Hapkido is a type of Korean martial art that's designed as a self-defense system. The word "hapkido" comes from the Korean words "hap," which means to combine in harmony, "ki" which means the power of mind and body and "do," which means a way of life. Many different styles of hapkido have developed throughout history, but the art began as a martial art with softer techniques than other types of systems like jiu jitsu and tae kwon do. If you're interested in learning hapkido, many different martial arts centers throughout the world now offer classes for a range of ages and abilities.
Description
Hapkido is a type of Korean art of self-defense that focuses on techniques of averting violence, according to the World Hapkido Association. Unlike other types of martial arts styles, hapkido doesn't use physical force to fight violence but instead teaches how to divert the attacker's force in a more peaceful manner. Hapkido requires little physical strength or size to subdue an attacker, using at most pressure on certain points of the body and joints to suppress an attack. Hapkido hasn't become a sport like karate, judo and other types of martial arts, notes the Hapkido International Association.
History
Hapkido and other similar martial arts techniques date back to 57 B.C. during the Three Kingdom Era in Korea, according to the WHA. The techniques developed into what is now used in hapkido around 372 A.D., about the time that Buddhism was introduced in Korea. Warriors used hapkido techniques to hone their self defense and mental discipline during battle. Korean royalty began learning hapkido from Buddhist monks, so that they could defend themselves against attackers from warring kingdoms. Hapkido and other Korean martial arts nearly disappeared after the 1400s, when Buddhism was replaced with Confucianism in Korea and martial arts were banned in many regions. After Japanese rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945, hapkido again experienced a rise in popularity. The first modern schools for hapkido arose in the late 1950s in Korea, shortly thereafter spreading throughout the rest of the world, the American Hapkido Federation says.
Types
Unlike traditional hapkido's "soft" techniques, modern Hapkido typically combines "hard" techniques as well. Hapkido consists of martial arts moves that redirect the attacker's physical force and turns the violence back on the attacker. In traditional hapkido, all the moves are designed to suppress the attacker's violence and aggression using the minimal amount of physical force necessary. If you train in hapkido, you will likely gain not only self-defense skills, but also physical conditioning and mental discipline. Modern hapkido combines traditional techniques and more aggressive moves from other martial arts, and it even incorporates some weapons. Still, the traditional hapkido techniques shine through in today's teachings, making the discipline effective for all, including women and children.
Significance
Today, Hapkido is very popular in North and South Korea, with schools in nearly every city, notes the WHA. Hapkido schools are also found throughout the world, particularly in the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, as well as many European countries. In Korea, hapkido is an essential element of training in government organizations and military academies. Modern-day hapkido teaches hundreds of different moves, derived from traditional techniques and other martial arts.
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