Hapkido: An Original Mixed Martial Art

Hapkido is a powerful and innovative Korean martial art. Combining effective indigenous Korean kicking and hand techniques, with the throwing and grappling skills of Daito-Ryu Aiki Jujitsu, Hapkido was an intergrated, or mixed, martial art before the term was in vogue.

Literally translated, the word Hap means coordination or harmony, Ki denotes the essence of power, and Do means the art or the Way. Hapkido incorporates powerful and precise kicking techniques; fluid and highly effective throwing techniques; and decisive and sharp hand techniques. This concise and practical martial art is the result of a 1300-year pursuit of the Way.

The philosophy of Hapkido stems from three basic principles: The first is non-resistance: yield to your opponent by meeting force with minimum force to deflect and not clash with your opponent's power. The second is circular motion: the use of circular, fluid, flowing movements are emphasized rather than linear movements. The third is the water principle: total penetration of an aggressor's defenses through continual attack. Instead of opposing force by force, a Hapkidoist completes his opponent's movement by "accepting his flow of energy as he aims it," and defeats him by "borrowing his own force."

A good Hapkido practitioner does not oppose force or give way completely. He, or she, is as pliable as a spring; the complement and not the opposition to the opponent's strength.