"Hap Ki Do is not only a self-defense but also an art form; the art is the eventual ability to control the mind, spirit and body toward a more coordinated being."
Hap Ki Do
I wish to start by saying what Hapkido is not!!!
Many people would have you believe that Hapkido is some ancient martial art; rediscovered and redeveloped to fit modern times. The truth is, Hapkido is not some ancient 1800 year old martial art. The truth is, that an accurate history of the Korean martial arts are all but lost. Most of what is know is incomplete and assumed knowledge.
Hapkido is not a combination of Tae Kwon Do and Aikido mixed. The truth is that these arts developed roughly around the same time.
Hapkido is not a revision or predecessor of the Hwa Rang of ancient Korea. The truth is, Hapkido has no connection to any royal court or the Korean version of the samurai.
In truth, Hapkido is a modern martial art based off of various other ancient and modern systems.
The truth is simple!
Hapkido is a very modern system & the creation of a great number of Korean masters who were either the direct students of grandmaster Choi,Yong Sul or one of his senior students. For this reason Hapkido has become an incredibly diverse and varied art.
Not all Hapkido schools are the same. Many are based on Tae Kwon Do or hybridized systems. This development came about from different styles or martial artist's needs to add realistic combat effective techniques into their core curriculum using the techniques of Hapkido.
Also, check out Wikipedia. It has been edited by some of the most knowledgeable Hapkido practitioners out there:Wikipedia/Hapkido _________________________________________________
What is Hap Ki Do?
“The Art or Way of Coordinated Power.”
Hap Ki Do may be defined as an art that is both, internal and external, hard and soft, a complete art for self defense. It consists of dynamic offensive and defensive techniques using all parts of the body to their maximum advantage.
Hap Ki Do Practice:
Hap Ki Do practice is divided into-
• Striking (drilling punches, strikes and kicks)
• Ground work (using Hap Ki Do techniques on the ground, not a sport aspect)
• Joint work (the learning of joint locking and manipulation techniques)
• Pressure points (proper use and location of these points to assist in techniques)
• Body movement (the proper way to move and flow while dealing with an opponent to utilize their energy against them)
• Tan Jan breathing (breathing techniques)
• Weapons (traditional Hap Ki Do weapons and common objects for self defense)
• Sparring (for development of movement, timing, speed, power and technique)
Advanced belts-
• acupressure
• acupuncture
• massage therapy
• advanced weapons
In each category, the beginner is given instruction at the most basic level until the techniques become spontaneous. As the student progresses technically, he or she progresses physically as well, and advanced practices demand greater stamina. At this stage, the student becomes involved with more intricate and difficult techniques and more dynamic forms of sparring. As the student approaches black belt level, technique, stamina, speed, and coordination become natural as a result of strong practice. It is at this stage that the serious student discovers that his or her study of Hap Ki Do has only just begun. The object of true Hap Ki Do practice is the perfection of oneself through the perfection of the art.
Hap Ki Do as Self-defense:
Hap Ki Do is one of the most dynamic of all the martial arts. A trained Hapkidoist is able to coordinate mind and body perfectly, thereby allowing the unleashing of tremendous physical power at will. Therefore, it is not the possession of great physical strength that makes a strong Hapkidoist; rather it is the ability to coordinate mind and body. Upon developing this ability, even the smallest person finds that he or she has within himself or herself the power to deliver a devastating blow to any would-be attacker, destroy joints and limbs easily, control and manipulate any attacker regardless of their or your size.
The Benefits of Hap Ki Do:
In our everyday lives we often forget the value of exercise to both our physical and mental health. The practice of hap Ki Do tones the body, develops coordination, quickens reflexes, and builds stamina. At the same time the constant use and stretching of the joints helps build joint strength and increased resilience in them.
Also, the serious practice of hap Ki Do develops composure, a clearer thought process, deeper insight into one's mental capabilities, and more self-confidence. In this, Hap Ki Do is not an end, but a means to an end. It is an activity in which advancing age is not a hindrance. Rather it encourages proficiency in the keen coordination of mind and body.
For the most serious of Hap Ki Do practitioners, Hap Ki Do is a way of life, the Do. It becomes who they are and drives them in life, their morals, their directions in life, dealings with other people and most important of all honor, integrity, morality, discipline and respect all within one’s self.
“It is the principle that is to be mastered, not just the mere mechanical motions, before one can develop an effective system of self-defense.”
Techniques:
On the "hard-soft" scale of martial arts, Hapkido stands somewhere in the middle, employing "soft" techniques similar to Aikido and "hard" techniques reminiscent of Taekwondo. Even the "hard" techniques, though, emphasize circular rather than linear movements. Hapkido is an eclectic martial art, and different Hapkido schools emphasize different techniques. However, some core techniques are found in each school (kwan), and all techniques should follow the three principles of Hapkido:
• Circular principle- a way to gain momentum for executing techniques in a free-flowing manner.
