About Hapkido-USA Springfield LLC

Established: 2011

Staff Size: 2–10 people

Parking: Parking lot

Reservations/Appointments: Recommended

Most popular offering: Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido, Self-Defense

Pro Tip: Teaching self-defense in a traditional martial-arts environment.

Good for Kids: Yes

Walk-ins Welcome: Yes

While some traditional martial-art schools merely practice patterns or breaking boards, the teachers at Hapkido-USA Springfield LLC buck that trend, focusing purely on the art of self defense in a disciplined, traditional martial-arts environment. "We teach...elements of boxing, kickboxing, ground defense, joint locks, throwing and pinning techniques," says the owner.

Making sure that burgeoning martial artists learned such useful techniques is the very thing that drew him to teaching in the first place, and it remains his favorite part of his job. "[I like] watching students grow in their knowledge and confidence," he says. "In hapkido, people get the increase in self-confidence with a realistic expectation of their self-defense skills."