Learn to Counter the Techniques of Other Martial Arts As Well As Unskilled Attacks

Hapkido was first used by a group of Koreanbut the core techniques are found in all schools
nationals in the period after the Japanese colonialand should follow the basic principles of Hapkido,
era of Korea. Choi Yong Sul and his students; Suhwhich are: Nonresistance or Hwa, Circular Motion
Bok Sub, who was the first student of the art, Jior Won and The Water Principle or Ryu.
Han Jae promoter of the art, Kim Moo Hong,Hwa, means to stay relaxed and not directly
Myung Jae Nam who forged a the connectionoppose an opponent's strength rather use his own
between the art of hapkido and Japanese aikidostrength against him to unbalance him. Won, is the
and then founded Hankido, were responsible andcircular principle, shows you how to gain
given the credit for developing Hapkido. The artmomentum and execute a technique in a smooth
was originated solely as a self defense martial artstyle. An example shows that the bigger the
and today can be learned by anyone who isperson is, the more energy a person has, the
reasonably fit and the training helps students learnbetter it is for the Hapkido student and Ryu, is
an effective self defense method whilst gaining allthe water principle, thinking of soft, adaptable
the other benefits that martial arts training offersstrength of water. In Hapkido you do not rely on
such as self confidence, improved health, alongphysical force alone. A Hapkido student must learn
with increased fitness and stamina.to deflect an opponent's strike, in a smooth
As a self defense method, Hapkido employs jointmethod just like water being divided in a creek by
locks, pressure points, throws, kicks, and othera rock then rejoining itself once round. The core
strikes and is an authentic Asian martial art oftechniques are made up of either gentle or
total self-defense. Hapkido training teachesforceful throws and joint control techniques which
students how to deal not only with countering thewere derived from aikijujutsu. Most techniques in
techniques of other martial arts, but also ofHapkido work with a combination of unbalancing
common "unskilled" attacks. Practitioners ofthe attacker and applying pressure to specific
hapkido try to get the advantage over theirplaces on the body. Hapkido uses over 700
opponents through footwork and body positioningpressure points in the body for total
to employ leverage, avoiding the use of strengtheffectiveness.
against strength. Getting in close is the idealHapkido training is suitable for all ages, adults down
although long rang fighting techniques are taught.to young children. For the children under 12, a
As a martial art Hapkido is somewhere betweenmodified form is taught. No weapons can be used
the "soft" techniques of Aikido and the "hard"and all joint locking techniques have been
techniques of taekwondo, although, even with theremoved for these younger children's class and
"hard" techniques more emphasis is places onsimple throws are aimed at self defense and anti
circular movements rather than linear. Somebullying.
different schools teach slightly different techniques