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Hapkido
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"The Way of Focused Energy" |
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By Mark Castle – 2nd Dan
Hapkido – A Dynamic Study of Integration |
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Hapkido is a Martial Art that has roots leading primarily from two countries,
Korea and
Japan. Hapkido is a
path to harmonize with earth, heaven, and nature. It is a study in the methods
to enhance internal and external power. The cultivation of this power can be
used for the defense of oneself and others. It contains a blend of the two major
styles of the martial arts, “hard and soft”. Hard-styles contain direct
techniques of a linear (direct) nature. Soft-styles contain circular techniques
that use the opponents own force against them, which enables a much smaller
person to defend themselves against a larger opponent. Hapkido has a compliment
of both styles contained in its techniques. The techniques of Hapkido are
combative, not competitive and are unsuitable for use in competitions.
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The Japanese Connection |
In 1913, during the
Japanese occupation of Korea, the young boy
Young Sool Choi
was an orphan. He was abducted from Korea and taken to
Japan to be a personal
slave to a Japanese candy maker. The candy maker could not support the food and
expenses required for this endeavor and abandoned him soon after arrival to
Japan. The connection to Japan begins with the founder of the
Daito-Ryu (Great
Eastern Style) Aikijitsu and is tied to the
Minamoto Clan.
Emperor Seiwa Tenno
is credited with founding the Daito-Ryu in 850 A.D.. The Daito-Ryu has a rich
history with many of the Samurai Warrior’s rising to leadership positions
throughout Japan’s centuries of civil wars.
The Daito-Ryu clan had a line of descendants over the centuries leading to
Sokaku Tekeda.
Sokaku Tekeda (1859-1943) was renowned as a Great Master in the
Daito-Ryu heritage. He reportedly trained over 30,000 people although he was
totally illiterate. He was in his prime at 43 years old when he received a new
houseboy, Young Sool Choi.
Young Sool Choi was given to
Sakaku Tekeda as a personal assistant (houseboy)
and for the next 30 years he was constantly at his side. Because of the
excellent job he performed, he was allowed to begin practicing Aikijitsu. As a
live-in student (Uchi-Denshi), he began by cleaning the Dojo and watching the
students practice for the first 6 months. He was invited to begin training and
eventually earned the title of “Assistant in all Instruction” from
Sokaku
Tekeda. Over the course of the next 30 years he developed into a Master of the
Daito-Ryu Style. While in Japan, Young Sool Choi was given a Japanese name of
Asao Yoshida. At the time of Sakaku Tekeda’s death (1943), Young Sool Choi was
told to return to Korea and spread the techniques he had learned. During this
time in history, it would have been very dangerous for a Korean to have stayed
in Japan.
Another student of
Sakaku Tekeda was
Morihei Uyshiba and is known as O’ Sensei.
In 1943, after 20 years of studying Daito-Ryu techniques, he founded the
Japanese Art of Aikido. The original (True) Aikido is a use of the techniques
within the Daito-Ryu to demonstrate and better understand the laws of the
Universe and the rules of life. To the uninformed, Aikido looks like a dance
with willing partners, but to those who are familiar with the art realize the
power and precision within the application of each technique.
The Daito-Ryu still continues to this day in Japan. In 1994, Dari Katsuyuki
Kondohe was appointed the leader of the Daito-Ryu to continue its long standing
traditions and the protection of its techniques.
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The Korean Connection |
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The Korean’s also had a long standing history in the Martial Arts. The Martial
Art of Tae Kyon is the ancient kicking skill that was widespread during the time
of the Three Kingdoms (Koguryo,
Paekje, and
Silla) (668A.D.) instilled into
Korea’s history. The Korean Arts are “hard” style and focused on linear
techniques. There is a strong foundation of punching and kicking seen in the
cultivation of the Martial Arts created in Korea that have been prevalent for
centuries. When Young Sool Choi returned to Korea from Japan, the transformation
began.
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The Transformation |
In 1943, Young Sool Choi returned to his native country, Korea. Master Choi held
several odd jobs while trying to begin a Martial Art school in Korea. He
integrated many of Korea’s strikes and kicking movements into the repertories of
techniques he learned from the Daito-Ryu. He began teaching classes in Korea
during the integration process of development that lead to the creation of a new
Martial Art, Hapkido.
Young Sool Choi (1904-1986) is credited as the founder of Korean Hapkido (name
used in 1958). Grandmaster Choi integrated kicks and weapons used in many Korean
Martial Arts into the curriculum. The Martial Art of Hapkido quickly spread
throughout Korea. Virtually every town in Korea has a Hapkido school contained
within it. Hapkido has become part of the cultural arts that Korea is now famous
for. Grandmaster Choi has trained thousands of students in Hapkido. There are
four students who stand out from the rest and deserve recognition. Grandmaster
Ji Han-Jae, Grandmaster
Bong-Soo Han, Grandmaster
Kwang-Sik Myung, and
Grandmaster Tae-Man Kwon all began their training under the founder of Hapkido,
Grandmaster Young Sool Choi. They were all his first generation students who
worked their way up to achieve mastery of the techniques of Hapkido. Each one of
the Grandmasters have developed their own organizations and deserve recognition
for the contributions they have made to spreading Hapkido throughout the World.
