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Hapkido
Krabi-KrabongAccording to The Martial Arts Encyclopedia by Jennifer Lawler, Krabi-Krabong is Thailand's art of sword and staff fighting. Krabi-Krabong ..... Hapkido is a martial art whose name was conceived after Choi Yong Shul developed and refined the techniques of the traditional Korean art of Yu-Sol in the 1930s. Choi Yong Shul incorporated elements of Aikido into Korean fighting techniques. In literal terms, Hapkido means, "the way of coordinated power." "Hap" means, "coordination or harmony," "Ki" stands for "essence of power" and "Do" refers to "the art" or "the way."
Every Hapkido technique was developed to serve a sound self-defense purpose. Hapkido is primarily a defensive style of martial arts so a Hapkido fighter generally waits for his opponent to make the first attack. In the past, Hapkido employed grappling and throwing techniques. In recent times, however, Hapkido has expanded its repertoire of techniques to include strikes and kicks. The United States had its first taste of Hapkido in the 1960s and since then Hapkido has enjoyed a growing popularity in this country. br>
The result of over a millennium's pursuit of "the Way," Hapkido is a precise and pragmatic martial art combines potent and sweeping kicking and throwing techniques with flawless and fierce hand techniques. br>
About thirteen centuries ago, there were three kingdoms in the land that North and South Korea are now occupying. These kingdoms were Kokuryo, Paikche and Silla. Kokuryo's people were renowned for their military and mental prowess (head). The people of Silla were craftemen (hands) and the people of Paikche were agrarians (feet). br>
During this time it was believed that the safety of many was in the hands of a select few. These select few were a group of privileged young noblemen, who came to be known as Hwarangdo. Together they developed "a way of life." They based this way of life on a rigid code of moral principles and a regulated lifestyle that is devoted to living harmoniously with the natural laws of the universe. br>
Bloodshed and insurgency were a part of every day life in Korea thirteen centuries ago. Silla's King Chin-Heung worked with the Mongols in order to overthrow the kings of Kokuryo and Paikche. Defeated and outnumbered, the remaining royalty of the kingdoms of Kokuryo and Paikche took to the mountains and the neighboring islands. A group of people from Kokuryo sailed to the Island of Hokkaido while a group of people from Paikche sailed to Kyushu. In Kyushu they formed some of Japan's first ancient settlements. br>
The people who took to the mountains started a monastic order. There in the mountains for 500 years they carried on their traditions in secret. It was during these 500 years that the monks honed and refined their fighting skills. Monasteries were built in the mountains and each monastery developed its own style and concepts of fighting. Among the fighting styles developed in the monasteries was Tae Kyon, a martial art of kicking. Tae Kyon was considered the deadliest and most potent of the fighting styles. br>
From 1910 until the end of World War II, Korea was under the rule of Japan. During this period, it was oa common occurrence for Korean families and their treasures to be moved to Japan. It was during the Japanese occupation of Korea that Yong Sul Choi, then a young boy, was sent to live in Japan. When he was nine, Yong Sul Choi lived among monks in a Buddhist temple. However, it was not long until the monks decided that Yong Sul Choi and monastic life were not a good fit. br>
It was also during this time that many great fighters, in conforming with ancient traditions, devoted themselves to undertaking yearly pilgrimages throughout Japan in order to hone their skills and expertise in martial arts. These martial arts warriors visited local temples, offered prayers and donated money. br>
Master Shokaku Takeda, a martial arts warrior, learned swordsmanship from his father and grandfather. He taught Daito-Ryu Aiki Jujitsu, an unarmed style of martial art that focused on using joint locks, strikes and nerve attacks to subdue an adversary. Master Takeda was a regular visitor of the monastery in which Yong Sul Choi lived. During one of his visits, a monk saw an opening and implored Master Takeda to take the young Choi under his wing and make Choi his follower. br>
Master Takeda took the young Choi to Japan and made him his assistant and student. Young Choi received hard and rigid training from Master Takeda. Choi lived in Japan for 35 years and he spent all those years training under Master Takeda. Towards the end of World War II, Grand Master Choi sailed back to Korea and established a small school in Taegu, Korea's third largest city. There in Taegu he started to informally train a small group of students. br>
Shortly after the Korean War ended, Grand Master Bong Soo Han met and started training with Grand Master Yong Sul Choi. In the following years, Grand Master Han formed a personal and devoted relationship with Grand Master Yong Sul Choi, who is regarded as the founder of modern day Hapkido. br>
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