About Us

Training at the BCHC

The Bronx Combat Hapkido Club is located in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx, NY. Our modern style of Hapkido specializes in realistic street self-defense and self-protection for today’s adults

What is “Combat Hapkido?”

John Pellegrinni’s combat-hapkido brainchild is a hybridized version of traditional hapkido, the Korean martial art that is claimed to have descended from Japanese aikijujutsu. He retained many of the strong aikijujutsu self-defense basics that are inherent in hapkido, and by adding new techniques. He created a comprehensive self-defense system that is up-to-date for today’s society. The new self-defense moves found in combat hapkido include defenses against empty-hand assaults, modern knife attacks, gun threats and impact weapons.

The Combat Hapkido Self Defense System is a modern, eclectic style of the Korean Martial Art of Hapkido. Combat Hapkido techniques are practical, realistic and extremely effective. For this reason Combat Hapkido is also referred to as the "Science of Self-Defense." Combat Hapkido is a new interpretation and application of a selected body of Hapkido techniques. The word "Combat" was added to Combat Hapkido to distinguish this system from Traditional Hapkido styles and to identify its focus as Self-Defense.

The style employs joint locks, pressure points, throws, hand strikes, and low-line kicks, and trains practitioners to either counter or preemptively strike an imminent attack to defend one's self. In common with many Hapkido styles, it also emphasizes small circular motion, non-resisting movements, and control of an opponent through force redirection and varied movement and practitioners seek to gain advantage through footwork, distractive striking and body positioning to employ leverage.

As a new student, what will I learn?

The first thing a new student learns is that our concept of self-defense is different than most other martial arts schools. What we do from the very start is introduce the new student to techniques, principles and concepts they may encounter in the streets at the very beginning of their training. This means that a student isn’t limited or locked into by their current belt curriculum, but will have the opportunity to learn some of the higher belt level curriculum as well. This way, the new student sees how it all flows together.

Do I have to be in shape to train in CH?

You don’t have to be in perfect shape to practice to learn CH, but a person should be in good health. This is not an exercise class!!! While you will not train like an Olympic or pro athlete (ex: hundreds of push-ups, sit-ups, running for miles, etc), the exercises, stretches and cardio we do will work up a good sweat and you'll feel good. An important and key factor in self-defense is good health. The better you feel, the easier it is to defend yourself.

I am XXX age. Am I too old to start learning CH?

The great thing about learn and training in CH is that no athletics are involved, so age isn’t a concern. You can start at 30, 40, 50, even 60 years old!!! Unlike most traditional martial arts where you learn katas, traditional weapons, high and acrobatic kicks, jump, falls and throws were it helps to be young and athletic, Combat Hapkido has none of that in its curriculum. There are no katas/hyungs or traditional weapons forms to study and remember. There are no flying, jumping or acrobatic kicks - all kicks are to the waist and lower. There are no high throws and falls to hurt oneself or your training partner. If you’re hurt, you can’t train. All techniques, concept and principles are practical and easy to learn.

Is there any sparring?

There is no sparring in Combat Hapkido. This isn’t a fighting art, but an art of self-defense. You will learn the moves, strikes and concepts of a fighter, but you won’t learn to “fight”. Our objective in a self-defense encounter is to STRIKE FIRST…STRIKE FAST…STRIKE HARD. We are not interested in exchanging blows with an opponent or opponents who may be bigger, stronger or even more skilled. We want to survive an encounter with minimal damage to ourselves and/or love ones. Beginners start off with static drills/training and move on to more advanced dynamic drills as the student progresses.

What expectations should I have of myself ?

It is said “you are what you eat”, so the same applies to your training. What you put into your training is what you will get out of it. If your goal is to simply get a black belt, it would be easier to go to any martial arts store and buy one. But if you’re an adult and serious about your martial arts training/journey and learning to protect yourself, there are some things you need to change:

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