Marshall County Hapkido Academy

Marshall County Hapkido Academy "Master the art of self-defense with the power of hapkido!" About Me

Welcome to Marshall County Hapkido Academy.

My name is Sabumnim (Master) Wes Sutton, and I am a Hapkido Master Instructor and Certified Self-Defense Instructor with over 25 years of experience in martial arts, military combat training, and personal development. My journey began in childhood with Ishinryu Karate and continued through generations of martial tradition in my family. My grandfather was a Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, and knife-fighting instr

uctor in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, and my mother passed down some of the skills he taught her. I built on those foundations with high school wrestling, then advanced my training in the Marine Corps, where I learned the LINE combat system of the early 1990s. Following my service, I became a full-time Military Police officer in the Army National Guard, gaining experience in joint locks, takedowns, and arrest techniques. After experiencing combat in Desert Storm, I turned to martial arts to help manage PTSD—and that’s when I discovered Hapkido. With my background, the art came naturally, and it became a vital part of my healing journey. Today, as the founder and head instructor at Marshall County Hapkido Academy, I offer classes to students ages 4 and up. I welcome anyone who is willing to learn, regardless of age, sex, color, creed, or cultural background. My goal is not only to teach effective self-defense but to foster confidence, support mental health, improve physical fitness, and build a strong community of individuals committed to self-improvement. Whether you're just beginning or continuing your martial arts journey, I’m honored to help guide and support you every step of the way.

We are closed this weekend and Monday for Labor Day. We are currently running a 25% off all membership for the rest of t...
09/04/2026

We are closed this weekend and Monday for Labor Day. We are currently running a 25% off all membership for the rest of the month.

“Use enough force to stop the threat—not enough force to punish the person.”One of the most important lessons we teach i...
09/02/2026

“Use enough force to stop the threat—not enough force to punish the person.”

One of the most important lessons we teach in Hapkido is that self-defense is not simply about how much damage you are capable of doing.

It is about learning when force may be necessary, how much force the situation reasonably calls for, and when that force needs to stop.

In general, self-defense law recognizes a person's right to protect themselves or another person from an imminent unlawful use of force. But that right has limits. The exact law varies by jurisdiction and circumstances, and factors such as the nature of the threat and whether the defensive response was legally justified can become extremely important afterward.

That is one reason Hapkido can be such a valuable system of practical self-defense.

Hapkido doesn't give us only one response.

We train students to recognize that confrontations can exist at different levels of danger, and our response should change with the circumstances.

Someone grabbing your wrist is not necessarily the same threat as someone repeatedly punching you.

A schoolyard shove is not the same as being attacked by multiple people.

Someone yelling at you is not the same as someone attempting to seriously injure you.

And an uncomfortable situation that can safely be avoided doesn't require a physical response at all.

Good self-defense begins before the first technique is ever used.

Awareness. Distance. Verbal boundaries. De-escalation. Leaving when possible. Recognizing danger early.

If physical force becomes necessary, Hapkido provides options that can move progressively through different levels of response: escaping a grab, controlling or redirecting an attacker, joint manipulation, off-balancing, takedowns and throws, striking, and other defensive skills appropriate to more serious threats.

But there is another lesson that is every bit as important:

WHEN THE THREAT STOPS, YOUR JOB IS TO STOP.

Self-defense should never become revenge.

Once someone is no longer presenting an imminent threat, continuing to hurt that person can fundamentally change the situation—both morally and potentially legally.

That requires something martial artists sometimes overlook:

SELF-CONTROL.

The best martial artist isn't necessarily the person who can hit the hardest.

It's the person who can remain calm enough under pressure to recognize what is happening, choose an appropriate response, protect themselves or someone else, and then regain control when the danger has passed.

That is a major part of what Hapkido means to us at Marshall County Hapkido Academy – Mu Yong Kwan.

We don't simply teach students how to fight.

We teach them to recognize danger.

We teach them to avoid unnecessary confrontation.

We teach them to control fear and emotion.

We teach them that different threats can require different responses.

We teach them that having the ability to hurt someone does not automatically give you the right to do so.

And when physical self-defense truly becomes necessary, we want our students to have the skills, confidence, judgment and self-control to protect themselves effectively.

🥋 AVOID WHEN YOU CAN.
🥋 DE-ESCALATE WHEN YOU CAN.
🥋 DEFEND WHEN YOU MUST.
🥋 STOP WHEN THE THREAT STOPS.

That is practical self-defense.

That is responsible martial arts training.

That is Hapkido.

This post discusses general self-defense principles and is not legal advice. Self-defense laws vary by state and circumstances.

🐉 PARENTS OF 4–6 YEAR OLDS — TRY LIL DRAGONS FOR ONE WEEK FREE!At this age, every parent wants to see their child become...
08/31/2026

🐉 PARENTS OF 4–6 YEAR OLDS — TRY LIL DRAGONS FOR ONE WEEK FREE!

At this age, every parent wants to see their child become a little more confident, independent, respectful, and able to follow directions.

