How to Find Private Hapkido Lessons

Hapkido is a recent addition to martial arts, with its origins in the 1940s and its current form emerging in the late 1960s. Though group lessons are the standard way to learn the basics of Hapkido, private lessons help you hone your skills.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Decide why you want to take private Hapkido lessons and what you hope to gain from them. Knowing your specific goals helps you choose an instructor who is right for you.
2. Check the website Martial Arts Resource for a listing of the major Hapkido organizations and schools worldwide or check Hapkido Korea for individual instructors. If you live near one of the schools or organization headquarters or are willing to travel to take private lessons, you may be able to get lessons with a top master in the art.
3. Visit a martial arts academy in your area that teaches Hapkido and attend a class to get a feel for the instructor's approach. If his approach seems like a good fit, ask him if he teaches privately.
4. Check Craigslist or a similar website with local listings for instructors advertising private Hapkido lessons. Contact the instructors that look promising, asking questions about their teaching experience and who they studied with. Also find out where the lessons are held.
5. Discuss your desire for private lessons with your chosen Hapkido instructor. Let her know your skill level, why you're interested in private lessons and what you hope to gain from them.
6. Take a trial lesson with your chosen instructor. The first lesson is a chance for you and your instructor to see if the private Hapkido lessons can help you accomplish your goals.
7. Commit to a series of regular lessons if you're both satisfied with the first lesson. Though a single private lesson with a Hapkido master may help you polish a specific move, creating a relationship with your instructor leads to progress overall.

Tips & Warnings

• Assess your skill level accurately before you begin searching for private Hapkido lessons. That way, you can convey your level to your potential instructor. It's better to underestimate your skills than overestimate them.