OTHER MARTIAL ARTS
There are so many martial arts available these days that it can be confusing when comparing what is being offered and considering which one is best for you. When deciding which art to commit to, it’s good to consider what your goals are. General fitness, social networking, practical self defence or sport? The following comparison will help you understand the differences and similarities between Hapkido and other martial arts.
AIKIDO
With Aikido, the attacker is encouraged to over-commit their attack. The attack is received with minimal resistance, it is guided past the target and then the defender’s own force is added to it. The result is to unbalance and throw the opponent.
However, opponents do not always attack with large movements. Often short jabs and kicks are delivered with such rapidity that it is very difficult to lead the opponent’s force. In these situations, the close quarter blocking and striking techniques of Hapkido give the Hapkidoist knowledge of how to counter and overcome such attacks.
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (BJJ)
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a form of grappling started by the Gracie and Machado families in Brazil and focuses on grappling on the ground against a single opponent. Their techniques are learnt and refined through countless hours of “rolling” on the mat with other students.
Hapkido does include groundwork learnt through the practice of groundwork drills to strengthen your body and practice specific groundwork skills. Free sparring is allowed to continue if it goes to the ground. However groundwork is not the major part of our classes.
Due to the practical disadvantages of being on the ground when facing multiple attackers, Hapkido students focus on learning how to escape from a grappling situation as quickly as possible using any technique (including eye attacks, hair pulling, finger locks, etc) to try and return to a standup situation where other strategies like running away are possible.
JIU-JITSU
Many of the joint locks and throws of Hapkido are very similar to those of Jiu-Jitsu. Painful twisting of the joints and tendons along with the application of painful pressure to vital points, combined with a thorough knowledge of human anatomy help to control any opponent regardless of size or strength.
These techniques are fine for close quarter attacks, however because Jiu-Jitsu practitioners do not practice their techniques against proficient kickers or punchers, they are vulnerable to such long range attacks. Hapkidoists practice kicks and punches to a high degree of proficiency, thus the familiarity gained through practicing the techniques helps in defending against them.
JUDO
Throwing plays an important role in Hapkido. The basic principles of judo are used in Hapkido, that is, moving your opponent’s centre of balance to a vulnerable position and using your leg or body to topple the opponent.
As well, Hapkido uses strikes or pressure points to maneuver the opponent with less use of strength.
KARATE
Karate originated in the Ryukyu Kingdom and was heavily influenced by Kung Fu. It later spread (primarily from Okinawa) to the main islands of Japan after if became part of the Japanese Empire.
Karate is predominantly a striking art using punching, kicking, knees and open-hand techniques such as knife-hand, spear-hand and palm-heel strikes.
A Hapkido practitioner starts off learning the same powerful liner techniques, blocks and strong stances but later incorporates circular techniques/movement rather than meeting force with force and uses the same principals of harmony that’s is employed by JuJitsu, Judo and Aikido.
KENDO
At advanced stages, students are taught Komdo (The Korean version of Japanese Kendo). Basic strikes and blocks are similar to Kendo, however circular and low section attacks typical of traditional Korean swordsmanship are taught once the basics have been learnt.
KUNG FU
In Hapkido, as the student advances past the basic hand techniques, more emphasis is placed on small circular techniques and fast close quarter parrying which resemble the techniques of Kung Fu. Advanced weaponry techniques using the long pole Bo, cane and the fan are similar to those of Kung Fu.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
MMA has enjoyed a huge boom in recent years with the popularity of UFC (cage fighting) events on television. It is mostly popular with younger students who want to experience full contact and enjoy the competitive aspects of this sport.
Hapkido does include sparring in most classes, however Hapkido sparring does not normally involve full contact without protective equipment and even though we do have tournaments, they do not normally involve full contact.
Hapkido sparring focuses more on correct timing and distance and encourages a more co-operative approach where you and your sparring partner can both improve your skills in a live situation without fear of being seriously injured.
Care and respect for your training partner is of utmost importance in Hapkido and safety is an important part of all classes to ensure you can continue to study and train in Hapkido for a long time with a minimum of injuries and pain.
MUAY THAI
Muay Thai / Thai Boxing is a renowned combat sport developed from the traditional art of Muay Boran and incorporated some Western Boxing punching as it modernised.
Know as the "art of eight limbs" it makes devastating use of hands, elbows, knees and feet/legs.
A Hapkidoist makes use of the same array of striking to disrupt and opponents stance-base to so they can lock up or restrain an opponent rather than continue trading blow for blow.
TAE KWON DO
Virtually all of the kicking techniques of Tae Kwon Do are identical to those of Hapkido. Spinning kicks, thrusts, circular kicks and sweeps are all used in sparring.
Due to the fact that Hapkido is not a tournament orientated style, other techniques like low spinning kicks, low-section kicks and knee strikes are also used. The basic hand techniques of Hapkido are similar to those of Tae Kwon Do, that is mainly linear attacks with fist or knifehand.
However in a confined space such as a crowded public bar or a narrow hallway, kicks are limited in their practicality. Self-defence tools such as elbows, knees, head butts and joint attacks are essential for survival in such situations. All these techniques are practised in Hapkido to produce a thorough knowledge of all ranges of attack and defence.