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Hapkido or Hap Ki Do is one of the Korean martial arts. In the Korean
language, Hap means "harmony", "coordinated", or "joining"; Ki describes
internal energy, spirit, strength, or power; and Do means "way" or "art".
Thus, Hapkido translates literally as "joining-energy-way", but it is most
often rendered as "the way of coordinating energy" or "the art of coordinated
power."

Hapkido employs joint locks, pressure points, throws, kicks, and other
strikes primarily for self-defense.

Hapkido practitioners learn to use and control their own "Ki" and that of the
attacker. This is because Hapkido emphasizes circular motion,
non-resistive movements, and control of the opponent. Although Hapkido
contains both outfighting and infighting techniques, the end of most
situations is to get near for a close strike, lock, or throw. Hapkido
practitioners seek to gain advantage through techniques, avoiding the use
of strength against strength.

History

The birth of Hapkido can be traced to two primary individuals: Choi Yong Sul
(b. 1904, d. 1986) and Ji Han Jae (b. 1936). As Ji was initially a student of
Choi, the foundations of the art must be attributed to Choi.

Choi, Yong Sul

Choi, Yong Sul's training in the martial arts is a subject of contention. It is
known that Choi was sent to Japan as a young boy and returned to Korea
with techniques which are characteristic of Daito-ryu, a forerunner of Aikido.
Some claim that whilst in Japan Choi became the adopted son of the
patriarch of Daito-ryu Aikijutsu, Sokaku Takeda. However Tokimune Sokaku,
Takeda Sokaku's son, states that the records of Daito-ryu do not record
Choi as a student of Daito-ryu. Except for claims made by Choi himself
there is as yet no paper evidence to show that Choi was the adopted son of
Sokaku Takeda or that he ever studied Daito-ryu.

The debate over Choi, Yong Sul's potential omission from the records and
the ensuing debate over Hapkido's origins may be the result of tensions
between Koreans and the Japanese, partly a result of Japanese
involvement in the History of Korea. Whilst some commentators claim
Hapkido has a Japanese lineage, others state that its origins lie more with
indigenous Korean martial arts.

Choi, Yong Sul's first student, and the man who helped him develop the art
of Hapkido was Suh, Bok Sup. Some of Choi's other respected senior
students are: Bong Soo Han; Kim, Chong S.; Kim, Yong W.; Kim, Yong J.;
Lee, Park; Jung H.; Joo, Bang; Park, Nam Sun; Seo, In Sun; Son, Duk Hyun;
Yum, Chong H.; and most notably, Ji Han Jae.

Ji, Han Jae

Whereas the martial art education of Yong Shul Choi is unconfirmed, the
martial art history of Ji, Han Jae is much easier to trace. Ji was an early
student (Dan #14) of Choi. He details that prior to moving his martial art
studio from Daegu to Seoul, he also studied from a man known simply as
Taoist Lee.

As a teacher of Hapkido, Ji incorporated traditional Korean kicking
techniques (from Taoist Lee and the art Sam Rang Do Tek Gi) and
punching techniques into the system and gave the resulting synthesis the
name Hapkido in 1959. Hapkido is the Korean pronunciation of (Japanese)
Aikido and is sometimes referred to as its Korean cousin.

In 1984, Ji moved to the United States and founded Sin Moo Hapkido, which
incorporates philosophical tenets, a specific series of techniques, and kicks
and healing techniques into the art. Two of Ji Han Jae's most notable
students were Myung Jae Nam and Bong Soo Han, who were the founders
of the International Hapkido Federations.

Techniques

On the "hard-soft" scale of martial arts, Hapkido stands somewhere in the
middle, employing "soft" techniques similar to Aikido and "hard" techniques
reminiscent of Taekwondo. Even the "hard" techniques, though, emphasize
circular rather than linear movements. Hapkido is an eclectic martial art,
and different hapkido schools emphasize different techniques. However,
some core techniques are found in each school (kwan), and all techniques
should follow the three principles of Hapkido:

* Nonresistance ("Hwa")
* Circular Motion ("Won")
* The Water Principle ("Yu")

Hwa, or nonresistance, is simply the act of remaining relaxed and not
directly opposing an opponent's strength. For example, if an opponent were
to push against a Hapkido student's chest, rather than resist and push
back, the Hapkido student would avoid a direct confrontation by moving in
the same direction as the push and utilizing the opponent's forward
momentum to throw him.
One of Hapkido's principles, Won, consists in redirecting the opponent's
power in a circular motion.

