Hapkido

Hapkido
Also known asHapkido, Hap Ki Do, Hapki-Do
FocusStriking, Kicking, Joint Locks, Grappling, Traditional Weapons, Internal Martial Arts
Country of originSouth Korea
CreatorNo single creator; collaborative effort of Choi Yong-sool's earliest students.[1][2][3]
Famous practitioners
ParenthoodJapanese martial arts
Ancestor arts
Descendant arts
Hapkido
Hangul
합기도
Hanja
合氣道
Revised RomanizationHapgido
McCune–ReischauerHapkido
Hapkido

Hapkido (UK: /ˌhæpkˈd/ HAP-kee-DOH,[4] US: /hɑːpˈkd/ hahp-KEE-doh,[5] also spelled hap ki do or hapki-do; from Korean 합기도 hapgido [hap̚.ki.do]) is a Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, grappling, throwing techniques, kicks, punches, and other striking attacks. It also teaches the use of traditional weapons, including knife, sword, rope, nunchaku (ssang juhl bong), cane (ji pang ee), short stick (dan bong), and middle-length staff (joong bong), gun (analogous to the Japanese jō), and (Japanese), which vary in emphasis depending on the particular tradition examined.

Hapkido employs both long-range and close-range fighting techniques, utilizing jumping kicks and percussive hand strikes at longer ranges, and pressure point strikes, joint locks, and throws at closer fighting distances. Hapkido emphasizes circular motion, redirection of force, and control of the opponent. Practitioners seek to gain advantage over their opponents through footwork and body positioning to incorporate the use of leverage, avoiding the use of brute strength against brute strength.

The art was adapted from Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu as it was taught by Choi Yong-sool (최용술) when he returned to Korea after World War II after having lived in Japan for 30 years. This system was later combined by Choi's disciples with kicking and striking techniques of indigenous and contemporary arts such as Taekkyon and Tang Soo Do; as well as various throwing techniques and ground fighting from Japanese Judo.[6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hapkido Bible was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "[박정진의 무맥] (24) 일본에서 다시 돌아온 화랑무예 합기도". Segye Ilbo. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  3. ^ "[허인욱의 무인이야기]장보고와 정년 그리고 송징". Mookas.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  4. ^ "hapkido". OxfordDictionaries.com. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  5. ^ "hapkido". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  6. ^ Jin, Sung Woo (2009). A Study on Athletiction to Establish the identity of Korean Hapkido (Thesis). Korea Sunmoon University General Graduate School.