Be in control of yourself

Anyone can injure someone else – you don’t need any training for that! If that’s the students aim then I would recommend they leave and try street fighting.

In Hapkido the aim is to control without injury.
Even in sparring.

Instructors often say that the most dangerous person to spar against is a beginner. Why? Because a beginner is still learning control.

We could discuss control on a physical level (not being too close, when to pull back etc…), but accidents like this are less likely to cause injury. What students learn as they progress is control of themselves on a more emotional or spiritual level – in other words, how do we control our own fears, arrogances, anxieties and so forth.

Actually, as far as sparring goes, how you kick/move will influence how they kick/move – that is a much harder skill to learn.

Lower belts are always clashing – the more advanced have speed and power but never touch – it’s not that they are not close or don’t have intention, but they are in control of themselves.

How has your experience of sparring changed as you have progressed?