Won, the circular principle, is a way to gain momentum for executing the
techniques in a natural and free-flowing manner. If an opponent attacks in
linear motion, as in a punch or knife thrust, the Hapkido student would
redirect the opponent's force by leading the attack in a circular pattern,
thereby adding the attacker's power to his own. Once he has redirected the
power, the Hapkido student can execute any of a variety of techniques to
incapacitate his attacker. The Hapkido practitioner learns to view an attacker
as an "energy entity" rather than as a physical entity. The bigger the person
is, the more energy a person has, the better it is for the Hapkido student.

Yu, the water principle, can be thought of as the soft, adaptable strength of
water. Hapkido is "soft" in that it does not rely on physical force alone, much
like water is soft to touch. It is adaptable in that a Hapkido master will
attempt to deflect an opponent's strike, in a way that is similar to free-flowing
water being divided around a stone only to return and envelop it.

"As the flowing stream penetrates and surrounds its obstructions and as
dripping water eventually penetrates the stone, so does the Hapkido
strength flow in and through its opponents." [citation needed]

Core Techniques

These consist of gentle or forceful throws and joint control techniques
derived largely from Aikijutsu. They are taught similarly to aikido techniques,
but in general the circles are smaller and the techniques, particularly those
of Sin Moo Hapkido are applied in a more linear fashion. Most techniques
work by a combination of unbalancing the attacker and applying pressure to
specific places on the body, known as hyul. Hapkido makes use of over 700
pressure points.
Hapkido practitioners perform Yudo techniques.
Enlarge
Hapkido practitioners perform Yudo techniques.

Yudo

Yudo (Judo in Japanese) techniques are centered around extensive throws
applied using different footwork than the core techniques. The techniques
differ somewhat because of the smaller circles applied to combat, and
because of the types of application that are practiced in Hapkido. Yudo
techniques also include various chokes, hold downs, joint locks, and other
grappling techniques used to control the opponent on the ground. Here are
a a few of the throws in Korean. English - Korean - Japanese// shoulder
throw - obo chigi - seionage // body drop - bit dangyo chigi - tai otoshi // hip
sweeping - hori horigi - harai goshi // shoulder wheel - ukerome chigi - kata
guruma // scarf hold - kyutnorugi - hon kesa gatame // 4 corner hold -
witnoragi - kami shiho gatame // Yudo has one throw that judo does not, it's
called durome chigi, it means lift & drop. It's a throw taken from
ssireum(Korean wrestling). A Korean won the 1984 Olympics with this
throw.

Kicking

The wide variety of kicks in Hapkido differentiate it from Aikido and make it
distinctly Korean. In general they are similar to Taekwondo kicks, though
again circular motion is emphasised. Some varieties of Hapkido use kicks
only to the lower body, but traditional Hapkido also includes high kicks and
jumping kicks. The kicks in hapkido are more extensive than in most other
Korean arts, including very specialized kicks for all occasions.

Hand Strikes

Like most martial arts, hapkido employs a large number of punches and
other hand strikes, as well as elbows. A distinctive example of Hapkido
hand techniques is "live hand" strike that focuses energy to the baek hwa
hyul in the hand, producing energy strikes and internal strikes. The hand
strikes are used often to weaken the opponent before joint locking and
throwing, and also as finishing techniques.

Weapons

As a Hapkido student advances through the various belt levels (basically the
same as other Korean arts, e.g. Taekwondo), he or she learns how to
employ and defend against various weapons. The first weapon
encountered is most often the knife (kal, ?). Then, techniques and defenses
against the short stick (dan bong, ??), the walking cane (jipangee, ???), and
the rope are introduced in Hapkido training Some styles also incorporate
the long staff (jang bong, ??), nunchuk, Kali Stick, and the sword (Gum, ?).

Training

Hapkido training takes place in a dojang, more commonly referred to as
'chae yook kwan' (???). While training methods vary, a typical training
session will contain technique practice, break falling (nakbop), sparring,
and exercises to develop internal energy (ki).

Although hapkido is in some respects a "soft" or "internal" art, training is
very vigorous and demanding. The practitioner could benefit in training by
being lean and muscular. However, strength is not a prerequisite of
hapkido; what strength and fitness is necessary to perform the techniques
develops naturally as a result of training. Hapkido is appropriate for all
persons of all ages and helps develop fitness. Though being of average
height and weight would be of benefit as one would be able to properly
throw and lock instead of having to adjust your-self every few years if you
had started at a young age.

Since its founding, Hapkido has become one of the most popular and
respected martial arts in the world. Many military officials and police officers
take hapkido as part of their self-defense training. Taekwondo students
often learn Hapkido as part of their curriculum for self-defense, and it is not
uncommon for Taekwondo instructors to also hold rank in Hapkido.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hapkido