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The Hwarang were an aristocratic warrior group during the Silla dynasty.
Hwarang Do is a Korean martial art with a very implausible history; it's one of those "we were taught in secret by a mysterious monk that nobody else can confirm existed" histories.
The brothers who founded it were Hapkido instructors in South Korea, so there is apparently at least some amount of legit MA background.
I heard Hwa Rang Do is one of the most impressive fighting systems in the world
I think they got tired of the Hapkido politics & Its history is bit odd. I want to say the actual federation was created while they were instructing in the states. (I could be wrong).
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As to the style, it is a curriculum-heavy and traditional art designed to be self-defense focused - remarkably containing techniques that can work against other styles. When I trained the HRD curriculum, each rank contained 1 or 2 short forms, one long form, 8-11 combinations, progressive breakfalls, some measure of judo and anywhere between 28 and 70 techniques per rank. In addition, there is traditional weapons training and paramilitary-style training, grappling and intellectual and physical agility development, pressure point application, rejuvenation.
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There is something in Hwa Rang Do for almost everyone. I have reports of my students fending off attacks successfully against empty-hand attacks as well as knife attacks. I've had a handful of martial artists from different parts of Asia say a HRD blackbelt will win against a TKD blackbelt every time. I don't know about that ... there's a lot to account for in any match.
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A HRD BB winning against any TKD BB any time? I would guess HRD is like HKD in that you must be both fast and accurate, since we move into many attacks. How does HRD make one faster than anyone who studies TKD? If you aren't, you may find some of your techniques getting you to a place you would rather not be. From what I have seen, Aikido is a very good art. Being a student, I know HKD is a very good art. Coming from HKD practitioners, I would assume HRD is also a good art. But on any given day that you take on any other person, no matter their art, you may find someone who is better or faster, or both, or that you are so off your mettle that you are more vulnerable than usual. I'm glad you like your art. No one should study an art they don't think is very good. But over confidence can be dangerous.
Well ... again, I think I typed that while I've heard people SAY this, that I don't know about that, that there are lot of variables to be filled in any fight. I do not type this without humility and I'm certainly not saying my mucky-muck is better than your mucky-muck. I simply said I'm grateful to have learned what I have learned and that the system has worked well for me - yes, even in actual defensive situations. And I am absolutely POSITIVE there are a LOT of people out there who can beat me.
I always hope every martial artist feels this way - not as any kind of paranoia-inducing requirement or anything like that, simply as a humility factor and an inner drive. There are some really great fighters that come out of all systems. As I said - variables.
*** note: apologies for the auto-correct and voice-to-text errors in my previous post ***
Do Joo Nim Joo Bang Lee is obviously quite skilled at Hapkido. The story goes that his family was connected with a monk living secretly in the mountains who had knowledge in older techniques. I think it is widely accepted that some embellishment has been made on the origination story. What it *seems* like is that DJN Lee assembled a lot of joint locking and breaking techniques, some judo, some Taek Kyon (sp?) and weaponry and mashed it into what I and my students fondly call Memory Do and named it after the Hwa Rang warriors.
There is much come stern nation over the origination stories told by DJN Lee. I consider myself in oakton minded skeptic about 80 percent of the story. There are also some very compelling tails to be read very freely on the internet written by a couple of his former black belts.
As to the style, it is a curriculum-heavy and traditional art designed to be self-defense focused - remarkably containing techniques that can work against other styles. When I trained the HRD curriculum, each rank contained 1 or 2 short forms, one long form, 8-11 combinations, progressive breakfalls, some measure of judo and anywhere between 28 and 70 techniques per rank. In addition, there is traditional weapons training and paramilitary-style training, grappling and intellectual and physical agility development, pressure point application, rejuvenation.
There is something in Hwa Rang Do for almost everyone. I have reports of my students fending off attacks successfully against empty-hand attacks as well as knife attacks. I've had a handful of martial artists from different parts of Asia say a HRD blackbelt will win against a TKD blackbelt every time. I don't know about that ... there's a lot to account for in any match.
But I do know that most places I go and witness martial arts training I feel very fortunate to have trained in this style and am very grateful for what it has done for me and for my children.
Since I started, my teacher and his master separated from the World Hwa Rang Do Association. So we don't call what we do HRD anymore.
I have heard the term impressive in relation to my own students. In my very humble opinion, what is impressive to one could be ostentatious or pretentious or frilly to another. I think we have some excellent techniques and some flashy techniques. And whenever I wrestling with a technique and consider dropping it from the required curriculum for my club I find someone who makes it work like a dream. Is it the best out there? There is no best style. There can only be what works well for you. And your work on it should be impressive no matter what style you choose.
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