Hapkido Academy student Andrew Kennedy. I work in the investment business and over the past while I have become increasingly interested in something called behavioural finance. It’s a discipline that meets at
Disciplined practice creates positive mental habits.
I’ll be giving a keynote lecture at The Wellcome Trust this Saturday. My lecture will focus on how our actions in the dojang (martial arts training hall) influence how we act in our day-to-day lives. Intellectually we can understand the
Skills, skills, and more skills (part three)
After spending the past few months arguing for (part one) and against (part two) the importance of learning more skills, I’d like to question the relevance of either argument. So why does focusing on more or less skills actually miss
Skills, skills and more skills (part two)
Last month I spoke about how knowing a variety of martial arts skills can be beneficial to your practice (part one). Today I’d like to play devil’s advocate and argue the contrary. So why are more skills a bad thing?