That's exactly what our Lil Dragons Program is designed to encourage.

At Marshall County Hapkido Academy – Mu Yong Kwan, we use martial arts as a fun and structured way to help young children develop skills that go far beyond kicking and punching.

Your child will work on:

🥋 Listening & following directions
⭐ Manners & respect
💪 Confidence & self-control
🎯 Focus & coordination
🤸 Basic rolls and safe falling
🦶 Age-appropriate kicks, strikes & martial arts skills

We understand they're only 4–6 years old. We don't expect perfection. We want them to learn how to listen, participate, try their best, and become a little more confident with every class.

And most importantly — we want them to LOVE coming to martial arts!

🎉 BOOK A FREE WEEK

Bring your child in and experience the Lil Dragons Program for ONE WEEK FREE before deciding if it's right for your family.

🐲 Ages 4–6
📅 Wednesday & Friday
⏰ 6:00 PM
💲 $79/month after the free week

We currently have room for 10 new Lil Dragons.

📍 Marshall County Hapkido Academy – Mu Yong Kwan
300 E. 12th St. • Benton, KY

👉 BOOK YOUR CHILD'S FREE WEEK

Send us a Facebook message with “FREE WEEK” and we'll help you schedule their first class.

Give them a place to learn. A place to grow. And a place to discover what they're capable of. 🥋🐉

🥋 NEW OPENINGS — AFTER-SCHOOL MARTIAL ARTS TRAININGWe're opening several spots in our After School Training Program at M...
08/31/2026

🥋 NEW OPENINGS — AFTER-SCHOOL MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING

We're opening several spots in our After School Training Program at Marshall County Hapkido Academy – Mu Yong Kwan.

But we're looking for the right students, not simply more students.

Our program is designed for children who genuinely want to learn Hapkido, practical self-defense, predator awareness, discipline, respect, and confidence.

This is not a daycare. Students are expected to listen to instructors, follow basic rules, treat other students with respect, and participate in training.

We don't expect perfect kids. We DO expect children who are teachable, willing to learn, and capable of functioning in a structured group environment.

Parents, if you're looking for an after-school environment where your child can have fun and be held to standards—this may be exactly what you've been looking for.

🥋 Martial Arts & Hapkido Training
🛡️ Practical Self-Defense
👀 Predator Awareness & Personal Safety
💪 Fitness & Confidence
🎯 Discipline, Focus & Respect
🚌 After-School Program

📍 Marshall County Hapkido Academy – Mu Yong Kwan
300 E. 12th St., Benton, KY

Enrollment is by appointment.

👉 MESSAGE US HERE to schedule a visit and see if our program is the right fit for your child.

🥋 LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE FOR YOUR CHILD?Martial arts should be about more than learning how to kick and punch.At Mar...
08/27/2026

🥋 LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE FOR YOUR CHILD?

Martial arts should be about more than learning how to kick and punch.

At Marshall County Hapkido Academy – Mu Yong Kwan, we help children develop the confidence, discipline, focus, respect, and real-world self-defense skills they can carry with them everywhere they go.

🐉 Lil Dragons — Ages 4–6
A fun, positive introduction to martial arts that builds confidence, listening skills, coordination, and good habits.

Guardian Kids After School Training Program with transportation from Benton Elementary, Central Elementary, and South Middle. - Ages 6 - 14.
Students train in Hapkido & Short Stick along with Predator & Pe*****le Awareness.

🥋 Hapkido Kids — Ages 7–13
Students learn traditional Hapkido, practical self-defense, discipline, fitness, confidence, respect, and predator awareness and personal safety.

Our goal isn't simply to teach martial arts. We want to partner with parents in helping raise confident, respectful kids who know how to recognize danger, make good decisions, and protect themselves when necessary.

📍 Marshall County Hapkido Academy – Mu Yong Kwan
300 E. 12th St. • Benton, KY

👉 Interested in seeing whether we're a good fit for your child? Send us a Facebook message to schedule a visit, meet Master Sutton, and try out a few FREE classes.

MESSAGE US HERE TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. 🥋🐉

08/20/2026

Class is cancelled today at 6PM due to the storms last night. Please come to Sat class at 11AM which will be extended an additional hour to make up training time.

Master Sutton

We have 4 slots available for this year, so don't wait.
08/06/2026

We have 4 slots available for this year, so don't wait.

07/31/2026

Good Evening everyone, heads up for the lil dragon class today. Mr Terry isn't feeling well, my leg won't allow me to do anything yet (doctor's orders), so Mr Andreson is covering classes today. I will run class tomorrow, but I will have to be careful and not do much. I just wanted everyone to know what's going on. I will be able to return fully on Monday.

Master Wes Sutton

07/27/2026

Exactly what our White Belts must learn to earn their first yellow stripe.

Address

300 E. 12th Street
Benton, KY
42025

Opening Hours

Monday 1pm - 8pm
Tuesday 1pm - 8pm
Wednesday 1pm - 6pm
Thursday 1pm - 8pm
Friday 1pm - 8pm

Telephone

+12703870021

Website

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