Hapkido

Hapkido is a Korean martial art that combines fluid joint locks, throws and redirection techniques drawn from Japanese aiki arts with powerful kicks and strikes rooted in Korean fighting traditions. Founded by Choi Yong-sool after his return from Japan following World War II, Hapkido means 'the way of coordinated power' - reflecting its core principle of using circular motion and ki (internal energy) to control and redirect an opponent's force. It is one of Korea's most comprehensive self-defence systems and is taught to Korean military and law enforcement alongside its civilian practice worldwide.

Origins - Daito-ryu Meets Korean Martial Arts

Choi Yong-sool spent approximately 30 years in Japan—from childhood through the end of World War II—training in Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu under Sokaku Takeda. Daito-ryu is the same root art that Morihei Ueshiba drew on to create Aikido, making Hapkido and Aikido martial cousins with a common ancestor. When Choi returned to Korea in 1945, he began teaching his art in Daegu, initially calling it Yawara or Daedon.

Korean students—most notably Ji Han-jae, who would go on to significantly develop and popularise Hapkido—expanded the system by integrating traditional Korean kicking techniques, introducing the powerful high kicks that distinguish Hapkido from its Japanese relatives. Ji Han-jae is credited with adding the striking and kicking arsenal that makes Hapkido a complete stand-up system rather than a purely grappling art.

Hapkido vs Aikido - Key Differences

While Hapkido and Aikido share the same Daito-ryu roots, they developed in very different directions. Aikido emphasises flowing harmony, circular redirection and generally avoids direct strikes. Hapkido is more combat-oriented—it incorporates powerful kicks, including high kicks and jumping kicks, punches, elbow and knee strikes, as well as joint locks and throws. Hapkido also places greater emphasis on both linear and circular techniques and has a more explicit self-defence orientation.

Hapkido is practised by the Korean military's Special Warfare Command and has been adopted by police forces in South Korea and internationally as a practical close-quarters combat system. This operational legacy shapes its more aggressive, combat-effective character.

Training in Hapkido

Hapkido training covers three main areas: kicking techniques (including circular, linear and jumping kicks to all heights), joint manipulation (wrist locks, arm locks, shoulder locks, finger locks applied from standing and ground positions) and throwing and takedown techniques (drawn from Daito-ryu and supplemented by Korean wrestling traditions).

The three core principles of Hapkido - Hwa (harmony/non-resistance), Won (circular motion) and Yu (flowing water) - guide all technique application. Practitioners learn to yield to force rather than meet it directly, redirect through circular movement, and flow between techniques without stopping.

The belt system runs white through yellow, green, blue, red and black (with dan grades). Progress requires demonstrating technical proficiency across the full curriculum at each grade level.

Hapkido Gear Guide

Hapkido uniform (dobok): Similar to a Taekwondo or Karate uniform - lightweight cotton jacket and trousers, typically white. Belt colour indicates grade.

Mouthguard and groin guard: Essential for sparring sessions involving full-contact kicking and striking.

Sparring gear: For contact training - gloves, shin guards, foot protectors and head guard. Hapkido sparring can be full-contact depending on school and level.

Traditional weapons: Cane (jang bong), short stick (dan bong) and knife (kal) are standard Hapkido weapon tools, used for both attack and defence applications.