Choi Yong-sool

Choi Yong-sool (1899–1986) is the founder of Hapkido. A Korean martial artist who spent decades in Japan studying Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu under Sokaku Takeda—the same master who influenced Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba—Choi returned to Korea after World War II and began teaching a Korean interpretation of aiki-based joint locks, throws, and strikes. His system, originally called Yawara or Daedon, evolved into Hapkido—a comprehensive Korean martial art combining the circular redirection principles of aiki arts with powerful kicks and strikes drawn from Korean fighting traditions.