Our School
Tradition, Discipline, and a Place to Begin
A Houston martial arts school built around careful instruction, respect, and steady personal progress.
Our Story
Built From the Mat Up
Black Panther Hapkido Martial Arts opened its doors in 2013, founded by Master Rolando Moreno after more than a decade of training and teaching under his own instructors. What began as a single adult class in a rented space has grown into a full-range school serving children, teens, adults, and families across southwest Houston.
From the start, the goal was never to turn out tournament champions. It was to build a school where beginners feel welcomed, families can train together, and every student leaves more capable than they arrived. Today that same standard shapes how we run every class on the schedule.
Mission & Values
What We Train For
Our Mission
To teach Hapkido in a way that makes every student — child, teen, or adult — more capable, more confident, and more considerate than when they walked in. Skill is the goal; character is the standard.
Our Promise
Clear instruction, controlled practice, and a welcoming room. Beginners are never left guessing, and no student is asked to train beyond what is safe for them.
Respect
Every session begins and ends with a bow — for the space, the instructor, and each training partner.
Discipline
Showing up consistently and giving honest effort matters more than natural talent.
Integrity
Skills are practiced with control and used responsibly, never to intimidate.
Perseverance
Progress comes from repetition. Students learn to stay with what is difficult.
Confidence
Capability built through practice — calm and quiet, not loud.
Community
A family-friendly environment where new students are welcomed and supported.
The Art
A General History of Hapkido
Hapkido is generally described as a Korean martial art that took shape in the mid-20th century, drawing on Korean striking and kicking traditions alongside joint-locking and throwing methods. Its name is commonly translated as "the way of coordinated power."
As with many martial arts, accounts of Hapkido's early development and lineage differ between organizations and historians, and this overview is intentionally general rather than definitive. What is widely agreed is that the art spread internationally in the second half of the century and continues to be taught through many affiliated organizations today.
In practice, Hapkido is recognized for its breadth: strikes and kicks, wrist and arm locks, throws, break-falls, and escapes from grabs and holds. Rather than relying on size or raw strength, it emphasizes redirecting an opponent's force and controlling position — one reason it appeals to students of widely different builds and ages.
Benefits of Training
What Students Gain
- Practical self-defense skills built through repetition, not theory.
- Physical fitness — strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance.
- Focus and self-control that carry into school and work.
- Confidence that comes from measurable, earned progress.
- A respectful community and healthy routine for the whole family.
Why Houston Families Choose Us
A School Parents Trust
- Age-appropriate classes instead of one program stretched to fit everyone.
- Family training options so parents and children share one schedule.
- A clean, organized training floor with clearly explained safety rules.
- Instructors who correct with patience and explain the reason behind each movement.
- A free introductory class, so you can see the room before you commit.
Instructor Biography
Master Rolando Moreno
Master Rolando Moreno began training in Hapkido in 1997 and earned his black belt in 2004. Over the next decade he assisted and then led classes at his instructor's school before founding Black Panther Hapkido Martial Arts in 2013. He holds a 5th Dan black belt and continues to train with instructors across Texas and Korea to sharpen his own practice.
Beyond the mat, Master Moreno is active in the Houston martial arts community and regularly hosts visiting instructors and seminars at the school. His focus remains on the everyday student — the parent, the teenager, the first-time beginner — and on making Hapkido accessible without diluting it.
Training Philosophy
I believe every student can grow when they are met with patience and clear expectations. Discipline and encouragement are not opposites; they work together. My job is to make each technique understandable on the first day and challenging by the hundredth, so students keep coming back and keep improving.
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