Fighty McGee

Stay out of the PJs.

What are your standards for "bad" areas? With the exception of a few very posh neighborhoods, there is a lot of crime throughout Chicago. As a general rule of thumb, the South Side and the West Side are the most economically depressed areas.
I used to study Hapkido and BJJ with Master Gary Keller http://www.kellersmartialarts.com/
Yes, I know he teaches kids and has aerobic kickboxing. This is to pay the bills. He also trains some really decent circuit fighters, and has a realistic approach to training and sparring. It's a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere,and he is a hell of a nice guy (and very talented). He is a legitimate master of Hapkido, and trained under my former Hapkido GM (and broke off to form his own school, not affiliated with the former GM, due to typical money-mania on the GM's part), and has visiting BJJ teachers consult on the ground fighting curriculum. His fighters train with the rest of the mortals as well as in their own class: "Fight Club"

This was my favorite school in Chicago.

Two more winners of the Chicago Challenge

Steve Rivera (top) and Kyle Hensgen (bottom)
Each fight lasted about 30secs.

Fighty McGee

Jeez, I'm sure feeling bitter now... http://hapkido.ws/mawfeature.html
Yet another example of a total lack of ethics on Hyun's part.

Crim, go with Keller if you want a good, no B.S. place to work out!

miguksaram 08-21-2003, 11:35 AM

WOW!! I didn't know that. My instructor always spoke highly of him and my instructor is the total opposite of how
you are describing GM Hyun. When I was out of a job and I told him that I couldn't train because of money
problems. His first words were "Is that the excuse you are using for not showing up?" I told him yes, and he said if
I ever used that excuse again, then don't bother to show up anymore. He told me to start paying once I have my
job, but until show up and train. He is a great guy. When did you study there?

Fighty McGee08-21-2003,12:41 PM

1994-99. During which time it went from Hyun selling 6 months contracts to him giving the hard sell on year and
multi-year contracts, and him joining several promotion groups and hosting (required) seminars by disreputable
MA promoters. Hyun has a serious greed problem. He sponsored one Korean Master in particular. Kirn, and
worked him like an indentured servant from early morning 'til late at night, housing him in an apartment above
the Dojang. Master Kim eventually went nuts and started being really sadistic to the students. I have seen him KO
people, and he would often strike me with great force as well. There were many nights of ice on the limbs from
some of his more-than-enthusiastic joint destruction demonstrations. He went from a being friend to an antagonist
due to his slavery to Hyun. When he tried to remove my eye with his thumb, because I countered a technique of
his during a drill, I felt it was time to go to a different school. This was 2 damn weeks before my black belt
testing. I was mortified, especially because I was treated as a T.A. and ran warm ups and taught sections of the
class. It was a real betrayal to be intentionally (attempted) crippled by Kim, who I placed a lot of trust in. I just
had to go, even though it cost me my black belt. Hyun insisted I buy my way out of my contract. After I informed
him that intentional harm and maiming was a breach of the contract he backed down, but after I went away he
sent it to collections. It wasn't until I sent him and Esq. letter, threatening a damage lawsuit unless he dropped
my contractual debt, that he finally let go of trying to squeeze every last ounce of $ he could out me.

I then trained with Ma Bros. Kuk Sul/Hapkido, who wanted to start me at white belt. Their Kuk Sul method was to
train the entire system right-handed, adn the after mastering it, train it left handed! Aaaagh! I trained with them
for about 3 months, and after determining that I was far advanced of their highest rank students, left, feeling
ripped off and burnt out.

Keller let me keep my rank, and his program was a LOT better than Hyun's (and light years better than Ma Bros').
His training was more realistic and the attitude at the school was relaxed, fun, and MUTUALLY respectful. Plus we
got to do a lot of ground work, which is necessary to be a well rounded MAist IMO. It was a real breath of fresh air
and an experience that I'll always appreciate. I trained with Keller's Martial Arts for about a year, and then moved
out of town. If I were still in Chicago, I would still be happily studying under Master Keller.

miguksaram08-21-2003, 12:48 PM

Did you know GM Yu in the Kuksool HKD? He is also an instructor to my instructor. Oh BTW my HKD instructor is
Mst. Randy Stigal. However, I believe he was with Hyun before '94. I guess people change

Fighty McGee

08-21-2003, 12:52 PM

Nope, I don't know GM Yu.

Ask Master Stigal about Master Keller. They were probably contemporaries at Hyun's in the 1980's.
Whew, Hyun makes me sad.

miguksaram 08-21-2003, 04:09 PM
They do know each other. I met Mst. Keller at a seminar that Mst. Stigall hosted. Mst. Keller is a nice guy.