Practicing Aikido, Hapkido, kung fu, etc. at home?

[Serena]

It is hard but not impossable to practice and learn the art of Hapkido at home yourself. I suggest getting as many books on korean arts as you can study from. Many of these are integrated into Hapkido. What you can do is try to go to as many Korean Schools as possable and take thier trial classes which usually last a week. There you can get an instructors instruction on basics and go from there. The important hing in training this way is to learn the principals of the techniques. There you can take these principals and apply them into the things you are learning from the books. Also invest in some videos. This way you can see the correct technique and compare what you are doing with that. There will be much you cant learn but much you can as well. However, there is nothing like training under a qualified instructor of the art. As for the Art of Aikido, I think that would be virtually impossable as you need a Uke and Nage for almost everything.

Jason

Hi, Jason. Welcome to the forum.
I don't know anything about martial arts, so I'll step out now.
Just wanted to say hello. I'm sure you'll enjoy being here.

 

[Amos Stevens]

Welcome Jason to the group-I would say that any martial arts needs to have a good Sensei/instructor guiding you thru whatever you do practice at home-so not only do you procede correctly but safely for yourself & others

 

[manoffaith77]

Well thank you for your warm welcomes. I look forward to developing a friendship with you all and exchanging Ideas with eachother.

Jason

 

[pantera]

hi manoffaith77 and welcome on board.
Thanx for what you said. It gives me hope and good feeling for what i wanna do. Train at home what i learn at the dojo. What works for hapkido should work for judo, karate or aikido.

 

[Littledragon]

Welcome!

It is hard but not impossable to practice and learn the art of Hapkido at home yourself. I suggest getting as many books on korean arts as you can study from. Many of these are integrated into Hapkido. What you can do is try to go to as many Korean Schools as possable and take thier trial classes which usually last a week. There you can get an instructors instruction on basics and go from there. The important hing in training this way is to learn the principals of the techniques. There you can take these principals and apply them into the things you are learning from the books. Also invest in some videos. This way you can see the correct technique and compare what you are doing with that. There will be much you cant learn but much you can as well. However, there is nothing like training under a qualified instructor of the art. As for the Art of Aikido, I think that would be virtually impossable as you need a Uke and Nage for almost everything.

Jason

Welcome to the site!!

 

[markaval]

HI All,

I found this thread really interesting as it reflected a concern I had myself when I first started practicing Aikido. Like Zenlateralus, we all have other commitments and only a finite amount of time to train and practice in any given week. This really frustrated me at first because I could only go to the dojo once a week. How could I remember what was taught the previous week and apply it, and learn new stuff?

I do three things:

1. I use a mental 'video' - when I get back home after my aikido session I sit down and re-run the lesson through in my head. I visualize each part of the technique demonstrated by my instructor and then I put myself in his place. It takes a bit of perseverance but it is a trick well worth sticking with. Once you have acquired this skill you can apply to running through other aspects such as kata. 'Seeing' the technique in your minds eye sort of embeds what you are learning in your head.

2. I shadow train - in other words I imagine a partner. This might sound daft and you might wonder what benefit you can get from this. The only way I can explain it is that I use it as a way to practically apply the mental video technique. I 'see' which arm/wrist/part of the body I want to do the technique on. I find it a great development technique - my aim is to take the smoothness of the technique I use on my shadow partner and translate that into doing the technique in the dojo. I'm still getting there but I am making good progress.

3. I read as much as I can on the subjects and watch as many videos and dvds on the masters, including Stephen Seagal, and see what parts of their techniques I can use and apply.

These are things that I have found invaluable in my short time of learning aikido. Very few people have the luxury of being able to train every day with an uke, so I create my own in my head!

I hope these might generate further discussion or even help someone is some way.

Regards

markaval

 

[Amos Stevens]

Sounds like a good way to train/remember what you're learning Markaval. What about making some book of notes as well?

 

[Serena]

HI All,

I found this thread really interesting as it reflected a concern I had myself when I first started practicing Aikido. Like Zenlateralus, we all have other commitments and only a finite amount of time to train and practice in any given week. This really frustrated me at first because I could only go to the dojo once a week. How could I remember what was taught the previous week and apply it, and learn new stuff?

Hi, Markaval, and welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry that I know nothing of martial arts and can't contribute to this, except to say that actually what you said makes perfect sense and these seem like some great ideas, even to someone ignorant like myself. We do have several members who are quite interested in these topics, though, and I'm sure would like to exchange ideas with you.

I mainly, though, just wanted to say welcome and I hope you enjoy being a member here.

 

[suziwong]

3. I read as much as I can on the subjects and watch as many videos and dvds on the masters, including Stephen Seagal, and see what parts of their techniques I can use and apply.
markaval

Hello Markaval,

Welcome to the Steven Seagal Forum and enjoy.
But can I make a one correction with your permission?

Sensei's name is STEVEN, not Stephen.

Sincerely

suzi

 

[Donald Lee Wilkey]

i practice some aikido movements at home as well as the stretches too. it helps me even though i can't get personal training under steven seagal's direct tutolage at one of his dojos or schools