Sin Moo Hapkido

Sin Moo Hapkido
Sin Moo Hapkido logo.
Korean name
Hangul
신 무 합기도
Hanja
神武 合氣道
Revised RomanizationSin Mu Hapgido
McCune–ReischauerSin Mu Hapkido

Sin Moo Hapkido (pronounced as Shin Moo Hawpkido) is a martial art that combines "hard" and "soft" techniques. From a purely technical perspective, it is very closely related to its parent art, Traditional Hapkido, though it places more emphasis on meditative, philosophical, and Ki development training. Hapkido is often translated as “the way of coordinating power,” which places emphasis on the physical techniques that Hapkido is often known for. However, the founder of Sin Moo Hapkido, Ji Han-jae, has landed on a different understanding of the term. Hap means bringing together, gathering, or harmonizing. “Ki” is the energy or breath in the body that connects the mind and the body, and "Do" is the process or way this happens. Thus, his definition of Hapkido is, “The way of harmonizing the mind and body through the utilization of ki.” Sin means "higher mind or higher spirit," and "Moo" means "martial art."

When translated in its entirety, Sin Moo Hapkido[1] therefore means, “The way of using martial arts to harmonize the mind and body to reach a higher more enlightened state of existence.”[2]

  1. ^ "A Brief History of Sinmoo Hapkido".
  2. ^ Bradley, Sean (2010). "The Pineal Gland's Biochemical Function in the Fighting and Meditative Arts Exemplified in Korean Sinmoo Hapkido". Journal of Asian Martial Arts. 19 (2): 28–29.