Hapkido in Korea is overseen by three organizations: The Korean Kido Federation,
The Korean Hapkido Federation, and The
International Hapki Federation. The
Korean Kido Federation (President,
In Sun Seo, 1983) was granted the right to
regulate and supervise the standards of teaching as well as promotional
requirements of Black Belts for 31 different Korean Martial Arts in 1963 by the
Korean Government.
One of the early students of Young Sool Choi was
Kwang-Sik Myung. He began
studying martial arts at the age of eight and achieved his 1st Dan in
Hapkido at
the age of twelve years old. Master Myung has dedicated almost his whole life
for the development and spread of Hapkido. While in Korea, he moved throughout
his life carrying the tenants of Hapkido and sharing them with anyone willing to
learn. Master Myung was appointed a permanent Director of the
Korean Hapkido
Association. Master Myung was extended an invitation to visit the United States
from the Government in the late 1950’s. He moved to the United States around
1960. |
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The American Connection |
The first Hapkido School opened in the United States in 1964. Sea Oh Choi, at the
time a 5th Dan Black Belt, immigrated to America and opened the first school in
Los Angeles, California. He found that his techniques were readily accepted from
all his students. Hapkido was growing in popularity all along the West Coast.
Grandmaster Kwan Sik Myung migrated to Detroit, Michigan. Grandmaster Myung
opened a Hapkido School in Detroit Michigan in the early 1960’s. Hapkido
continued its rise to fame and popularity throughout the world during this
time in its growth phase.
Grandmaster Myung founded the World Hapkido Federation in 1973. The World Hapkido Federation
now has thousands of members in 30 different countries and is now one of the
largest Martial Arts organizations in the world.
One of Grandmaster Myung’s Students is Master Crays of the Indiana TaeKwonDo Academy.
Master Crays has studied Hapkido while associated with his 30+ years of TaeKwonDo
training and teaching under Grand Master Chul Koo Yoon. In 1999, Master Crays
began the focused study of Hapkido from Grandmaster Myung. The Hapkido curriculum
at the Indiana TaeKwonDo Academy has been in intense development for the last seven years.
The class began with all Black Belts in TaeKwonDo and has grown to accept new students
who wish to learn the traditional ways of Hapkido.
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The Blended Arts - Hapkido |
The major difference between Hapkido and Aikijitsu is found in Hapkido’s
addition of kicks and powerful hand striking techniques to generate a balance
between the soft and hard styles of Japanese and Korean Martial Arts. Hapkido
has evolved into a unique blend of meditation, kicks, strikes, punches, joint
locks, chokes, pressure points, pins, grappling, ground fighting and energy
throws which no other form of martial art can boast. Hapkido has thousands of
movements and techniques (3,864), so there is always a new element to study,
refine, and master.
Martial Arts should be a method to defend yourself only when it’s absolutely
necessary – other than that, it should be seen as a method to focus your body,
mind, and spirit. Martial Arts train your body to become acutely in tune with
your mind. From this, you can raise your consciousness to a much more refined
level of intuitive understanding than is possessed by the average individual.
Traditional Martial Arts training teaches us to seek peaceful solutions to all
conflicts even though it is based on warfare techniques. The ability to handle a
situation without fighting is the primary aim of the true Martial Arts. The
development of inner power is very important.
The development of Ki energy is a primary aim for the student of Hapkido. Ki is
the universal life force of all living things; it nourishes and sustains all
life. Ki is linked to the breath. The breath is the dominate factor of life. The
mastery of the breath or breath control is the primary technique in harnessing
and developing Ki. Though Ki can not be physically touched, the essence of its
energy has been documented for centuries.
There are three primary principles visible during the observation of Hapkido
techniques being executed. The first is Yu, the theory of flowing water. The
theory states that you should never meet the force head on. Instead, you should
divert the flow of the attack with softness and disperse it. The fluid movements
maximize the Um and Yang (yin/yang) of change and opens up the opponent’s
weaknesses towards the techniques found in Hapkido. The fluid movements are
easily used to move between offensive and defensive needs during a
confrontation. The secondly theory is Won, the theory of the circle. Circular
movements make it possible to use the attacker’s force against them. The
stronger the attacking force is, the more strength can be used in retaliation.
The last principle is Wha, the theory of harmony. The ability to harmonize with
the opponents force and make that force your own enables a smaller defender to
gain leverage over a much larger attacker. Harmony also entails the integration
of your own mind, body, and spirit. The overall goal is to harmonize ourselves
into the natural life force contained within the Universe. |
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Summary |
The study of Hapkido develops inner personal discipline. The discipline over
time creates inner strength and self reliance. A subtle growth gradually occurs
within each individual who studies Hapkido which is a life changing event. Our
perception of ourselves, the world we live in, and our contribution to the
universe becomes apparent over a life-time of study. The Do of Hapkido is a
path, not a destination. The student has a lifetime to learn, develop, and
refine the principles while traveling the path into their future.
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“To Win One Hundred Victories in One Hundred Battles is not the Highest Skill. |
To subdue the
Enemy Without Fighting is the Highest Skill.”
Sun-Tzu |
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Pictorial Gallery |
Sokaku Tekeda – Grandmaster Daito-Ryu
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Aikijitsu Grandmaster Young Sool Choi – Founder of Hapkido Grandmaster
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Kwang Sik Myung – Founder of the World Hapkido Federation
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Grandmaster In Sun Seo – President of The Korean Kido Federation
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Focused Meditation for the development of Ki – Master Marc Tedeschi
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