Korean Job Discussion Forums

[*wanderlust*]

I am a petite female (5'3", 120 pounds) who just competed in my first 10k race and am training for a half marathon. I'm interested in incorporating martial arts in my training to increase my strength and become more physically confident (in terms of the ability to defend myself, not the way I look).

I have no interest in fighting, I just want to learn how to defend myself and increase my strength. Can anyone recommend a particular style of martial arts that would help me reach these goals that would be available in Korea (Busan)? Thanks in advance!

[Kiwi Tart]

Being a girl and having experience at martial arts studios in Korea, you might want to check out Hapkido. It's has a lot of techniques for self defense, and can give you a great workout with the rolling and other forms. They also do some kicking and punching, which can improve your leg and arm strength in different ways than running does.

Taekwondo doesn't focus as much on practical self defense. It's a fighting-style sport (if you ever tired to use taekwondo in a real fight, you'd look a little silly) but is great for flexibility and leg workouts.

If you can find one, try doing "tuk-kong-mu-sul" A lot of Koreans know it is the "military taekwondo". It's a combination of Taekwondo and Hapkido and some other stuff that they teach in the Korean military. It's a simplified version of the two (sort of) and teaches a more direct style of fighting, but with a general feeling of korean-style martial arts. I got the best workout from that school. I never sparred at the tukkongmusul school, but we did lots of drills and workouts.

In general though, the best thing you can do is try any martial arts school with ADULT classes.They will be later at night. If you go to a class with young kids, I guarantee you will quit in a month. It's boring and not intensive enough for your needs (another reason tukkongmusul is a little better, solely in my opinion, is because they don't function in the same way as taekwondo school.) Anything with less than high school aged kids is going to be "play time" and not fulfilling.

Message me if you want anymore of my nonsense!

[coralreefer_1]

I dont mean to disagree with Kiwi, because Hapkido can be an effective self-defense form, but to get to that point where you could use many of the hapkido techniques in a live encounter (not class practice) would literally takes years.

Many arts like Hapkido, and Aikido, put it out there that they are effective forms for a weaker opponent to be successful over a stronger opponent. This is true to a degree, but having been involved with both Hapkido (Aikido is very similar) I can tell you that is takes a certain amount of strength to perform many of the techniques (It's not as easy as it looks to twist someones wrist when they are resisting)

Tukgongmusul is good also (I studied it for 2 semesters at my former college). It is a great workout, but like Hapkido, many of its defenses are as intricate (in my classes they were more intricate) than the Hapkido defenses, making them that much more difficult for ANYONE to apply under a stressful physical encounter, and even more difficult for someone who is not already fairly strong.

Based on your size, I would say that while the techniques of Hapkido are good, the ability for someone of your size and strength to actually apply them effectively in a real encounter would be difficult at best, and take quite a good amount of time to become proficient at.

I would suggest entertaining the idea of taking a kickboxing class..particularly one where you will get training with knee attacks. Given your body style, this may give you the best option to learn techniques that will not take a lifetime to master that someone of your body style could employ with a decent amount of success.

Just my humble opinion. Good luck with your trainig and let us all know what you decide.

[fermentation]

I'm with coral reefer for the most part. Hapkido can give you a great workout and maybe even self-defense but it can take years to get proficient at it, much less effective against an actual attacker.

Kickboxing/ Muay Thai or boxing are good choices as they teach you how to fight through sparring. They teach you how to think and fight back against someone who is actually trying to smash your face in. This advantage is also a drawback in self-defense. How many women (and even men) are willing to get punched and punch others on a regular basis? There are only 3 women in my entire gym I've seen spar and they are all amateur fighters. However, I bet any would be rapist would regret trying to attack any of them.

In my opinion, the best self-defense for women is brazilian jiujitsu because it can more readily prepare you for rape situations. I've heard of a few cases in the US where female BJJ practioners choked out or broken the arm of a rapist. BJJ provides live sparring and beginners may spar their first week or even first day at most schools. You'll learn quickly how to apply techniques on a resisting opponent. There are a few BJJ schools in Busan, although from what I know, they are mostly MMA oriented.

[bobpeterson1973]

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu vs. Tae Kwon Do - Rener Gracie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azTh9ALwtBs

[shinjin]

+1 for Brazilian jiu-jitsu for pretty much the same reasons fermentation mentioned. I can't think of a martial art that is better suited to combat a rapist. BJJ empasizes hip and leg strength -- two things women have no shortage of -- and will teach you how to fight on your back against larger, stronger opponents. BJJ will also get you cut up. I went from 150 to 170 lbs in two years while dropping a couple of notches on my belt.

Muay thai is also excellent but relies more on power, speed, and coordination, all of which I lack. In spite of the negative things people say about tae kwon do, hapkido, etc, I think you can take something positive from any martial art. Like someone else mentioned, I think the key is finding a gym with a solid instructor and people closer to your age who you're comfortable training with.

That's the one drawback I can see with BJJ. Though you'd be training with adults, there will be few, if any, women to train with. Personally, I love grappling with women but Korean guys definitely get a bit weirded out about it.

I know there is at least one BJJ blackbelt in Busan. If you're interested I can find out where he instructs.

[*wanderlust*]

[shinjin]

I found some information here:

[redaxe]