About Hapkido

What Is Hapkido?

You may not have heard of the comprehensive and dynamic martial art of Hapkido before as, due to the wide range of skills required to become an instructor, Hapkido clubs in Victoria are very rare compared to those teaching more common arts such as Karate and Taekwondo.

Hapkido is a traditional Korean Martial Art that is a complete art of self-defence, unique amongst traditional styles because it includes an equal balance of both offensive and defensive techniques. Hapkido incorporates a powerful arsenal of kicks, blocks and strikes similar to those in Karate or Taekwondo. Hapkido also incorporates a wide variety of dynamic self-defence techniques using locks, throws, pressure points and groundwork similar to those used in Ju-Jitsu and Judo. Hapkido also includes principles & philosophies similar to those encountered in Aikido.

Hapkido employs the philosophy of controlling an opponent via superior knowledge and technique rather than the use of strength and force. Because of its wide range of techniques, such as utilizing pressure points, a skilled Hapkidoist is able to control an opponent with minimal effort. Therefore anyone young, old, male or female can practice this complete art of self-defence regardless of weight or strength.

However, should the situation demand it, a Hapkidoist, unlike practitioners of grappling-based arts, is also trained in a wide range of striking techniques. This makes Hapkido an ideal art for women or those involved in the police or security industries who wish to learn a traditional yet realistically effective martial art.

Hapkido is a complete, traditional art of self-defence which has not been compromised or watered down for commercial or sporting purposes but is instead about providing a wide range of skills to allow its practitioners to be to able to adapt to a wide variety of self-defence situations.

Hapkido training also assists in development of muscle tone and improved flexibility. Improved confidence and self-discipline of both mind and body are other benefits of studying Hapkido.

Hapkido — Philosophy and Principles

In Korean Hapkido may be translated as "Way of Coordinated Power". There are literally thousands of techniques within Hapkido, all based on 3 fundamental principles

• Principle of non-resistance or harmony
• Circular principle
• Water principle

By following these principles Hapkidoists are able to instantly adapt their technique to respond to any new unfamiliar self-defence situations. Hapkido students at MHC also develop a practical knowledge of anatomy so they can understand the bodies vulnerable points. Students also gain a basic understanding of Korean history and philosophy so a Hapkidoist can understand the context of their art.

A Brief History of Hapkido

While the roots of Hapkido go back over a thousand years in the many martial art traditions of Korea, the art emerged in the first half of the 20th century. The founder of Hapkido was Yong Sul Choi. From 1910 until 1945, Korea was under the control of Japan and Korean martial arts practice was suppressed.

As a young Korean boy, Choi went to Japan where for 30 years he studied one of the most comprehensive Martial Arts systems of the time, Daito-ryu Aikijujitsu. In 1945 Choi returned to Korea and together with his early students such as Han Jae Ji, Moo Wong Kim and others, they combined Japanese Akijujitsu with the Korean kicking art of Tae Kyun and other Korean arts and techniques to develop the unique art of Hapkido.

Hapkido itself has influenced the development of many other Korean martial arts such as Taekwondo, Hwarangdo, Kuk Sool Won, Han Mu Do and others.