Going to Korea

mystakidis · Newbie Joined: Oct 20, 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Hapkido

Hi all,

just letting you guys know - I'll be heading to Korea next week for a week or so of training.

I'm intending to pick up some extra uniforms and associated paraphernalia while I'm there.

If anyone is interested in me potentially getting something extra for them, please put your requests on this page.

I can't promise anything, but I will do my best to help out.

Cheers,

Paul Mystakidis

Ps. I'll try to put something up about my trip once I'm back - if anyone is interested.

dmarie · Newbie Joined: Jul 13, 2009 Posts: 59

Paul - I am interested in your training - please keep us informed of your training - photos would be good too. Good luck.
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Daniel Marie
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Moodo_seeker · Newbie Joined: Jan 05, 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Glebe

Paul enjoy your training! and would be delighted if you can share your experience.

Good Luck!

dmarie · Newbie Joined: Jul 13, 2009 Posts: 59

I just received a text message from Paul - he is sitting in Master Kang's office (Gong Kwon Yusul) waiting for class to finish. He said it was quite easy to get around and found Master Kang's dojang without any problems.
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Daniel Marie
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mystakidis · Newbie Joined: Oct 20, 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Hapkido

March 15 (tuesday)

So getting to Seoul was very easy. 10.5 hours on the plane, no issues at all.

Took bus 6002 from the airport directly to Shindang station ($9).

Found Gongkwong Yusul Gym (Master Kang) using iphone and a few helpful passersby.

Master Kangwas very helpful - showed me to local hotel ($35/night) where I have everything I need.

Got to train 9pm class - went for an hour. Some basic kicking drills with some different combinations.

Did some grappling and stand up sparring.

Intensity wasn't too hard - but that was probably a good thing after a fairly long day.

Many many thanks to Master Daniel Maree for his contacts and help! So far made everything very easy.

Plans for 16th: Train twice with Master Kang and go to dinner with him.

later in the week: visit the DMZ Smile

Will update.

Paul

mystakidis · Newbie Joined: Oct 20, 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Hapkido

Wed 16th:

Well, since I'm up nice and early, reaping the rewards of last nights chilli foolhardiness, I thought I might as well tell you about yesterday:

I woke up around 8, got ready and left my hotel in search of brekky. Had a streetside omlette - pretty tasty!

Caught subway to 'city hall' ($1) and went for a stroll. Saw some sights, climbed a local hill.

Walked until I found tourist office with free Internet and helpful people. Found bjj club and spoke to John Frankl about coming in for a class. Got directions etc.

Came across the World Hapkido Federation on the way home by chance. They lent me a uniform and I joined their 5pm class ($10).

After the obligatory warm-up, they took me through their white belt self defence. Similar but different: you step in for most moves and let your elbow stay back. Once in, you then apply the move.

When they saw my falling, I was taken aside and told that although it was an ok roll for a 'cat', it wasn't any good for long falling (cats go up apparently). I was then shown a different way to practice the move. Took some unlearning on my behalf!

Went to Master Kang's at 7 for class. Used a training danbon to spar - hadn't done that before but was pretty fun. Had to be quick etc. To score you had to hit your opponents head, wrists or leg.

Instead of the 9 o'clock class, Master Kang graciously took me to dinner. I didn't understand much of what everyone was talking about, but there was plenty of tasty (and very hot) food, which I had my fair share of. We talked about jobs, travel and movies.

Plans for today: bjj in morning, 'personal experience' in hapkido after lunch (organised once again by Master Kang) and Gongkwon Yusul at night.

dmarie · Newbie Joined: Jul 13, 2009 Posts: 59

Wow - sounds like you are having a ball - glad to see you are grabbing the experience with both hands - keep the updates coming - it is great reading!!
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Daniel Marie
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Talej · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:28 pm Post subject:

This is awesome - It's exactly the kind of stuff I felt we missed out on when we passed through South Korea in September last year. Getting me excited to go back..

Keep the excellent updates coming.

mystakidis · Newbie Joined: Oct 20, 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Hapkido

Ok, so quick update while I eat my combination pizza in a very yellow restaurant.

Firstly, thanks for the encouragement- makes me want to update more often!

This morning caught subway to Sinchon ($1) to do some bjj. These guys were the real deal. After a series of unfamilar warm up drills, we did some solid technique.

Class went for 1 hour 20 mins, and consisted of 4 white belts, 1 blue and 2 purples. I sparred all the coloured belts and had a great time of it. Definitley recommend the place for those keen.

Took the subway to Banghak ($2) for my meeting with a hapkido specialist (no details yet)

Will let you know.

