Hapkido is a Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that uses joint locks, pressure points, throws, kicks, and punches. Hapkido practitioners train to counter the techniques of other martial arts. Traditional weapons such as the short staff, rope, nunchaku, and sword are also used. Hapkido focuses on both close- and long-range combat. Through good footwork and proper use of the body, practitioners aim to overcome stronger opponents.
History of Hapkido
The birth of modern hapkido can be traced to a group of Korean nationalists in the post-Japanese colonial period of Korea, led by Choi Yong Sul. His most prominent students were Suh Bok Sub, Ji Han Jae, Kim Moo Hong, and Myung Jae Nam. Choi Yong Sul was sent to Japan as a young boy and returned to Korea with techniques resembling a precursor to aikido. A controversial account claims that Choi was adopted by Takeda Sokaku at the age of 11. He lived and trained with the master for more than 30 years in a dojo on Mount Shin Shu. This account is disputed by people who say that Choi was merely a domestic worker in the household of Takeda. As always, the truth probably lies somewhere in between.
Choi’s first student was Suh Bok Sub, who was also the first to open a dojang. In 1948, when Suh Bok Sub was still in his twenties, he had already earned a black belt in judo and graduated from Korea University. After seeing Choi successfully defend himself against a group of men, he asked Choi whether he would teach him this martial art as well. In 1951, Suh opened the first official dojang and named it the Korean Yu Kwan Sool Hapki Dojang. The first symbol designed by Suh to represent this martial art was an inward-pointing arrowhead. During this period, Choi worked as a bodyguard for Suh’s father, who was a member of parliament. Suh claimed that he and Choi decided in 1959 to shorten the name to hapkido.
Principles of Hapkido
On the hard-to-soft scale of martial arts, hapkido falls somewhere in the middle. It uses the soft techniques of Jiu Jitsu and the hard techniques of taekwondo. Hapkido is an eclectic martial art, and different hapkido schools apply different techniques. Some core techniques are used in every school, and all techniques must follow the three principles of hapkido:
- Non-resistance (Hwa)
- Circle principle (Won)
- Water/harmony principle (Yu)
Hwa, or non-resistance, is the art of remaining relaxed. If an opponent pushes a hapkido student in the chest, the student will not resist but step backward and use the opponent’s forward momentum to bring them down.
Won, the circle principle, is a way to gain momentum and then execute techniques naturally. If an opponent attacks in a straight line, the hapkido student catches the attack and then uses a circular motion to turn the opponent’s force against them.
Yu, the water principle, can be explained as the power of water. Hapkido is a soft martial art and does not depend entirely on strength. Like water, it is soft to the touch. Like water, hapkido is adaptable.
Techniques
Hapkido is a comprehensive fighting style that strives to be as broad as possible. As a result, it deliberately does not focus on specific techniques. Numerous tactics involving strikes, throws, and joint locks are taught. Some styles also focus on ground fighting, particularly escaping from holds.
Kicks
The wide variety of kicks in hapkido gives the sport its distinctly Korean character. Taekwondo kicks closely resemble the many kicks found in hapkido, although the emphasis is on circular movement. In contrast to most modern taekwondo styles, many kicks are aimed below the waist and sweeping techniques are common. The most common kick is the low heel kick. A kick is primarily delivered to generate power rather than to retract the leg quickly. Traditionally, kicks were aimed only at the lower body, but with the rise of other martial arts, kicks to the head were also introduced. Most forms of hapkido include a series of double kicks used to maintain balance. An example of a double-kick sequence:
- front kick -> side kick
- front kick -> back kick
- front kick -> roundhouse kick
- front heel kick -> roundhouse kick
- low side kick -> high side kick Hand strikes
Like many other martial arts, hapkido uses numerous punches and hand strikes, as well as elbow strikes. A distinctive hapkido technique is the knife-hand strike, which can transfer a great deal of energy. This strike is often used to weaken the opponent before applying a joint lock. Strikes with the fingernails are also used, targeting the eyes and throat. Groin grabs are also practiced in conventional training.
Joint Locks
Many of hapkido’s control techniques are derived from aikijujutsu. They are taught in a similar way to aikido, but the techniques are more streamlined. In hapkido, locks are applied to both the major joints (elbows, shoulders, neck, back, knees, and hips) and the smaller joints (wrists, fingers, toes, and jaw). Most techniques use the principle of applying force to a joint against its natural direction. Hapkido is particularly known for its use of wrist locks. These techniques are derived from Daito-ryu aikijujutsu, although the precise execution may differ. Elbow locks are also frequently applied.
Throwing Techniques
In addition to throws performed after an opponent has been unbalanced using a joint lock, there are also throws performed without using a lock. Some of these techniques are found in judo. Many of the early hapkido practitioners had a judo background.
Weapons
As a hapkido student progresses through the various ranks, they also learn to handle different weapons. The first weapon used in training is the knife. Another weapon is the short staff. Techniques and defenses against the long staff and rope are then covered. Many hapkido organizations also train with the sword, the nunchaku, and other weapons.
