The Korean martial art Hwarang Do was developed by grandmaster Lee Joo Bang. Lee Joo Bang practiced Hapkido but developed his own style and baptized it Hwarang Do. After he emigrated to the United States, he started teaching this martial art there. Hwarang Do is hardly known in Korea, but in America it is a very popular style.
In Europe it is not widely practiced. Hwarang Do Nederland is led by Alex Krijger. This third danner founded this organization in 1995 and actively teaches in Vlissingen. Hwarangdo requires the practitioner to have a disciplined attitude. Respect for the teacher and fellow student is central to the training.
Anyone who wants to practice this martial art will have to devote themselves to the preparatory sport Tae Soo Do. Only when the student has mastered this can he or she fully devote himself to Hwarang Do. A typical workout often starts with meditation and a good warm-up and stretching exercises. Then the actual training begins in which the student is taught Hwarang Do self-defense. The lesson often ends with sparring, followed by a cooling down and the joint pronouncement 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.
