Hapkido

Hapkido (합기도):

Hap (合, union), ki (氣, energy), and do (道, way).

• When we speak of "hap," we are referring to union or joining with something.
• When we speak of "ki," we are referring to the energy that makes everything exist and move.
• And when we speak of "do," we are referring to the path that seeks to return to the philosophical Tao, to communion with the absolute.
• Therefore, "hapkido" can also mean "the path to uniting with energy to achieve harmony with those around us, with nature, and with ourselves."

Basic Techniques:

• Throws and joint locks (similar to jujitsu, but with an emphasis on Korean mobility).
• Dynamic and circular kicks, which differentiate hapkido from other martial arts.
• Open-hand strikes and pressure point control, which, given their knowledge of striking acupuncture meridian points, can cause disorientation and confusion.
• Staff techniques: long staff (jang bong), medium staff (joong bong), short staff (dan bong).
• Joint locks, takedowns, and ground control techniques.
• Knife, double sword, and nunchaku techniques (some styles do not include these).
• Rigorous training, with an emphasis on Brahma breathing.
• Tactical efficiency and rapid response.
• Movement techniques adapted to walking, based on philosophical principles such as adapting to the opponent's movement, using circles, and maintaining continuity.

The ideograms representing the word Hapkido are the same as those of the traditional Japanese martial art of Aikido, differing only in pronunciation. This similarity in the ideograms stems, on the one hand, from the shared origin of these two martial arts with Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjitsu, specifically regarding the ideograms "hapki" and "aiki." On the other hand, it is a result of chance in the inclusion of the ideogram "do" in the names of both martial arts. Although both share common technical and tactical foundations, they did not become connected until years after their respective founding.

Hapkido (Korean Aikido) encompasses military and police styles that vary in intensity, technique, and philosophy. Some Hapkido schools emphasize weapons combat and hard techniques, while others focus on control and precision, using pressure points and acupuncture to neutralize without causing harm. All of them emphasize legwork (kicks and defense against them).

• ⚔️ Technical Aspects of Hapkido

Starting with the Fundamental Principles (of Hapkido):

• Won (circle): redirecting the opponent's force with circular movements.
• Yu (fluidity): adapting like water, without rigidity.
• Hwa (harmony): connecting with the opponent's energy instead of clashing with it.
• The name of the exercise that represents the principle of the circle is Jeon Hwan Bob (전환법), the exercise that represents the principle of fluidity is Young Nyu Bob (역류법), and the one that represents the principle of harmony is called Shim Hwa Bob (심화법). This last one is also known as the rowing exercise. It embodies two principles that the Grand Master of Le, Dong Koo, brought to Spain: the straight path and pure spirit.

⚔️ These styles combine military, police, and weapons combat techniques, as well as control techniques. They differ in how they distribute the 3,600 techniques of Hapkido within a belt and rank system, from white to 4th or 5th Dan. Several associations are recognized by the Korean Department of Defense.

1. The Korea Kido Association, founded by Ji, Han Llae, the Seob brothers, Lee Dong, Koo, Choi Young Sool himself, Kim, Tae Ho, Suh, Seo Lim, and the current president, In, Seo Lim. The idea was to give international form to Choi Daito Aiki Yuk Sool Kwan's original school.

2. The International Yuk Won Sool Hapkido Association.

Founded by Seo, Bok Seob, and currently led by Myung-Deuk Suh. This is the school from which Choi's first school, Joung Sool (Daito Aiki Yuk Sool kwan), originated, shaping the school of Seo and his main students after the schism created by the conflict that temporarily led to Master Ji's imprisonment, resulting in Ji's students and Choi's students choosing to form their own associations.

• Ji, Han Llae's Korean Hapkido Association, which later evolved into the Korean Hapkido Federation.

• The International Korean Kido Association, which originated from the Korean Kido Association without Ji, Han Llae, or the others mentioned previously, except for Master Chang, Kim Lee (who caused discord with Ji), Han Llae (between Choi and his students), and Grandmaster In, Seo Lim (a loyal student and friend of Choi).

• The Jung Ki Gwan school, which later evolved into the Chung Suk Kuhap Do art created by Choi's master. The Bum Moo Kwan Hapkido school, widespread throughout Latin America, especially Brazil, was founded by Grand Master Kim Yun-sik.

• In the USA, the World Hapkido Federation unites all schools outside of Korea, following the original school of Ji Han Llae, which gave rise to the first Korean Kido Association.

Currently, Grand Master Ko Sehwan Baek leads the international Yuk Won Sool Hapkido from Korea. In Spain, Kim Tae Ho, teacher of the Spanish Grand Master André Carbonell, leads FEDAMC and DA in Spain.

3. The school that governs the Korean Hapkido Federation.

It is presided over by Suh Seo Lim. It was created by Ji Han Llae, Myung Llae, Nam, and Kim Moo-hong with the idea of ​​formalizing an institution that would unite all associations led by hapkido masters and house a list of hapkido masters.

