THE FOUNDER OF HAPKIDO

Hapkido was developed by Sul Choi (1904-1986). Master Choi moved to Japan in 1911 (due to the Japanese occupation Korea) where he was adopted into the family of Sokaku Takeda.
Sokaku Takeda (1860 - 1943) was head of the ancient Japanese martial arts of Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu.

Aikijujutsu was founded by Prince Teijun, the sixth son of the Emperor Seiwa (850 - 880) who was the 56th ruler of Japan. Tsunamoto, Prince Teijun’s eldest son, was given the name Minamoto and the art was passed on to succeeding generations of the Minamoto family. By the time the art has reached Yoshimitsu Minamoto (1056 - 1127), the foundation has already been laid. Y. Minamoto is regarded as the actual founder of the daito ryu ( the “great eastern style” of aikijujutsu).

Yosimitsu Minamoto’s grandson, Yoshikyio Minamoto founded the Takeda branch of the Minamoto family in the province of Kai. In 1574, Kunitsugu Takeda established Takeda family in the province Aizu. Thereafter the art remained an exclusively samurai practice and was handed down within the family until Japan emerged from isolation into the Meiji period of 1868.

During the Meiji period, Sokaku Takeda become the head of Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu as well as the link between ancient and modern martial arts. Yong Sul Choi trained and lived with Sokaku Takeda for many decades. Following World War II, Choi returned to Korea with the blessing of Sokaku Takedato spread his discipline.

HAPKIDO - THE WAY OF HARMONY

The word Hapkido broadly translated means: The Way of Harmony. The  practice of Hapkido trains the students to relax and align their bodies so that the weight of the various parts are directed to a common center. Practicing Hapkido teaches one to coordinate and unify the mind and body so that one can function unaffected by an outside influence. The movements are designed to keep a physical attack from interfering with this unified state.

Hapkido is both an art of self-defense and way of life, a discipline of coordination. This is a unique martial art because it enables one to bring an attacker under complete control. This can be accomplished by the directional force of their own movement.

Hapkido is a martial art involving:

- yusul (throwing techniques)
- kwanjyelsul (locking and pinning techniques)
- joksul (kicking techniques)
- kwonsul (striking techniques)

. The hand techniques are based on hard and soft forms. The foot techniques are based on linear and circular forms. It is in the sphere of the internal dynamics that the principle of KI (vital energy) and indivisibility of um-yang (yin-yang in Chinese) express themselves as the basic of power.

Hapkido training also involves the practice of training with traditional muki (weapons). Training with weapons provides certain qualities that are difficult to discover with hand to hand techniques, and weapons increase the intensity of practice.