Okay, I will try that last blog again.

Over the weekend, Master Pascal Russello from France came over to give my club a two day seminar on hapkido. He's currently with the Global Hapkido Federation, and is 7th dan (7 levels above black belt) in hapkido and 8th dan (8 levels above black belt) in Jidokwan (trans: school of wisdom, for taekwondo). He's also just an amazing man in general.

When my current master teaches us hapkido, Master Keith Finch, he makes it look easy. He is a strong man, but still manages to make it look effortless despite usually using so much power. I was in awe at his ability to floor even people a lot larger than him. Master Pascal can make it look /even more/ effortless. He is not your stereotypically 'strong' looking man, but the fluidity and grace and tiny movements that he employs often had his demonstration partners on the floor before they knew what had happened. Whilst Master Keith was always shown how to use big movement to floor people in an impressive manner, Master Pascal would use the tiniest, and most ridiculously accurate twists to do whatever he liked with this partner. Simply amazing.

I'd like to point out that neither Master is 'better' than the other, they merely employ different techniques. If the two went head to head, I really don't know who would win. They both have impressive knowledge of taekwondo and hapkido, and are equal opposites in styles. I wouldn't mind watching such a match. ...From a safe distance, of course.

I enjoyed the weekend so much. Usually classes are two, maybe two and a half hours long, but both days consisted of 10am - 12pm, lunch, then 2pm - 5pm of pure hapkido. I didn't think it was that much, since I wasn't as physically tired as with taekwondo, but when I got home on the second day I crashed out. The concentration needed to focus on what we were doing (and the amount of times I was thrown on the floor and had to get immediately back up so I could be thrown again was astounding), and the fact that during the lunch times we'd mess about (sparring, running, using swords + staffs and general fun), meant that when it finally came to the end we'd realise how much we'd actually done.

That fact alone, the idea of not even knowing how tired you are until you stop, is to me the mark of money well spent.

Also, it came to me after the first day, I'm finally beginning to get a better handle on hapkido. It is a very hard martial art to master. Irritating it's taken until green tag to feel this way, but at least I feel it at all. The movements seem to have been commited to muscle memory more, so I don't have to stare at the demonstration in confusion for ten minutes before I realise what the fuck just happened. It helps that now I don't think of 'left foot/hand first, then right', it's more a case of 'whichever hand attacks, move the opposite hand'. This may seem simple, but when you watch someone else doing it and you have to replicate, it gets confusing. Mirror imaging sucks.

Going to leave it there for this one, as in a bit I'd like to write about my failings yesterday. I think if I write them down and try not to take it so personally, I'll get over it quicker and improve. At least I hope.

C'est bien!