Hapkido as a Police officer

[Mick]

Hi there

My name is Michael Barrass. Up until about 2 years ago I was training in the martial art of Hapkido in Queensland. I miss it very much and hope someday that I am able to return to training under a senior instructor.

In my time training in this great art I attained the rank of 2nd degree black belt under the expert guidance of Daniel Marie. I first started training at the Aquadot swimming center in Sutherland in 1987. For the last two years I have been a Police Officer in the Queensland Police Service and I thoroughly enjoy my new career.

I am not a big man standing only 172cm (5'7") tall and weigh about 82kg. Although the police academy showed me the tecniques that they expect me to use, it was my years training in Hapkido that taught me what really works. Hapkido has always had an answer to any physical situations I have found myself in, and I am a lot further from the level of master than I am from white belt.

I have been in a lot of very volatile situations involving very angry non-compliant people and what continues to surprise me is how easy it is to subdue even the largest of them (being small the element of surprise probably helps).

For me it is comforting to know that although I use only a handful of all my learned tecniques for most confrontations. I can still draw on a bucket load of others if required.

Ask anybody who does martial arts what style they consider to be the best and they will always nominate the style they study (I am yet to hear anybody say they study the second best style). I am grateful that my journey started where it did nearly 23 years ago because Hapkido as taught by the AHA is an effective martial art that will equip you with a solution for any situation.

WANTED : Senior Hapkido instructor wanting to move to South East Queensland. Great weather, huge market and at least one very keen student to kick off with...replies to this forum.

[dmarie]

Hi Michael,

It is great to hear from you and to know you have found a job you can enjoy.

Right from the beginning of your training you were always an exceptional student with great dedication and natural ability. In addition you were always interested in the life lessons offered by Hapkido - quite a rare combination of brawn and brains. You still rank in my mind as a Hapkidoist of great ability with great respect for the art. You often expressed self-doubt about your abilities and I cannot understand where that doubt comes from - but I can see it is there.

I personally think there is already a senior instructor in South-east Queensland - you of course. It is great that your experience in real-life situations has boosted your confidence in Hapkido.

For now I am not aware of any senior instructors planning to make a move to Queensland.

Your last efforts to get Hapkido going again near Brisbane where fantastic and I was really pleased with the growth and quality of the Ipswich club. It is a shame Ipswich had to be closed.

I recommend you establish a little group of 2 or 3 keen students/training partners and just get together once a week and train - just work on what you want to improve.

Apparently there are three stage of learning - being taught - teaching others what you know and writing about what you know. For myself I have learnt 60% of what I know through having to explain it and teach others. I think this is how you will achieve your next level of Hapkido - through teaching others. Of course the AHA can send up instructors every now and then to keep your knowledge "in tune" but the you have to have some core of training and teaching below that to allow you to grow and refine your own Hapkido.

So don't despair. thanks for giving us an update and keeping in touch.

I would be interested in what situations you encountered and what techniques you found worked (and what did not work).

Also merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.
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Daniel Marie
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[dmarie]

Michael has replied to me privately - some of the information is restricted and is not for a public forum such as this - feel free to ask me privately next time we meet - some interesting stuff - in summary - simple is better - and the more you know it - the simpler you can make it.
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Daniel Marie
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[macca]

To Daniel, Michael and the general AHA forum;

I had the pleasure of training with Michael ever so Briefly at his club at Ipswich. Unfortunately, because of family, work and study commitments (and the fact that I live just over an hour from Ipswich).

I thoroughly enjoyed Michael's instruction and have nothing but respect and admiration for his ability, dedication and intensity.

Michael claims as to smaller size never made an impression on me as it was his intensity and focus to hapkido (and his students) that left an indelible mark.

I was glad to hear that he is enjoying a new career with the Queensland Police and I would like to wish the Queensland Police the very best for securing an individual with such high integrity and indominable spirit.

I hope that Michael would consider starting another club (hopefully one closer to Brisbane...) as I know from first hand experience that his ability and experience in Hapkido along with his patience and willingness to teach would be a benefit to anyone who wants to spend quality time learning Hapkido under a skilled individual.