Hapkido Tigers

Numerous studies have found that children who study martial arts, and specifically our Academy’s style of martial art, have an increased sense of responsibility, are more reluctant to take foolish risks, are less likely to sucumb to negative peer pressiure and have a greater sense of self-esteem.

This is why many parents - not just in Upper Hutt but from throughout the Greater Wellington area have enrolled their children at our Academy in our Hapkdo Tigers programme to supplement their children’s education. Plus it’s a lot of fun!

  

Tigers Videos


Tigers (7 - 12 years)

"I just wanted to say how much our children enjoy Hapkido. Sophie in particular has gained so much confidence, people have commented on it and I definitely think Hapkido contributed to this. They have gained some very valuable skills."
 
"Our boys have both come a long way. Thank you for all that you have helped them achieve."
 
Next to our Hapkido classes for teens and adults, our Tigers classes is the other main class offered by our Academy and is aimed at Children aged 7 to 12. Children who get involved in our Tigers classes gain many benefits in several areas of life:
 
Fitness - Is a crucial element in our classes. Class warm-ups include jumping jacks, pushups, sit ups and stretches. The movements associated with Hapkido itself develops muscles and the cardiovascular system. This all helps out students in becoming toned, flexible and physically fit.

Self Defence - The ability to defend yourself against an assailant is an empowering feeling. Tigers use a specially adapted version of our core Hapkdo self defence techniques as a cornerstone of its syllabus. With regular practice, our students learn to defend thmesleves in a variety of different ways. However our focus is on learning how to avoid problems altogether.

Self Discipline - Tigers helps instill mental focus in our students giving them the ability to concentrate on a task and see it through to its conclusion. The discipline that is taught in the class in regard to uniforms, customs and techniques often translates into other areas of life, including school work and household chores.

Respect - Martial arts are all about respect. This is also one of the cornerstones of our Tigers training. Students learn to treat other students and people as they themselves wish to be treated. 

Self Confidence - People who are involved in martial arts are generally self-confident about themselves. Working through the Tigers syllabus and our belt ranking system gives our students measurable goals to follow that are realistic to attain. The sense of accomplishment a student feels by mastering a new technique or grading to a new belt is not to be underestimated.

Leadership - Tigers has a strong emphasis on developing the leadership potential of all of our students. We want our students to be able to make their own decisions in life and not be influenced by others - particularly those with negative influences. We also want our students to be positive role models for their peers outside of our Academy. So the higher graded students assist in training the lower graded students. This not only helps them to reinforce what they have already learned but also to develop their own personal leadership skills.     

Tiger classes start with a quick warm up followed by basic drills. Once these are completed the students are taught syllabus martial specific to their grade before finishing with a quick warm down.
 
Our Tigers programme aims to develop the student into a Junior Hapkido Black Belt. There are 8 belt grades to work through on this journey which takes 3 - 4 years to complete. These grades mirror the adult Hapkido grades but the equivalent Tiger belt has a white strip running through it. Each belt grade is broken down into 5 stripes. Each stripe covers an aspect of our training programme. Once a student becomes proficient in a particular aspect for his or her particular grade, a tape stripe is earned and placed on one of the tips of their belt. 
 
The Junior Hapkido Black Belt is a black belt with the student's name embroidered on it in white. It is not a full black belt as even the most talented junior student will have difficulty in dealing with a fully grown adult. However, it rewards the time and effort that a junior student has put into their training. Many of our Junior Black Belt students have been with us for 7 years or more - this is most than half their lifetime! 
 
The Junior Hapkido Black Belt provides an ideal platform to develop the skills to eventually attain an adult Black Belt which we don't normally award to students until they are at least 15 years old.

We currently offer up to 3 Tiger classes per week although most students train twice a week. 

Transition to Teen and Adult Hapkido
 
Regardless of their Tiger grade, we find that most students want to move up to either the Teen or Adult Hapkido claases at around ages 12 - 13. The Teen/Adult Hapkido syllabus is different from the Tigers syllabus although there are a lot of common elements. Through experience we have developed a number of mechanisms that allow students an almost seemless tranistion into their new class. 
 
 
 

 

 

 

Contact Us

p: 021 330 989

e: Callum Forbes


Member of the World Kido Federation and Haminjok Hapkido Association
 
Copyright © 2017 Karapoti Consulting