White Belt – Gold Advanced
Step-By-Step Hapkido Instructions
(Assume student is being grabbed on their right wrist by someone’s left hand.)
White Belt - Straight Wrist Grab
#1 Inside Release:
Pivot on the Right foot and rotate the hips counter-clockwise
To make the release, keep the Right hand as a fulcrum, while prying your forearm against your partner’s index finger and pretending to strike the back of their forearm with your Right elbow
The Right hand and Right elbow will rotate horizontally, at the level of the grab
#2 Upward Release:
This action is performed just like the inside release, with the exception of the Right hand and Right elbow rotating vertically
The Right hand will travel along the Right side of the head and over the Right shoulder during the release
#3 Half Moon:
Pivot on the Right foot and rotate the hips counter-clockwise
Move the Right hand counter clock-wise, in a small circle, over your partner’s Left wrist with your Right palm facing the ground
To make the release, drive the Right hand straight towards the ground
Note: Each of these releases can be performed with two hands for more power. This is accomplished by clasping the left and right hands together before initiating the release.
Orange Belt - Cross Wrist Grab
(Assume student is being grabbed on their right wrist by someone’s right hand.)
#1 Inside Release:
Pivot on the Right foot and rotate the hips counter-clockwise
Move the Right hand over your partner’s Right wrist
To make the release, pull the Right hand to the towards the Left shoulder while rotating the Right hand and Right elbow horizontally, at the level of the grab.
#2 Upward Release:
Pivot on the Right foot and rotate the hips counter-clockwise
To make the release, keep the Right hand as a fulcrum, while prying your forearm against your partner’s index finger and pretending to strike the back of their forearm with your Right elbow
The Right hand will travel vertically along the Right side of the head and over the Right shoulder during the release
#3 Half Moon:
Pivot on the Left foot and rotate the hips clock-wise
Move the Right hand clockwise, in a small circle, over your partner’s Right wrist with the knife edge of the Right hand facing down
To make the release, drive the Right hand straight towards the ground
Note: Each of these releases can be performed with two hands for more power. This is accomplished by clasping the left and right hands together before initiating the release.
Orange Advanced - Shoulder Grab
(Assume student is being grabbed on the right shoulder by someone’s left hand.)
#1 Outside Release:
Pivot on the Left foot and rotate the hips clock-wise
To make the release, perform an outside block (with the force of a strike) to your partner’s Left wrist
#2 Inside Release:
Step back with the Left leg and pivot counter clock-wise on the Right foot
To make the release, perform an inside block (with the force of a strike) to your partner’s Left wrist
#3 Cross Release:
Pivot on the Left foot and rotate the hips clock-wise
To make the release, strike your Left palm against your partner’s Left wrist
Gold Belt - Front Choke
#1 Arm Drop:
Lift the Right arm straight up over the Right shoulder and pin your partner’s Left hand between your Right shoulder and neck
Step straight back with the Left leg and pivot counter clock-wise with on the Right foot
To make the release, keep the Right arm straight and drop it down, in a circular chopping motion, straight down and in front of you
At the same time, drop your weight by bending both knees
#2 Arm Dive:
Move the Right hand over your partner’s Left forearm with the fingers pointing down directly in front of your face
To make the release, lift the Right elbow as high as you can while pivoting on the Right foot and rotating counter clock-wise
drive the Right hand forcefully down towards the ground while completely extending the Right elbow
#3 Prayer:
Put both hands together, with palms touching and fingers facing straight up while bringing the elbows in together
To make the release, take a small step forward with either foot and forcefully drive both arms straight up to the ceiling while completely extending both elbows
Gold Advanced - Rear Choke
#1 Arm Drop:
Lift the Right arm straight up over the Right shoulder and pin your partner’s Right hand between your Right shoulder and neck
Pick up the Left foot, pivot on the Right foot while rotating clock-wise 180 degrees
To make the release, keep the Right arm straight and drop it down, in a circular chopping motion, straight down at your Right side
At the same time, drop your weight by bending both knees
#2 Front Stroke:
Pivot the torso clock-wise and take the Right hand and place the palm against the inside of your partner’s Right forearm, fingers facing up
To make the release, make as a swimming front stroke
Drive the Right hand straight up while extending the Right elbow up and in front of you in a large circular motion
At the same time, step forward with the Right foot and rotate the body counter clock-wise
During this rotation, the Left hand (or both hands) can be used to push your partner’s Left hand away from your neck, if necessary
#3 Down Under:
Bending the knees and drop straight down, below partner’s shoulder level
To make the release, pivot on the Left foot and rotate clock-wise 180 degrees while ducking under partner’s Left arm
While rotating, always keep your eyes on your partner