Self Defense America of Northern Virginia

Traditional Hapkido and Combat Hapkio explained:

Combat Hapkido is a new, modern style of Hapkido developed by Grandmaster John Pellegrini.  It differs from other Hapkido styles philosophically as well as technically.

The following are a few examples:

• Combat Hapkido is 100% SELF DEFENSE.  There are no forms (Kata/Hyungs)
• All Combat Hapkido kicks are directed to the lower part of the body
• Combat Hapkido does not teach ‘acrobatic kicks.’
• Combat Hapkido employs breakfalls and throws in a very limited manner
• Combat Hapkido does NOT teach ‘traditional’ weapons like joot-do (bamboo sword) or fan.  We teach cane, belt and other self-defense tools
• Combat Hapkido teaches special firearms disarming techniques
• Combat Hapkido contains a complete Ground Grappling program
• Combat Hapkido, because it is flexible, dynamic and eclectic, continues to evolve
• Combat Hapkido is not a sport and cannot be modified nor regulated to be one.  There are no competitions, tournaments or championships

From the “Defensive Arts Review,” Volume 14, Summer/Fall 2006

Read how Combat Hapkido was used in real life situations to save lives!

Charles H. Miller — 54 years old, is a TaeKwonDo instructor and a Blue Belt Combat Hapkido student of Kelvin Miller in Danville, Virginia.  Charles, a high school administrator in Roxboro, North Carolina, recently witnessed a fight break out between two very large students in the hallway.  During the escalation several teachers were also assaulted.  One of the instigators of the fight, already bloodied and in a violent rage, attacked Charles repeatedly but he calmly repelled each attack with a variety of strikes and tapping techniques.  Realizing that he could not get past Charles, the attacker fled up a stairway but was later captured by the police and taken to jail.  Charles Miller states:  “I feel very confident in the Combat Hapkido training.  Its bottom-line effectiveness is far superior to training I have received in earlier years.  Thanks Sabumnim Miller and GMP.”

Mary Hunt is a Combat Hapkido student of Master Hector Jimenez in Red Hook, New York. Mary does part-time security work for the Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie. One night recently, during a performance of a “Hardcore Punk” show, one of the bouncers was attempting to eject an unruly customer when, suddenly, the obnoxious young man started to physically assault him. Mary, who was in a good position to assist, placed the subject in a quick choke-hold which resulted in the man being restrained and escorted out of the building without injury to anyone. Mary credits her Combat Hapkido training for her quick reflexes and controlling skills to successfully manage the incident.

Brady Bostain is a Combat Hapkido student of Rick Tischer in Holt, Michigan. One evening around 6 p.m. this past January, Brady was leaving a restaurant with his two young children. After securing them in the back seat of his car, he started to open his door when he was struck from behind, throwing him onto the seat. As he turned around, he was struck again in his right eye by a fist. Despite this, Brady was able to recover his balance and assume a defensive-stance. The assailant came at him again but this time Brady was able to execute a low side kick to his knee sending him to the ground in pain. Immediately, Brady noticed a second attacker coming at him with kicks and punches. Brady executed a ‘brush-trap’ movement, placed the attacker in a ‘center lock’ breaking his wrist and taking him to the ground. At this point the police arrived on the scene and took control of the assailants. This attack happened in the parking lot of a play-restaurant for children in one of the nicest suburbs of Lansing, the capital city of Michigan. No reason for the attack was determined, although authorities presume that robbery or car jacking was intended. Brady, who was emotionally shaken by the incident, said that all along his main concern had been to protect his children and that he never had to think about the ‘moves,’ they came naturally and instinctively. Brady believes that without self defense skills, he would have been left laying in the parking lot in a pool of blood with the fate of his children in jeopardy. He thanks his instructor and Combat Hapkido for saving him and his children.