Green Belt - Blue Belt

Step-By-Step Hapkido Instructions

Green Belt - Straight Wrist Grab

(Assume student is being grabbed on their right wrist by someone’s left hand.)

#1 Inside Release:

• Strike with the Left hand

• Pivot on the Right foot and rotate the hips counter-clockwise

• Keep the Right hand as a fulcrum, while prying your forearm against your partner’s index finger and pretend 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

• Clear

#2 Upward Release: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• The Right hand will travel along the Right side of the head and over the Right shoulder during the release

• Clear

#3 Half Moon: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• 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

• Clear

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. 

Green Advanced - Cross Wrist Grab

(Assume student is being grabbed on their right wrist by someone’s right hand.)

#1 Inside Release: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• Pivot on the Right foot and rotate the hips counter-clockwise 

• Move the Right hand over your partner’s Right wrist

• 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

• Clear

#2 Upward Release: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• Pivot on the Right foot and rotate the hips counter-clockwise  

• 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

• Clear

#3 Half Moon: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• 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

• Drive the Right hand straight towards the ground

• Clear

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. 

Purple Belt - Shoulder Grab

(Assume student is being grabbed on the right shoulder by someone’s left hand.)

#1 Outside Release: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• 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

• Clear

#2 Inside Release: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• 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

• Clear

#3 Cross Release: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• 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

• Clear

Purple Advanced - Front Choke

#1 Arm Drop: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• 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

• Clear

#2 Arm Dive: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• 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

• Clear

#3 Prayer: 

• Strike with the Left hand

• 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

• Clear

Blue Belt - Rear Choke

#1 Arm Drop: 

• Rear Hammerfist with the Right hand

• 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

• Clear

#2 Front Stroke: 

• Rear Hammerfist with the Right hand

• 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

• Clear

#3 Down Under: 

• Rear Hammerfist with the Right hand

• 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

• Clear

 Back To Intermediate Curriculum