Grandmaster Richard Hackworth Leading The Future of Korean Martial Arts by KJN Ronald Stone

Grandmaster Richard Hackworth Leading The Future of Korean Martial Arts by KJN Ronald Stone

What You Are About to Read is the Forward that I wrote for Grand Master Richard Hackworth’s soon to be releases book: “Be A Life Champion: The Martial Arts Way” It is my hope that you will find this information useful on many levels.

FORWARD

I started my martial arts journey in 1970 shortly after my senior year in high school. I had been mugged after a school dance party and felt the need to learn how to defend myself.  Over these last 54 years I have met and studied with many martial artists, both students and instructors. I have practiced extensively in three Korean arts (Hapkido, Tae Kwan do, and Yudo) and have studied for a lesser amount of time in Aikido, Tai chi, and Karate.

The number of instructors both male and female that I have practiced with is too long to list, but I can honestly say that most of them were honorable and dedicated people. As I advanced in rank, and with the advent and growth of social media however, I began to recognize that there are also a few whose rank had been exaggerated or even outright falsified. Honestly I was deeply saddened by this discovery and the ever increasing number of disciples of such pretenders, I should point out here that even though I am ranked as an eight degree black belt I am not a martial artist by profession, nor do I take any recompense for any martial arts teaching or promotion. When I speak or write, it is the truth as I know it, and I have little if anything to gain from my commentary or writings.

In 2002 after moving to a new home in Central Florida and after having practiced for a brief time under someone whose credentials never seemed to bear up under scrutiny, I began searching for a new master. That was when I met Grandmaster Richard Hackworth.

Our first encounter was slightly embarrassing for me.  My daughter (a junior Taekwondo black belt at the time) and I watched one of Grandmaster Hackworth’s classes. While he was occupied at the other end of the school I offered some friendly advice to a young student performing his form. Honestly I was just trying to help a novice. Suddenly a voice behind me said politely. “I don’t mind you helping out, but please don’t give them the wrong information.”

I was stunned. The particular movement I had corrected had been taught and repeated to me in the same way for almost thirty years in many different schools.  When I asked what the problem was I got a college level education in just a few simple words about the true meaning of the form and its applications. Apparently the previous masters had all merely demonstrated techniques without a true explanation of application. In other words it had all been “monkey see monkey do” instruction.

I later learned that Grandmaster Richard Hackworth had not only lived for many years in Korea, but had trained with many of the founders and developers of various styles, and had attended true master courses, seminars and instructional classes there. His explanation convinced me on the spot that this was a man who I must study with.

That meeting was over two decades ago and since then my master has also become not only a friend but an inspiration. While I know for a fact that for every fool there is a sidekick, I was determined to be neither. I verified everything I was told and cross checked my instruction for inconsistencies. So far to date I have found none.

I have been though mutual ups and downs with this man, emotional, financial and physical. We have seen each other at the best and worst of times, but what I have never seen in my instructor is a lack of ethics or integrity. His dedication to his arts, his knowledge of them and his work ethic are in fact legendary.

I was truly honored at the request to write an introduction for a book that I know will soon be essential to any true martial artist’s library.

About the author: R.W. Stone is currently a practicing veterinarian in Central Florida. He is an avid equestrian, a master ranked martial artist, a best-selling western author, and a firearms enthusiast. After joining a martial arts school in 1970 Stone started studying Yudo with a Korean grandmaster. He eventually became a member of the Judo team of the University of Illinois. It was at the University that a Korean classmate and friend introduced him to Tae Kwon do. After graduating veterinary college, he found the martial arts becoming too sports oriented and eventually after moving from Miami to Central Florida he sought out a Hapkido grandmaster. Currently Stone is ranked 8th dan in Haemukwan Hapkido, 4th dan in Daehan Yudo and a second dan in Kukki Taekwondo. He is the Hapkido instructor at the American Dragon Martial Arts Academies.

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