whats better? A smaller traditional hapkido school or a larger modern club. Have you tryed both kinds?

Answer 1

I think it depends on your preferred learning style. I've trained at Hap Ki Do schools both large and small and have found good points with each...

Larger schools are great because there's more variety in terms of who you have to train with. Having a larger selection of training partners gives you the ability to work with many different body types (a key thing when practicing your techniques) and seeing different viewpoints regarding certain techniques. On the downside, there's the problem of getting enough attention from your head instructor as opposed to a "higher ranking belt." Larger schools will obviously have this problem since there are more students to deal with. However, as I've stated before, a lot of this is dependant on how you learn.

Smaller schools can be nice because it's a more "intimate" environment. Oftentimes, students at smaller schools have more one-on-one time with the head instructor and can learn in an environment that isn't as "busy" as with a large school. While there isn't as much variety in terms of training partners, I've found that the core group of people you train with at a smaller school tend to be very "tight" and there's usually a great sense of teamwork. Of course, this all depends on the personalities involved.

Remember that whether you choose a large or small school, a lot depends on the way the head instructor runs the school. Look at what kind of rules he/she has set in place and how much they abide by them. Are things pretty laxed in terms of discipline or are they not? Does the head instructor spend more time in his office or is he consistently working with the students? These kinds of questions are also something you should consider, and in my opinion are more important than the school's size...

Answer 2

I also have to agree with Dano, larger classes give you a variety of people to work with, but I prefer the smaller school that my instructor has, we generally have 8 to 10 people in our adult class, because we usually practice the traditional way, and then he lets us use our own creativity to "grow" into the discipline and keep things fresh by studying other techniques in other disciplines, and he gives us feedback on his points of what he sees are wrong or right about what we've brought to the table.

Answer 3

The only thing I could add to dano's answer is:

If you pick the smaller school, find out which class has the most people in it and attend that one for the training variety.

If you pick the larger school, find out which class has the least amount of people in it and attend that one for more personalized training.

Be blessed

Answer 4

I own a small traditional Tae Kwon Do school, so I may be a little biased, but I really think that this is the best way. I want to know my students & I want them to know each other. In a good school you should at least fell that all other students are your friends. In a very good school, you will feel like they are family.

Answer 5

I like larger more because you are exposed to more people and styles. In martial arts, I never think smaller classes is better..... unless you are talking 1 on 1

Answer 6

Dano pretty much layed it out for you. I would rather have a smaller school just because you have more one on one time with the instructor.

Answer 7

large, bigger is better and yes i have