Hapkido is a form of the
Korean Martial Art familiar to most people knowledgeable in the
martial arts field. However, not many people actually know of its
origins and more importantly, what makes it unique.
Hapkido was derived from ancient
Aikijitsu, an early form of the now known Japanese martial art
Aikido, combined with a blend of Korean Karate. Aikijitsu was
brought over from Japan to Korea in 1946 after World War II by the
founder of original Hapkido, Young Sool Choi, who reportedly studied
with the same Grand Master of Aikijitsu as did Morihei Ueshiba, the
founder of Aikido. To understand the unique nature of Hapkido, it is
perhaps best to become more acquainted with its fathers.
Aikijitsu, applied by combining
bending, twisting and pressure points various parts of the body, was
developed in to present day Aikido whose immobilization techniques
and energy throws became its trademarks while retraining the methods
and precision of its precursor. The major difference between Aikijitsu
and Aikido is found in the style of fluidity, which is
very important when examining present-day Hapkido. Korean Karate as
a counterpart to Aikijitsu, differs mainly from Aikijitsu in its
skillful implementation of dynamic kicks and powerful hand strikes.
It was this difference in mind that original Hapkido was created,
producing a dynamic balance of both methods.
Hapkido as known today differs from
its original form. Contemporary Hapkido is actually the result of
the extreme hard work and training of three men who have given it
that uniqueness so respected. In Korea, during the mid-1960s, Jae
Nam Myong and Myung Sung Kang, both accomplished old-style Hapkido
masters, met with an equally accomplished Aikido master, Hirata,
with the desire to incorporate Aikido into Hapkido and vice versa.
Their task was to add the more fluid,
circular movements of Aikido in to Hapkido while retaining the very
direct techniques of original Hapkido. After more then 25 years of
research and arduous training, this form of Hapkido was perfected
into a precise art with more advanced methods than most
of the original Hapkido, flourishing into a unique blend of the
kicks, strikes, joint locks and energy throws which no other form of
martial art can boast.
Kuk Sa Nim (Grand Master) Jae Nam
Myong (1938 - 1999) is the founder of the International Hapkido
Federation and represents the International Aikido Federation in
Korea. Master Myung Sung Kang, 8th Dan Master, is now the President
of the United States International Hapkido Federation. Master Kang's
son, Jino, is the 5th Dan Master Instructor of the USA Headquarters
of the International Hapkido Federation at the San Francisco Karate
Club.
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