Lou DeFelippo, a custodian in the Physical Plant Department, earned a 6th degree Black Belt in Combat Hapkido on Aug. 10 in The Bronx, where he and his training partner had traveled for the rigorous physical test that was a culmination of nearly 20 years of training.
According to Wikipedia, Combat Hapkido is an eclectic modern Hapkido system founded by John Pellegrini in 1990. In 1992, Pellegrini formed the International Combat Hapkido Federation as the official governing body of Combat Hapkido.
DeFelippo describes Combat Hapkido as “hand-to-hand self-defense” that requires a good understanding of body mechanics. He started with a White Belt and has progressed “all the way” to the 6th degree Black Belt. He met Bob Clancy in the late 1990s, while training at a martial arts school in East Greenbush, and the two have been training together — usually two times a week — since. Clancy also earned his 6th degree Black Belt on Aug. 10. They currently train in Troy.
In addition to their ongoing training, the two also team up to offer workshops in the community and hope to bring one to Hudson Valley Community College this fall. DeFelippo has been practicing martial arts since August 1973, when he trained in Okinawan Karate in Schenectady.
Two days after returning from his 6th degree test, DeFelippo learned that he and Clancy will be inducted into Action Martial Arts Magazine’s Hall of Fame during a Martial Arts Expo to be held Jan. 24-26, 2020 in Atlantic City, NJ.
Combat Hapkido 6th degree Senior Master Lou DeFelippo,
second from right, is pictured with Dan Prendergast, 2nd Degree Black Belt;
Grand Master Alfred Medina, and 6th degree Senior Master Bob Clancy.
Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2019 12:00:31 +0000 by d.gardner