Ps- pizza pretty good ($5)

Moodo_seeker · Newbie Joined: Jan 05, 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Glebe

Mate I'm happy you are enjoying the training keep us updated.

Your experiece is encouraging me to make my own trip one day.

Cheers!
Gana

mystakidis · Newbie Joined: Oct 20, 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Hapkido

Thursday 18th - cont.

Well - warning first up - I'm going to have to gush a bit. It happened a day ago now but I'm still really pumped by it:

The 'personal experience' in Hapkido was just that. I basically got a one-on-one lesson with a genuine Hapkido master. He asked me to show him some of the self defence techniques I had learnt up until now in order to gauge my ability. He then took me through a series of hand and wrist techniques that I not only really enjoyed, but really felt that they would work. My only hope is that I can remember some of them.

Halfway through the lesson, Master Kang did me the honour of a surprise visit. He did some translating for me and helped to refine the things I was learning. Afterwards they took me to lunch.

I believe that the Masters name was Byeon Young Dae, but I will have to confirm that. I intend to put up all the contact details of the people I have met (with their and Master Daniel Maree's permission) when I return home.

All in all a very excellent personal training in Hapkido ($20).

Master Kang took me back to his dojang and I was able to train both sessions. Little bit more physical. Did kick/punching drills, arm bar drills, leg lock drills. Second lesson had take downs, leg throws and flying arm bar drill as well as contact sparring. 100 dipping push ups to finish (where you dip through the full range of motion, head pointed down and then swinging up - if that makes sense?)

Today (Friday 19th) went to DMZ. A MUST for those interested in world politics - very good, but details not for a Hapkido forum.

Plans: 2 x training with Master Kang tonight. Maybe taekwondo demo tomorrow, weather dependant?

Also, have lots of fun for those going to camp. Wish I could be there!

dmarie · Newbie Joined: Jul 13, 2009 Posts: 59

I am sure many of us are wishing we were there - as well as here of course!
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Daniel Marie
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mystakidis · Newbie Joined: Oct 20, 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Hapkido

Friday arvo/night 19th:

Final training at Master Kangs went well. We trained pretty hard- the first hour we worked on falls. As there were only three people in the class, we got some really personalized instruction! Did some high (at least 1.5m IMO) cat roll and some turning side fall.

2nd class we did some take downs, kicking drills and a bit of ground work. 100 crunches to finish. Master Kang said some kind words about my stay and made me feel very welcome. I gave their club some AHA t-shirts and key rings as a present. I mention this only because if you guys are intending to travel here at some point, bring as many gifts as you can: they go down very well!

Saturday 20th:

Went with a student of Master Kangs to the Taekwondo HQ (Kukkiwon?) and saw part of black belt (3rd degree) grading. Went back across town to the war memorial- they have a dojang behind the main building and we did a two hour lesson there. (free) Lots of kicking (as one might imagine), some sparring drills and finally sone sparring. The whole lesson was set to booming Korean pop music.

So that's pretty much my Korean martial arts adventure. Thanks for tuning in. I'll see if I can get some photos up from the trip, but that won't be for a few weeks.

One more thing- I will try to do some training in Europe too: particularly in Frankfurt with Lee Jong Seo. If this eventuates, I'll be sure to let you know.

Good luck with your training and I'll see you guys soon on the mats!

Paul

dmarie · Newbie Joined: Jul 13, 2009 Posts: 59

Thanks Paul - sounds like you had a great experience. I will send an email to Master Kang thanking him for his hospitality.
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Daniel Marie
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mystakidis · Newbie Joined: Oct 20, 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Hapkido

Monday 22nd of march: Frankfurt

So, the good news is we (Chris and I- from Sutherland club) made it to Frankfurt and were able to train with Grossmeister Lee Jong Seo. And what a pleasure it was! We attended hi Taekwondo class, which he changed into a Hapkido class just for our benefit.

The class consisted of a demanding warm up with sparring drills, various exercises and combinations. We then did some take downs, throws and variations on self-defence themes. Grandmaster Lee also gave us some theory on when to use certain moves, along with some practical (and painful on my behalf) demonstrations of what he meant. To end the class, he selected pairs to spar each other while the rest of us watched on.

The sparring was pretty full on, with contact to body, take downs, throws and groundwork all mixed in together. For the final spar, It was Chris vs. Grandmaster Lee's son. It was a great match, with Chris getting in a good take-down and demonstrated good control on the ground.

Afterwards, we were treated to a fantastic dinner and many interesting stories. If any of you are ever in Germany, I thoroughly recommend you stop in for some great training and a very warm welcome!l

Chris and I were able to organise a private training session for next week. Needless to say, we're very excited!