The Korean martial art Hwarang Do was developed by grandmaster Lee Joo Bang . Lee Joo Bang practiced Hapkido but developed his own style and named it Hwarang Do. After emigrating to the United States he began teaching this martial art there. In Korea Hwarang Do is hardly known, but in America it is a very popular style.
In Europe it is not practiced on a large scale. Hwarang Do Nederland is led by Alex Krijger . This third danner founded this organization in 1995 and actively teaches in Vlissingen himself. Hwarangdo requires a disciplined attitude from the practitioner. Respect for the teacher and fellow students is central to the training.
Anyone who wants to practice this martial art will have to devote themselves to the preparatory sport of Tae Soo Do. Only when the student has mastered this can he or she fully devote themselves to Hwarang Do. A typical training often starts with meditation and a good warming up and stretching exercises. Then the actual training begins in which the student is taught Hwarang Do self-defense. The lesson is often concluded with the sparring component, followed by a cooling down and the joint pronouncing of the Hwarang Do O Gye.
During a Hwarang Do class, both Korean and English terms are used. The sport may have its origins in Korea, but it only flourished in the United States.
