Refinement Drills

The following is a list of drills that can be practiced by any student of the martial arts, regardless of discipline. In addition to Hapkido, the origins of some of these drills are derived from Tae Kwon Do, Ju-Jitsu, and Kenpo. Some are rather basic while others are more advanced, however, let this not hinder your advancement or blind you to what skill these drills can invoke. Read, practice, and enjoy…

-Brandon LaGreca

2^nd Dan

· Towel Principle – Execute a straight punch, quickly recovering, only to return with a backfist. Quickly recover this backfist and repeat. With some practice, the backfist should lead right back into the straight punch

Keys: speed, relaxed movements, loose body

· Clock Principle – Arrange multiple targets in a clock pattern. Attack and hit all targets flowing in circular movements. Concentrate on maneuvering your whole body in a way that positions you for the most efficiency in your attack.

Keys: finesse, flow between movements, proper techniques

· Speed Recoil – Slowly throw any hand or leg technique concentrating on a fast and direct recovery. In no time at all you’ll find that normally practiced technique will come out with blinding speed.

Keys: speed, footwork, proper stance

· Suspended Target – Arrange a single target, ranging from a Nerf ball to a wooden board, and strike with any hand or leg technique. Rather than pounding through the target, test how the difference in impact achieved when pulling away from a target. An experienced martial artist can shatter a wooden board with such a technique without ever making the board sway.

Keys: speed, recovery, snap

· Heavy Bag – Suspend a heavy bag and practice unloading a barrage of techniques/multiples concentrating on going through the target. When done correctly, you can observe the heavy bag fold around your technique instead of moving in an uncontrollable sway, a sign that you’re pushing the bag.

Keys: power, proper technique, flow

· Candle Snuffing – Execute any hand technique on a lit candle attempting to snuff it out with the speed and concentration of your hit. This is a more advanced technique and should only be practiced by experienced martial artists who have already undergone extensive hand conditioning. A practitioner of this level of skill should have no fear of burning him/herself.

Keys: speed, snap, proper technique, chi focus

· Defensive/Offensive Variations – Choose any one technique and break it down to its very steps in order to differentiate between a defensive i.e. quick and snappy technique and an offensive i.e. powerful and focused technique. This drill is great for finding new applications to old techniques, invaluable to the martial artist competing in point or tournament sparring.

Keys: application, proper usage of technique, role-playing

· Accuracy/Control Technique – Choose any hitting medium, mark it with specific points, and execute any technique concentrating on accuracy to the marked point and control with the strike. With some practice a quick punch can connect yet barely touch the target.

Keys: control, proper technique, jabbing and spearing techniques

· Footwork – execute various forward, backward, and lateral movements with different stepping techniques at various speeds. Add obstacles for an increase in challenge; practice evading to properly position yourself around the obstacles.

Keys: proper movements, balance, speed, control