COMBAT HAPKIDO : A BRIEF HISTORY
“The most widely accepted version of the origins of hapkido is that it was founded by Choi Yong-sul. This is really no reliable information on Choi’s life, but it is generally reported that he developed the system by combining native Korean fighting methods with Japanese daito-ryu aikijujutsu.”
“Had it not been for the extremely brutal 35 year Japanese occupation of Korea and the consequent hatred of all things Japanese on the part of the Korean people, Choi would have been perfectly content to teach aikijujutsu or the generic name yawara (self defense), hapkido would not have come into existence”. “Political and ethnic necessities demanded that Choi Koreanize the system and introduce it with a new name”. “Details on this process of Koreanization, both in name and in technical attributes, are extremely sketchy”. “What is known and ultimately relevant is that around 1948, Choi and a few of his original students started using the word hapkido and started teaching this new hybrid martial art”. “For example, he modified aikido sword-defense techniques to better fit the grabbing attacks his students would meet on the street”. He also added Korean-style hand and foot strikes to bolster hapkido’s effectiveness”. “Another undeniable fact is that post World War II Korea was a dangerous place with a collapsed social infrastructure, rampant crime, and pervasive poverty”. “Therefore, Choi was teaching an extremely effective, never before seen system of self defense at the right time and place”. “Hapkido was born because history placed Choi at the convergence of unique political and social events”.
"The literal translation of the word hapkido is tied closely to that of the Japanese word aikido”. “Hap- to combine, to unite, to coordinate, to join”. “Ki- internal power, dynamic energy, life force”. “Do-the way, the system, the method”. “Hapkido’s foundation rests on three universal principles:
“The water principle directs practitioners to penetrate the defense of an opponent by flowing in, over, around and under his attacks”.
“The circular-motion principle directs practitioners to gain and impart momentum by moving in a circular manner. This helps control the balance and kinetic energy of the attacker”.
“The harmony principle directs practitioners to remain relaxed, flexible and not tense. They learn to not meet force with force”.
Combat Hapkido the Martial Art for the Modern Warrior, by John Pellegrini