This is still Friday.

I wanted to catch you all up on the week in training.

Monday we worked on basics and I demonstrated some reasons of why we do what we do. There are always so many questions going through our minds as we do these basics and where does it all lead. Some of them seem so...confusing and useless until you actually have someone attack you in the randori sessions on Friday nights.

Tuesday it was advanced applications of some wrist/arm grabbing and grappling defense. There were definitely some eyes opened up on that night and some great techniques by the students. You guys never cease to amaze me. I am gobsmacked when I realize how fast everyone learns the techniques and how intently everyone pays attention in class. I am humbled.

Wednesday, of course basics night where most of the class ends up being white belts. The advanced stuff can be very confusing if you haven't grasped the basics. No foundation, no house.

Thursday, Sword class. We worked on 7 sword forms and why we do them and what each move means and how to apply them. I saw allot of faces light up when I showed WHY we do what we do. I enjoy that part, the enlightenment of the class. It excites me to teach even more, until sun up. We all have to go home and sleep unfortunately. I know as long as we train, no one really wants to leave. My wife has to get everyone to leave by getting on them using Korean. We all giggle and scurry out the door to our cars. Dreaming about the techniques and having a hard time falling asleep. Hapkido is so exciting!!!

Friday. Students showed up and we worked on basics. I let them go autonomous to see how they would exercise their patience with each other. I laughed inside as I watched them get frustrated with each other and get upset. Frustration intrigues me. It shows me that the students know the technique and mess it up because they try to hard. They do the technique incorrectly and say things like, "Man, I screwed that up!" I say, "Good! You know the technique or you wouldn't know you were doing it wrong. You know the right way to do it in your mind, now take your time and do it as fast as you comfortably can until you build the muscle memory you need to do it fast without thinking. This is reflex training."

They are in a hurry to get good and slow down their training by having to do it over and over again and then work on breaking bad habits. "Do the technique fast, but don't be in a hurry!" I tell them. Take your time. You have your whole life to learn Hapkido. One year goes by so fast and then, BAM, it's gone. You've lost that moment again. Take the teachings and hold them dear to your heart. Let them seep into your spirit. Even if you started Hapkido at 70 years old as some of my students have, you still have the rest of your life. Haste makes waste.