Question about David Herbert 's Hapkido School in New York City?

**MannyFromNYC** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 1:31am

Hi, My name is Manny and I am a newbie in this forum...I am interested in training at David Herbert's hapkido school here in New York City (www.happykicks.com) and I was wondering if anyone can comment on it....

**Sharkonis** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 7:32am

Originally Posted by MannyFromNYC

Hi, My name is Manny and I am a newbie in this forum...I am interested in training at David Herbert's hapkido school here in New York City (www.happykicks.com) and I was wondering if anyone can comment on it....

Hello, I studied Hapkido for five years, that does not look like Hapkido as I know it, not that its incorrect, it just does not look familiar.

I recommend more research on the instructors back ground and what hyugns he is using.

**kwoww** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 3:18pm

Bizarre. I think my master trains under his grandmaster. I also think he came to one of my TKD school's weekend retreats. The stuff he gave us actually seemed legitimate, but damn does that website look like a McDojo.

**MannyFromNYC** · Posted On: 10/22/2007 7:13pm

Originally Posted by kwoww

Bizarre. I think my master trains under his grandmaster. I also think he came to one of my TKD school's weekend retreats. The stuff he gave us actually seemed legitimate, but damn does that website look like a McDojo.

Heheheh...that's very funny because you made an important point....Boy, I definitely would do something about that website....

**nomamao** · Posted On: 10/29/2007 2:27pm

I'm curious about that vid on the site; there's a lapel grab followed by a no-touch knockdown... or is that just me?

Please correct me, if I'm wrong.

**kwoww** · Posted On: 10/29/2007 8:46pm

Originally Posted by nomamao

I'm curious about that vid on the site; there's a lapel grab followed by a no-touch knockdown... or is that just me?

Please correct me, if I'm wrong.

I'm not poking around on that ocular holocaust. Link me.

**nomamao** · Posted On: 10/30/2007 10:05am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eADpB_zUD5Q

It appears that late in the video we have a guy grabbing the instructor's lapel, and then we have the instructor seemingly go for the eyes, but WAIT... what's that? No touch knockdown? I'm not sure. I know it helps that he's obviously bigger than the dude doing the grab, but... Well, let me know what you think and get back to me.

**hpr** · Posted On: 10/30/2007 10:14am

I'm no expert on Hapkido, but

A) The wheelchair demonstration was pretty wtf.

and B) My advice is that you shouldn't take seriously anyone who talks about Ki/Chi powers with a straight face. That video would make me consider another school.

**nomamao** · Posted On: 10/30/2007 11:20am

Wheelchair = badassery.

**MannyFromNYC** · Posted On: 11/20/2007 8:36pm

There are legitimate questions about his style of Hapkido. I have known about him for a number of years now having first met him back in 1995 when his school was located on 598 Broadway. He was sharing space with a highly regarded master of the Chinese internal arts, David Lin. One of my former instructors, David James, (Vee-Arnis-Jitsu) which you all know especially since his art has been the topic of discussion on this board, did a seminar there awhile back. David Herbert is suppose to have studied under Lil'John Davis of Kumite-Ryu and is a high ranking member of Master Davis' organization. Master Davis just happens to be part of the Vee-Arnis-Jitsu family, having studied under Professor Vee back in the day. For what it's worth, David Herbert once appeared in a martial arts documentary a few years ago with a bunch of other notables and the NY Daily News once listed his school as one of the best in terms of martial arts instruction. I am aware that the school does participate in tournaments and their students have visited Korea, as well.
In 1995, I opted to sign up with VAJ instead and got to know Professor Vee . I regard both Professor Vee and Professor James as my greatest influences.
Going back to David Herbert (he also goes by a Korean name, Yong Ji-in), it was those doubts about his background that convinced me to look elsewhere. I had met Hapkido grandmaster Chang Chinil (the handpicked successor of Choi Yong sul-who is the founder, if you accept his version of the art's origins) who was teaching up in the Bronx, but the school was too far away. I happened to mention GM Chang's name to Master Herbert, but he didn't know who he was which further created more doubts. I even called up the late GM Mike Wollmershauser in an effort to find an affiliated Hapkido school near my area, but other than GM Chang Chinil (who he seemed to have great respect for), there was no one else in NYC. I am still leaning on David Herbert's school, but not because he claims it's Hapkido, but mainly because he's got a flexible schedule (open as early as 6:30am and open 7 days a week up til 11pm) and the techniques generally look effective for self-defense. He could have called the art anything he wanted, but as long as the techniques look like they work, I would still consider signing up.