4. The World Hapkido Federation.

Founded by Ji Han Llae. It is currently presided over by Myung Kwan Sick and includes more than 12 schools that follow the Ji Han Llae school. It is headquartered in the USA.

5. Jing Jung Kwan of Kim Myung-Yong.

Lee Chang Soo, a great hapkido martial artist, practices this style.

6. Si Moo Hapkido.

Founded by Grandmaster Ji Han Llae, this school has a more philosophical approach but maintains technical rigor.

7. HoShin-Hapkido Association

Founded by Lee Dong, Koo and some of his students, including Grandmaster Myung-Deuk Suh, son of Choi Choe Bok-yeol.

8. The International Hapkido Federation (IHF)-HKD

Founded by Myung Llae, Nam and some of his students, such as Ko Baek-yong and Ko Seung Chang.

Note on the IHF by Myung Llae, Nam:

The IHF was created by Myung Llae, Nam. He was a member of the Korean Hapkido Federation's board and also devised the forms (Cho Nam Bops), based on Japanese Aikido, with which he established collaborative agreements, thus creating a different approach to the various gripping techniques of Hapkido. He called them hankido. He also structured the techniques of Hei Dong Kun Do (Korean sword techniques) in a way that could be associated with the Korean alphabet, thus enabling the teaching of Korean culture and language (he called it Hankumdo).

🏯 Founding of the IHF

Myung Jae-nam was born in Jeollanam-do province but lived in Incheon for most of his life. He began his martial arts training in his teens. His teachers were his grandfather, Myung Jung-nam, who taught him wrestling and stick fighting, and Bang Gi-hwa, who taught him self-defense.

In 1957, Myung Jae-nam moved from Jeollanam-do to Seoul and joined the Hapkido movement. He trained in Hapkido with Grandmaster Ji Han Jae in Seoul. In late 1959, he moved with Ji Han Jae to the Joong Bu Si Jang. This was the third location Grandmaster Ji Han Jae had in Seoul. Grandmasters Bong Soo Han and Choi Sea Oh joined at the same time as Myung Jae Nam.

Myung Jae Nam began teaching in 1962 at his own school, located in Incheon and known as Jeong Do Kwan (정도관). It was here that he founded his own federation in 1973, which was named Dae Han Kuk Hapki Hwe (대한국합기회).

In 1965, Grand Master Myung shared martial arts techniques and information with the Japanese Aikido master, Sensei Hirata, for approximately four years. In 1969, Grand Master Myung severed ties with the Korea Hapkido Association (Dae Han Hapkido Hyup Hwe) and formed his own group, which he named “Han Kuk Hapki Sool Hwe.” He became associated with the Aikikai Foundation in Japan, so much so that the name of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba even appeared at the top of the certificates issued by the association during that time.

Grand Master Myung was the longest-serving Korean representative of the Aikikai in Japan and incorporated many Japanese Aikido techniques into his version of Hapkido. He produced numerous videos and wrote many books.

In the 1980s, Grand Master Myung began working on developing his own unique martial art, which he would later call Hankido (한기도). Grandmaster Myung wanted to develop a martial art for the Korean people that would be simple and easy to learn.

The essence of Hapkido consists of only twelve basic techniques, similar to Aikido (which develops six joint lock principles and six basic throws). Grandmaster Myung once said that it was better to learn one technique and practice it thousands of times than to learn thousands of techniques.

In the years following the first Hapkido Games, Grandmaster Myung traveled the world to promote his unique style and his organization, the International Hapkido Federation.

Later, he began developing another swordsmanship art called Hankumdo (한검도), which gives non-Korean students the opportunity to learn the Korean alphabet (Hangul) by using it to learn different angles of defense and attack.

In January 1972, he changed the name of his own group to “Han Kuk Hapki Hwe” and moved its headquarters from Incheon to Bukchang-Dong, Chung-Ku, Seoul, Korea. In October 1973, while still maintaining his own organization, he helped establish the “Dae Han Min Kuk Hapkido Hyop Hwe” (Republic of Korea Hapkido Association) and was appointed executive director, remaining with this organization until 1980.

Also in 1973, he co-founded the Korean Hapkido Association with Ji Han Llae. That same year, Ji Han Llae decided to move abroad, and Myung Llae Nam recognized his contributions by awarding him the rank of 10 Dan.

• In August 1974, he decided to change the name of his organization again to Kuk Je Yon Maeng Hapki Hwe (국제연맹합기회), known in English as the International Hapkido Federation. That same year, he also co-founded the Korean Hapkido Association, with the goal of giving hapkido a global presence.

• In 1981, the IHF was officially recognized by the Korean government, which solidified its legitimacy.

In August 1993, the IHF opened the International Hapkido World Headquarters (국제연맹합기도한기도세계본부) near the city of Yongin.

🌍 Evolution and Expansion

In the 1990s, Myung Jae Nam incorporated two new disciplines into the federation's curriculum (not martial arts, as he insisted at the Master Class seminar in Tokyo in 1996): Hankido and Hankundo.

