Convert to Musado Hapkido
You may have come to a point in your Hapkido experience where you need to grow internally, as a martial artist, rather than just rising through the ranks and feeling empty. If that's the case, you should seriously consider opening a charter school under the International Musado Hapkido Federation banner. If you are looking to join a federation for the first time then I can help you with that process too.
Making the decision to convert can be a difficult struggle. Nevertheless, once you've made your decision you'll feel better about it. Leaving your old federation will be a big step as you consider how this will impact you personally and professionally and how such a move will affect your present student base not to mention your standing in your martial art community. This is understandable and it's normal to feel this way. However, if you are looking to grow as a Hapkidoist and a martial artist but can't because of rigid policies that may be in place in your present federation then there is a place for you in the IMHF.
As you take the next step in the conversion process I will assist your transition in a professional manner. I will provide you with a IMHF Charter School manual that provides you with basic, but essential IMHF policies as well as the training and promotion criteria for each rank and a written description of each technique. The manual will also include IMHF application forms, testing forms, and suggested prices to help you operate a successful studio.
Testing/Certification
There are no videos/DVDs available to sell to the new Charter school owners/operators to visually assist them to learn their new techniques. There are no plans to produce any at this time. I prefer sending you the techniques in written form so that you can add them to your book and use as reference. I strongly believe that the written form is better than the video/DVD format in that you can write notes/draw diagrams in the margins or at the end of each section and you can always have the book readily available to refer to during class - as I always do. It's quite alright to refer to the manual, and your notes, if you're not clear on a technique. This way you won't get it wrong. Videos are good but you may not be able to refer to them as easily as you might your techniques book.
Instructors will be sent their belt techniques sections in packages of three (3), three (3), two (2), and two (2) over the internet. Before schools are sent their next package they will have to submit a DVD, to this headquarter, on which they demonstrate their knowledge of the techniques. This is especially important if there are great distances involved where the charter instructor can't come in and train with the master on a regular basis or have the master come up to their school to teach. While they are perfecting the techniques, charter school instructors are permitted to teach the Musado Hapkido techniques to their students and test their students on a regular basis. Once the instructor's video is viewed at this headquarter an email response will be submitted detailing observations and suggestions on each technique; at this point, the next package will be sent and the process will repeat itself.
Converting Dan certification will be different for each martial artist depending on their martial art background. Typically, if you are already a certified Hapkido Dan holder then the conversion is straightforward. If you are from a different martial art but want to introduce Musado Hapkido to your school to draw more students then you will have to go through a more rigid testing and verification process than a Hapkidoist might expect. It must be realized that not every applicant may be eligible to convert or apply for a charter to teach Musado Hapkido. Every application will be reviewed and considered on its own merits.
IMHF Philosophy for Charter Members
New Charter Members will not be asked to forget anything they learned in their previous martial art or Hapkido Kwan as these remain invaluable lessons taught by very knowledgeable masters. I encourage Charter school owners/head instructors to tap into their own knowledge and experience with the intention of infusing their own personality into the Musado Hapkido techniques they are teaching while adhering to the principles and methodologies of Musado Hapkido. So, there is room for the Charter school member to explore how Musado Hapkido can best serve to protect their students from their own "mean streets" wherever that might be in the world.