Learn To Counter The Techniques Of Other Martial Arts As Well As Unskilled Attacks.

Hapkido was first used by a group of Koreanand should follow the basic principles of Hapkido,
nationals in the period after the Japanese colonialwhich are: Nonresistance or Hwa, Circular Motion
era of Korea. Choi Yong Sul and his students; Suhor Won and The Water Principle or Ryu. Hwa,
Bok Sub, who was the first student of the art, Jimeans to stay relaxed and not directly oppose an
Han Jae promoter of the art, Kim Moo Hong,opponent's strength rather use his own strength
Myung Jae Nam who forged a the connectionagainst him to unbalance him. Won, is the circular
between the art of hapkido and Japanese aikidoprinciple, shows you how to gain momentum and
and then founded Hankido, were responsible andexecute a technique in a smooth style. An
given the credit for developing Hapkido. The artexample shows that the bigger the person is, the
was originated solely as a self defense martial artmore energy a person has, the better it is for
and today can be learned by anyone who isthe Hapkido student and Ryu, is the water
reasonably fit and the training helps students learnprinciple, thinking of soft, adaptable strength of
an effective self defense method whilst gaining allwater. In Hapkido you do not rely on physical
the other benefits that martial arts training offersforce alone. A Hapkido student must learn to
such as self confidence, improved health, alongdeflect an opponent's strike, in a smooth method
with increased fitness and stamina. As a selfjust like water being divided in a creek by a rock
defense method, Hapkido employs joint locks,then rejoining itself once round. The core
pressure points, throws, kicks, and other strikestechniques are made up of either gentle or
and is an authentic Asian martial art of totalforceful throws and joint control techniques which
self-defense. Hapkido training teaches studentswere derived from aikijujutsu. Most techniques in
how to deal not only with countering theHapkido work with a combination of unbalancing
techniques of other martial arts, but also ofthe attacker and applying pressure to specific
common "unskilled" attacks. Practitioners ofplaces on the body. Hapkido uses over 700
hapkido try to get the advantage over theirpressure points in the body for total
opponents through footwork and body positioningeffectiveness. Hapkido training is suitable for all
to employ leverage, avoiding the use of strengthages, adults down to young children. For the
against strength. Getting in close is the idealchildren under 12, a modified form is taught. No
although long rang fighting techniques are taught.weapons can be used and all joint locking
As a martial art Hapkido is somewhere betweentechniques have been removed for these
the "soft" techniques of Aikido and the "hard"younger children's class and simple throws are
techniques of taekwondo, although, even with theaimed at self defense and anti bullying.
"hard" techniques more emphasis is places onYoshi E Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He
circular movements rather than linear. Somecovers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free
different schools teach slightly different techniquesreport on Hapkido Training visit his blog.
but the core techniques are found in all schools