defintely check out the class first. Hapkido is a good art to start out in. I once saw an American Hapkido instructor's class. The school I went to seemed well decorated. It looked like a shrine! The guy was very nice and hospitable. They first started kicking drills. Judging from his students, most of them were weekend warriors bc they threw flippy kicks barely higher than waist level, but there was one guy who was a red belt who threw some fairly fast/solid looking kicks. I could tell he was more serious. The instructor would yell out the kicks in Korean..."yup cha gi" and the class would throw their side kick (etc.)
They pracaticed some sweeps, hip throws and wrist/arm locks. They practiced in static stances, but didn't actually grapple as you would in judo/bjj. Instead they just practice for proper technique. The instructor's stand up grappling seemed good. He executed clean and fast techniques. His body mechanics were really good.
Towards the end of class they sparred. What I didn't like was the fact that the instructor wouldn't let his students hit him hard, but he would nail them with side kicks and front kicks. They were pretty timid. I wasn't impressed with the instructor's standup. His kicks were not incredibly fast and his hands were allmost never used, except for an occasional backfist or ridgehand. He never threw a jab, cross or hook.
I don't think hapkido is a terrible style, but definitely check out the class. If you think the above sounds like what you are looking for then you'll be happy about anywhere. Personally, I would rather train under a korean hapkido instructor where the students are younger and you throw at least 50-200 basic kicks per leg with an emphasis on technique, speed and power. Afterall, the Korean arts are known for their kicks.
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