What is the Hapkido?
Where & when did Hapkido start? Where can I learn hapkido?
Hapkido is a fighting style that originated in Korea.
This Korean martial art contains quite a huge variety of techniques including locks, holds, and throws that originate from Japanese jujitsu (various fighting styles of the Japanese samurai).
Hapkido classes also include learning kicks and punches, often times also some high and aerial kicks, as well as short kicks, and the use of traditional weapons.
Among the traditional weapons taught in Hapkido, one can find:
- Nunchuku
- Sticks – short and long
- Sometimes a sword is also studied
- Rope for defense purposes Self-defense
- Improvised weapons
The Hapkido fighting system was developed by a Korean martial artist who lived in Japan for 30 years, and studied the Japanese fighting method Daito-Ryu-Aikijitsu (one of the ancient fighting methods that has also led to Aikido).
Apparently, the addition of kicks, throws, and judo techniques to Hapkido were later added by the successors of the developer of Hapkido.
The main difference between Aikido and Hapkido is that in Aikido, hundreds of deadly techniques have been removed (excluded), and Aikido teachers usually teach a group of few specific techniques, which are taught to be applied in a wide variety of ways.
While on the other hand Hapkido teaches a wider range of self-defense skills and techniques that have applications against many weapons, as well as fighting with weapons, and punching-kicking, all aspects that do not exist in Aikido.
Almost all the kicking techniques that are included in the Korean martial art Taekwondo are identical to those taught and practiced in his Hapkido:
Spinning kicks, thrust kicks, circular kicks and sweeps are all included in the art of Hapkido. However, due to the fact that Hapkido is not a sport fighting style (there are no competitions), other kicking techniques that are not taught in Taekwondo are also used, such as low kicks and knee strikes.
The basic punching techniques of Hapkido are also similar to those of Taekwondo, and are essentially linear attacks in a straight line.
It is important to remember that when defending yourself or fighting in a confined or crowded area, such as a narrow hallway, the use of kicks is not always very practical. Self-defense techniques such as elbows, knees, head strikes and joint attacks are essential for survival in such situations. All of these techniques practiced in the art of hapkido are meant to be practical in all ranges of self-defense.
Click to go to page Fighting and Hapkido Training Videos
Want to learn powerful self-defense with Hapkido?
Click here to view all the teachers who teach deposit in Israel