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