First of all, I would like to say...Hello! I spent a good amount of time browsing the board while my account awaited activation and I have to say that I'm very impressed by the helpful nature and overall knowledge of most users here. I hope to contribute in the future, but for now I just have a rather broad question...
Would it be a good idea and/or productive to learn Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido concurrently?
I'm currently a yellow belt at a TKD (and only TKD) school that teaches WTF style. I love it and my only regret is not having started before I was 25 years old. I don't have much to compare my experience with, but so far I'm impressed with the instructors/masters and the discipline of the students...it's been a great experience in every aspect. Nevertheless, I recently heard about another nearby school that teaches TKD and Hapkido (also Kali/Eskrima...but stick fighting doesn't appeal much to me at this point) and I'm very tempted to switch so that I can cross train in both MA's.
My main reason for wanting to learn TKD and Hapkido is the fact that my TKD instruction thus far has focused almost exclusively on kicks. I have no problem with lots of kicking, but I can't help but feel that I could become a much more well-rounded and effective martial artist if I was able to practice Hapkido as well (e.g., being able to incorporate throws, upper body strikes, locks, etc.).
I'm mainly concerned with biting off more than I can chew. I don't want to be unnecessarily confused by learning both MA's (although TKD and Hapkido are taught at separate times...not literally simultaneously) at the same time and I don't want to diminish my ability to be effective at either.
What do you guys think? Should I stay put at the school that I'm already happy with or take a chance at broadening my horizons?
A lot of it depends on you and your circumstances.
For one, can you physically handle two full MA curriculums simultaneously? Usually, it is best to go to class at least four days a week in one art. Two arts with four classes per week means that, unless one of the dojangs is open on Sunday, you will have at least two days with double classes. Can you handle that?
For another, what kind of time do you have outside of professional and any family commitments? Each art can be a huge commitment in and of itself, and two together will be time consuming. Can you fit in class pretty much every day of the week and still meet your other commitments? If you do not have the time to devote to both the classes and to practice of the techniques, then regardless of anything else, it will not be productive.
Also, since you indicate that HKD woudl be at a different school, can you reasonably afford paying tuition at two schools?
Learning style is another factor. Not everyone can train in two arts with some common but differently executed techniques.
I train in both and teach one. I think that it can be done and
can be done productively. But not
everyone can do so or do so productively.
Usually, I feel that it is best to get a solid footing in one before taking on another. I had many years in taekwondo plus two years in a taekwondo class that had some hapkido derived SD techniques mixed in before I studied hapkido as a separate art. That was me. Some people can study two arts new to them at the same time and will thrive.
Welcome to MT!
Daniel
