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We take a Martial Arts for everyone approach. Our most commonly asked questions are on this page. For any other questions, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call and try us out. Our instructors hold QLD Blue Cards, are current in their CPR and First Aid qualifications, and love what they do!
Is Centenary Martial Arts an Asia Pacific Self Defence School?
Yes. Centenary Martial Arts (CMA) is an Asia Pacific Self Defence (APSD) school. As with APSD, it’s Australian owned and operated. The Director and Chief Instructor is a 36 year veteran of the Australian Army and is passionate about Martial Arts and Self-defence. Give us a try. You will find us to be a family school with a local focus.
What is the difference between Muay Thai and Hapkido?
Muay Thai, or literally Thai boxing is a combat sport of Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It’s known as the ‘art of eight limbs’, and is characterised by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins.
Alternatively, Hapkido had its parenthood in the Japanese martial arts and indigenous Korean styles of Taekkyeon Tang Soo Do. Hapkido was developed in the 1960s and employs both long and close-range fighting techniques. It utilises punching, kicking, knee strikes, jumping kicks, elbow strikes, percussive hand strikes at longer ranges, pressure point strikes, percussive hand strikes at longer ranges, pressure point strikes, joint locks and throws at closer fighting and grappling. Considered a combat Martial Art Hapkido is by definition, a Mixed Martial Art.
What is the difference between Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Hapkido?
As a full-contact combat sport, MMA allows striking and grappling, both standing and on the ground, using techniques from various combat sports and martial arts. The first documented use of the term ‘Mixed Martial Arts’ was in a review of the UFC 1 by Television critic Howard Rosenburg in 1993.
Hapkido had its parenthood in Japanese martial arts and indigenous Korean styles of Taekkyeon Tang Soo Do. Developed in the 1960s it employs both long range and close-range fighting techniques. Utilising punching, kicking, knee strikes, jumping kicks, elbow strikes, percussive hand strikes at longer ranges, pressure point strikes, joint locks and throws at closer fighting distances and ground fighting and grappling. Considered a combat Martial Art, Hapkido is by definition, a Mixed Martial Art.
What is the difference between Taekwondo and Hapkido?
Taekwondo (TKD, Tae Kwon Do) and Hapkido are both Korean Martial Arts. Taekwondo (TKD, Tae Kwon Do) had its parenthood in Karate and Chinese Martial Arts, along with the indigenous Korean styles of Taekkyeon, Subak and Gwonbeop. It was developed in the 1940s and 1950s.
Alternatively, Hapkido had its parenthood in Japanese Martial Arts and indigenous Korean styles of Taekkyeon Tang Soo Do. It was developed in the 1960s.
Taekondo (TKD, Tae Kwon Do) is characterised by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques.
Considered a combative Martial Art, Hapkido employs long and close-range fighting techniques. Hapkido utilises jumping kicks and percussive hand strikes at longer ranges, pressure point strikes, joint locks and throws at closer fighting distances and ground fighting and grappling. It is considered a combat Martial Art.
As a combat Martial Art (not a combat sport system) which covers all areas of attack and defence (standing, sitting, lying etc), it’s an excellent and far more versatile Self defence system to learn.
What is the difference between BJJ and Hapkido?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) was developed from Kodokan Judo ground fighting fundamentals that were taught by a number of Japanese individuals, including Taeko Yano, Mitsuyo Maeda, Soshihiro Satake and Isao Okano.
One version of how it developed to be as it is today, is that in 1917, Carlos Gracie watched a demonstration by Mitsuyo Maeda and decided to learn Judo. Gracie was accepted as a student and eventually passed his knowledge to his brothers. His brother, Helio Gracie, further developed Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as a softer, pragmatic adaption from judo that focused on ground fighting.
On the other hand, Hapkido had its parenthood in Japanese Martial Arts and indigenous Korean styles of Taekkyeon Tang Soo Do. Hapkido was developed in Korea, during the 1960s.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a Martial Art and Combat sport system that focuses on grappling with emphasis on ground fighting.
Hapkido employs both long range and close-range fighting techniques, utilising jumping kicks and percussive hand strikes at longer ranges, pressure point strikes, joint locks and throws at closer fighting distances and ground fighting and grappling.
Consequently, Hapkido is considered a combat Martial Art (not a combat sport system) and covers all areas of attack and defence (standing, sitting, lying etc). It is an excellent and far more versatile Self defence system to learn.
Is there an annual membership fee?
No. The weekly fees cover everything, including gradings, grading belts, sports insurance and so on.
Is there a joining fee?
There is NO joining fee if you decide to pay an ongoing weekly fee as described in Option 1 of our regular classes (in price). If you decide to join under option 2 of our regular classes, the joining fee is a one off.
What is included in the joining fee?
If you decide to join us and pay by lesson as described in option 2 of our regular classes (in price), the joining fee will include an initial uniform, free gradings and future belts/certificates, no joining or ongoing annual fees. You will also be covered by our sports insurance.
Can I learn Hapkido without striving to attain a Black Belt?
Not everyone who learns a martial art wants to obtain a Black belt. Hapkido is no different. If you simply want to learn a martial art or self-defence system and think Hapkido may be right for you, but you’re not interested in grading through the belt levels, that’s fine by us. Simply join our lessons and we will teach you all there is to know, without the added pressure of grading.
What fitness level or experience do I need, to be able to learn Hapkido?
There are no minimum fitness levels necessary for Hapkido. Obviously, if a doctor is saying you shouldn’t be training, then you should not train. We have people of all fitness levels, weights, ailments, and ages training with us. In fact, we have people in their late 50s. If you have an injury that stops you doing something, then we will find an alternative technique to learn. Consequently, if you’re considering Hapkido as a martial art or self-defence, don’t let your fitness or fear hold you back. Talk to us and we will find a way for you to train. The sooner you start, the sooner you will get the benefits.
Does Centenary Martial Arts arrange the exams needed to graduate to the next Belt level?
Yes. We have a monthly grading day (usually the first Saturday of each month) and if you are ready to grade, we will encourage you to do so. Remember, gradings, grading belts and certificates are free.
What are the Hapkido Belt colours?
At Centenary Martial Arts, we align our belt colours with the majority of Hapkido schools. Our Teenage syllabus is the same as the adults syllabus. However, we wait until the teenager turns 17 and transitions to the Adult classes, before they progress to Black Belt. We do that to ensure a level of maturity with the more advanced combat techniques. The adult and Teenage syllabus, belt colours are:
White
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Brown
Red
Provisional Black (Red/black)
Black.
The Wallabies and Falcons wear the same colour belts, however, they will never obtain a Black belt! Additionally, as Wallabies progress to the Falcons and the Falcons progress to the Teenage program, they revert to white belt.
Our Wallabies belts are white with a coloured centre stripe. Alternatively, our Falcons belts are the graded colour (ie: yellow) with a white centre stripe