How to Block a Punch the Hapkido Way

Blocking a punch is a vital skill for anyone who wants to be efficient in self-defense. The goal is to reduce the force of the punch, deflect the punch or to completely stop it from reaching you. To block a punch, there are a few key steps to keep in mind. The first step is to stay aware of your distance from the attacker and the environment. Be aware of your surroundings, the surface you are standing on, and be aware of any other possible hidden potential threats. This includes noticing any aggressive or awkward body language from your opponent. If you have developed a high level of attunement from meditation and sparring, you can sense a punch coming before it is even thrown. If you can sense a punch coming, you will be better prepared to block it.

The second step is to get into a defensive stance and secure the most advantageous defensive position. This means bending your knees, bringing your fists up to your face, and slightly bending your arms. Your elbows should be tucked in close to your body, and your chin should be tucked down. This gives you better mobility, more protection, and more control over your legs, arms, and fists.

The third step is to use your lead arm and hand to block most punches, they are stronger for defense and not as strong for offence. Your rear arm and hand are usually not as strong for defense but are much stronger for offense, so it is better suited to absorb the force of the punch and delivering a powerful counterattack. When blocking, your arm should be in a slightly bent position, with your palm usually facing the punch. Make sure to keep your arm firm and close to your body, and not too far away from it. Be sure to bring it right back to its original position in a spring like motion unless it’s being used to follow through with a responding attack.

How to Make a Fist the Hapkido Way

At the World Martial Arts Center, one of the first of the five basic hand skills a beginner learns is how to make a fist. This is something that is not a priority in many martial arts schools that emphasize martial sports rather than real martial arts. In martial sports all the hand strikes are done with gloves and hands are usually wrapped, most students are not trained or accustomed to punching with a bare hand. Because real martial arts is about dealing with real assaults, there is a greater emphasis on developing proper hand positions in order to perform combat effective strikes that don’t require an equal weight class as in martial sports.

Making a fist is a simple but important thing to know. It is used in many different martial arts for self-defense, and even in everyday life. The following steps will help you make a proper fist and maximize your power when punching.

First, tuck your thumb into the side of your hand. This will protect your thumb from being injured, as it is very delicate and susceptible to breaking. Then, curl your remaining four fingers towards your palm. Put pressure on your four fingers to ensure that they are curved, and that your hand is making a tight ball.

You may want to lightly clench your fist to further secure the tightness of your fist. Next, extend your wrist forward, ensuring that your forearm and wrist are straight. This will help you generate more power when throwing a punch. Keeping your wrist extended and not bent will also help you avoid any injuries to your wrist or forearm.

Finally, make sure that your knuckles are in the proper position. All four knuckles should be in a line and in contact with the surface of the object you are punching. Make sure that your fist is in contact with the target and that your arm is straight. This will help you generate maximum force and prevent any injuries.

By following these steps, you can make a proper fist and maximize your power when punching. Making a fist may seem like an easy task, but it is important to make sure you are doing it correctly to ensure you are safe and to maximize your power when needed.

Learning The Front Kick The Hapkido Way

The basic front kick is one of the five basic kicks you learn as a beginner in Hapkido & Taekwondo. It has many therapeutic benefits for lower back & sacrum, hips, brain & Neurological health. The front kick is an essential martial arts technique for self-defense and many combat sports. It’s one of the few kicks that can be safely practiced and learned at almost any age. Learning the correct form and execution is the key to mastering this powerful move. For the best results, it’s important to break down the front kick into its basic five components: stance, chamber, extension, re-chambering, and foot placement. Practice in a progressive, step-by-step manner.

At the World Martial arts Center new students often begin by learning the proper stance. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your dominant foot slightly forward. Make sure your weight is evenly distributed between both feet. Next, practice the kick itself. 1- Start by chambering, (bringing your rear knee up and toward your chest). 2- Then, extend your leg foot forward, pushing the ball of your foot toward your target. Make sure to keep your toes pulled back with your instep pointed with your foot braced for impact. 3-  After making contact with the target, retract your leg and foot back into the original chamber position. 4-Then you place your foot down either back behind you in the original position or you place it in front of you.

You can practice in a four-count set: 1-2-3-4 as listed above. Then a three count set:1 chamber,2- extended and back to chamber, 3- place foot back on ground.  Two count set: 1- Chamber, extension and back to chamber, 2- placing foot back down in stance.  Then work your way down to single count sets where you do all four parts in one count.

 After that you can move on to alternating sides and then moving forward and backwards.

As you practice, focus on getting the right timing and speed with coordination of your breath. Always exhale as you start your kick. Next, you’ll want to practice striking with the front kick. Start by standing in front of a padded surface, such as a punching bag, and practice kicking it with your foot using only 20-30% of your power. Your flow is far more important than your force, speed and flow are the real secrets to a powerful front kick, first you must master flow. Focus on your form and technique, and make sure to strike with the front ball of your foot. Once you’ve mastered the basic form, you can move onto combinations and drills. For example, you can practice alternating between the front kick and a forward knee or other hand skills in combination with the front kick.

There are several different front kicks in Hapkido, Front snap kick, front thrust kick, front heal kick, front spear kick, front pointed kick, front instep kick, front pressing kick front skipping kick, and jump front kick.

There are five safety rules you must follow when learning the basic front kick

1-    Never kick too high.

2-    Never kick too fast.

3-    Never Strain or force your kick.

4-    Always stretch and warm up first.

5-    Always make sure you have enough room to safely practice.

Remember all great skills take time, faith, and consistency.