• Water principle- as the flowing stream penetrates & surrounds its obstructions, & as dripping water eventually penetrates the stone, so does the Hap Ki Doist’s strength flow in & through its opponents.
• Nonresistance- Harmonizing of body, mind, and spirit within one’s environment is a fundamental long-term goal of Hap Ki Do training. When all these elements act in harmony, technique becomes fluid, continuous, and instinctive.
Won, thecircular principle, is a way to gain momentum for executing the techniques in a natural and free-flowing manner. If an opponent attacks in Linear motion, as in a punch or knife thrust, the Hapkido student would redirect the opponent's force by simply leading the attack in a circular pattern, thereby adding the attacker's power to his own. Once he had redirected the power, the Hapkido student could execute any of a variety of techniques to incapacitate his attacker. The Hapkido practitioner learns to view an attacker as an "energy entity" rather than as a physical one. The bigger the person is, or the more energy a person has, the better it is for the Hapkido student.
Yu, thewater principle, is best described if one pictures the quiet, direct strength in free-flowing water. When you touch water, it is soft; you don't feel anything. But when it comes to water and power, water can be the most powerful thing in the world, turning huge power turbines, or cutting through solid stone to form great canyons. When water is coming down from a stream and meets a rock or other obstruction instead of crashing into it, it always goes around.
"As the flowing stream penetrates and surrounds its obstructions and as dripping water eventually penetrates the stone, so does the Hapkido strength flow in and through its opponents."
Hwa, ornonresistance, is simply the act of remaining relaxed and not directly opposing an opponent's strength. For example, if an opponent were to push against a Hapkido student's chest, rather than resist and push back, the Hapkido student would avoid a direct confrontation by moving in the same direction as the push and utilizing the opponent's forward momentum to throw him
Core Techniques:
These consist of gentle or forceful throws and joint control techniques derived largely from Aikijutsu. They are taught similarly to Aikido techniques, but in general the circles are smaller. Aikido circles are taught wide and large for novices because they are slower and easier, but experts are expected to execute techniques in small circles with the same ease. The ki becomes more focused as the circles get smaller, and perhaps the difference between the two arts is the pedagogical subtlety of Aikido and the directness of Hapkido in the nature of circular energy. Most techniques work by a combination of unbalancing the attacker and applying pressure to specific places on the body, known as hyul. Hapkido makes use of over 300 pressure points.
Yudo:
Yudo (Judo in Japanese) techniques are centered around extensive throws applied at closer range than the core techniques. The techniques differ somewhat because of the smaller circles applied to combat, and because of the types of application that are practiced in Hapkido. Yudo techniques also include various chokes, hold downs, joint locks, and other grappling techniques used to control the opponent on the ground.
Kicking:
The wide variety of kicks in Hapkido differentiates it from Aikido and makes it distinctly Korean. In general they are similar to Taekwondo kicks, though again circular motion is emphasized. Some varieties of Hapkido only use kicks to the lower body, but traditional Hapkido also includes high kicks and jumping kicks. The kicks in Hapkido are more extensive than in most other Korean arts, including very specialized kicks for all occasions.
Hand Strikes:
Like most martial arts, Hapkido employs a large number of punches and other hand strikes, as well as elbows. A distinctive example of Hapkido hand techniques is "live hand" strike that focuses energy to the baek hwa hyul in the hand, producing energy strikes and internal strikes. The hand strikes are used often to weaken the opponent before joint locking and throwing, and also as finishing techniques. The primary influence for our strikes in this school are based upon 3 main arts: American style boxing, Wing Chun and Muai Thai.
Weapons:
As a Hapkido student advances through the various belt levels (basically the same as other Korean arts, e.g. Taekwondo), he or she learns how to employ and defend against various weapons. The first weapon encountered is most often the knife. Then, techniques and defenses against the short stick, the long staff, the sword, the walking cane, the rope and common objects are introduced in Hapkido training.
Training:
Hapkido training takes place in a dojang (dojo in Japanese). While training methods vary, a typical training session will contain technique practice, break falling (nakbop), sparring, and exercises to develop internal energy (ki).
Although Hapkido is in some respects a "soft" or "internal" art, training is very vigorous and demanding. The practitioner could benefit in training by being lean and muscular. However, strength is not a prerequisite of Hapkido; what strength and fitness is necessary to perform the techniques develops naturally as a result of training. Hapkido is appropriate for persons of all ages and helps develop fitness. Unlike Taekwondo or Karate, there is little to no competition in Hapkido. The very powerful techniques of Hapkido can pose a great risk of injury or even death if applied uncontrollably for such competitive events.
Since its founding, Hapkido has become one of the most popular and respected martial arts in the world. Many military officials and police officers take Hapkido as part of their self-defense training. Taekwondo students often learn Hapkido as part of their curriculum for self-defense, and it is not uncommon for Taekwondo instructors to also hold rank in Hapkido.
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