Great Escapes: HapKiDo

The World Martial Arts Center is just a hop, a skip, and a karate kick away from Atlantic Terminal, and it’s a great escape to get in shape and learn self-defense at the same time.

The Center, located at 475 Atlantic Ave. between Third Avenue and Nevins Street in Boerum Hill, specializes in a form of martial art called HapKiDo, a dynamic Korean martial art which employs the techniques of others as well as kicks, punches and striking attacks.

HapKiDo also focuses on weapons defense and attack techniques, including rope, knife, and gun.

The World Martial Arts Center offers extensive training that's perfect for molding an unhealthy body into a lean, mean-but respectful-fighting machine.

Respect, obedience, and fun are major parts of HapKiDo training, so it’s perfect for children too.

The center has specialized programs just for kids, which are meant for creating healthy and happy young minds and bodies.

The “SaBumNim” or master of the school is David Herbert, who has trained with nine of the 20th century’s most renowned Grandmaster and Masters.

His right hand woman is head instructor or “KyoSaNim” Dominick Brioche, a Haiti native who has black belts in multiple forms of martial arts and is a three-time inductee into the Black Belt Hall of Fame.

The center also offers kickboxing lessons from Carol “Kick Fever” Glasgow, a ten-year kickboxing veteran, Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee, and 3rd degree black belt in HapKiDo.

A one-month trial period, including uniform, normally costs $150 for adults and $99 for children—but if you mention this article, the center will chop those prices to $75 for adults and $50 for children.

For more information on the World Martial Arts center, check them out at www.happykicks.com, e-mail them at happykicks.wmac@gmail.com or give them a call at 718-855-9898.