🌱 Evolution towards HKD

When Myung Jae Nam developed HKD (the IHF's style of Hapkido—aided by some of his students, such as Ko Baek-yong and Ko Seung Chang, who, following the school founded by Ji Han Llae, named it Chongmukwan), he sought to integrate three complementary paths:

1. Hapkido (합기도)

Maintains the martial foundation of self-defense.

It focuses on practical effectiveness: controlling the opponent (through direct locks, locks following the principles mentioned above, applying defense techniques against one or two opponents, defense against weapons, and real combat techniques—mentioned above—following the concept of Cho Nam Bop movements or forms [which is the philosophy of the Hankimuye movement—see https://www.hankimuye.org]).

Philosophy: balance between hardness and softness, between attack and defense.

2. Hankido (한기도)

• Created in the 1980s by Myung Jae Nam as a more fluid and accessible evolution.
• Hankido is the style of executing the grappling locks called Cho Nam Bops, developed by Grandmaster Myung Jae Nam (Kuksanim). The literal translation of the word Hankido is "the path of Korean energy," and it promotes the integration of three disciplines: Hapkido, Hankido, and Hankumdo.
• It is based on very ancient concepts of Korean culture, precisely because it seeks to recover the traditions that were lost after the Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula. Ideal for international dissemination, it simplifies the harshness of classical Hapkido, which is most valued as a paramilitary self-defense technique.
• It is inspired by circular and breathing movements, with a more internal and energetic focus.
• Technically:

• Large, circular movements reminiscent of Tai Chi, but with Korean roots.
• Breathing exercises (Hankido breathing) to coordinate body and mind.

• In summary, "Hankido" focuses on strong group physical conditioning; technical work on falls, throws (self-defense holds), kicking techniques, and punches, with a primary or fundamental foundation in the following aspects: RESPECT, COURTESY, AND HUMILITY. Its basic principles are THE CIRCLE (WON), FLUIDITY or WAVE (YU), and UNITY, CONCENTRATION (HWA).

3. Hankumdo (한검도)

The Korean sword art, introduced in the 1990s. This art was developed by Master Myung Jae Nam. His intention was to structure the art of swordsmanship in a way that would be accessible and easy for anyone to learn.

The word Hankumdo consists of three syllables:

• Han (한 / 韓): Korean, related to Korea.
• Kum (검 / 劍): sword.
• Do (도 / 道): Way, art.

Therefore, Hankumdo could be translated as "The art of Korean swordsmanship." Similar to Hankido, there are 24 techniques, each corresponding to a letter of the Korean alphabet.

Hankumdo includes, in addition to sword cutting techniques, a wide variety of techniques such as disarming and empty-hand techniques.

• It is based on the Korean alphabet (Hangul): each sword cut corresponds to a letter, making the practice a cultural and technical exercise.
• It provides a pedagogical and artistic component, in addition to its martial aspect.

After Myung Jae Nam's death in 1999, his son, Myung Sung Kwang, succeeded his father as head of the organization.

In 2000, he received permission from the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism to begin what would be the first steps of the Jae Nam Mu Sul Won Foundation.

With this expansion, the federation became known as the International H.K.D. Federation, reflecting the triad of arts: hapkido, hankido, and hankumdo, adding the anagram:

It has been agreed, as had been the practice since the death of Choi, Joung Sool, that Korean and foreign instructors with a 5th dan and above would be registered with the Korean Hapkido Federation, an organization recognized by the Korean government. Following Choi, Joung Sool's death, instructors practicing with teachers recognized by the Korean Hapkido Federation would be registered with the IHF.

It has been agreed that, given the IHF's shift towards making HKD a new style, turning its back on Hapkido, and considering that the World Hankimuye Federation is recognized as a result of its efforts to teach HKD for over 10 years, as Kuksanim had envisioned, teaching and expanding Hapkido, and particularly HKD, as a further way to spread the Korean language and culture, the HKD style of the World Hankimuye Federation will be accepted within the Korean Hapkido Federation.

The agreements with the International Aikido Association that Kuksanim Myung Llan, Nam had secured during his lifetime are maintained by the Hankimuye organization, whose school bears the name of the late Myung Llan, Nam's school.

Because of all this, they turn their backs on the IHF organization, where Myung Llan, Nam's son, Myung Sung Kwang, has neglected the expansion of Hapkido, disregarding the foundations of Hapkido based on the school of its creator, Choi Young Sool, and thus disregarding the teachings of his father and, consequently, the current dojo of Morihei Ueshiba and his son Koichi Tohei, who assumed that honor after the death of their master (Choi Young Sool and Myung Llan, Nam), Sogaku Takeda.

This contempt, in turn, we believe, despises the international organization of Aikido as an organization that expands such a noble martial art (Aikido) and the foundations of the art so closely related to modern hapkido that is Kempo Karate, so widespread and well-known in Japan.