Hapkido is a comprehensive, well-rounded martial art which was formed just after World War II in South Korea. Hapkido employs joint lock manipulation, throws, striking, ground fighting and pressure point fighting within its curriculum. Depending on the particular Hapkido system practiced, a wide variety of weapons may also be taught. The primary concepts of Hapkido technique place an emphasis on circular motion, non-resistance and being flexible and adaptable in terms of defending against an attack. Emphasis is also placed on using footwork, leverage, timing and technique to defeat an opponent while avoiding using strength directly against strength.

Hapkido initially descended from Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu and was later combined with native Korean combat methods to become the modern form of the art as it is today. Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu stretched back to the 19^th century in Japan. Many people try to inaccurately state that Hapkido is a direct ancient Korean martial art, when in fact it first came from Daito-Ryu and eventually combined with native Korean striking methods.

The founder of Hapkido, Yong-Sool Choi spent several years living in Japan during the Japanese occupation, where he learned the art of Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu. After World War II had ended, he returned to his native Korea. In 1948 he began teaching the art calling it “Dae Dong Ryu Yusool” (Korean translation of Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu) or “Yawara” (another name for Jujutsu), opening up his first official school along with his first student Bok-Seob Seo in 1951. Seo would become the first man whom Choi had awarded a Black Belt to.

The Hapkido that Grandmaster Choi taught is quite different from the modern form of today – initially, the art Grandmaster Choi was teaching was pure Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu. Seo, who was already a 1^st Dan in Judo, was significant in molding the art they were teaching as many techniques of Judo found would be incorporated into the art. Choi would go on to change the name of his art to “Yu Kwon Sool” as well as “Hap Ki Yu Kwan Sool”. Eventually the name Hapkido came into use in 1959 for the art.

One of Choi’s best students was Han-Jae Ji, who was instrumental in helping evolve Hapkido into its modern state. Along with another senior Choi student, Moo-Hong Kim, Ji added the complex kicking curriculum to Hapkido incorporated from Taekkeon. Additional hand strikes such as those found in Tang Soo Do were added as well at this time. Additionally Ji added offensive and defensive of several weapons to the art, along with meditation methods that he had learned. Ji was also very instrumental in the process of creating and naming the art Hapkido.

Over the years, Hapkido has become an eclectic & hybrid martial art due to natural evolution. The is no one unified form system of the art – the art has been subject to consistent adaptation & evolvement depending on each teacher or organization of the art. Although the core principles of Hapkido remain the same, different masters and practitioners have integrated the art with their own individual interpretations and self defense needs.

The form of Hapkido taught and practiced at Orange County Martial Arts Center is known as Kuk Sool-Hapkido. Kuk Sool (translating in Korean as “National Skill/Art/Techinique”) is a generic name that refers to many different martial art systems that use the term, with Kuk Sool Won being the most popular. Kuk Sool is study of all traditional Korean Martial Art styles and combat systems that have developed over the history of Korea. Therefore, Kuk Sool, should be considered a system rather than as an individual style of martial art. Kuk Sool provides an depth study of theories and techniques that address (and not limited to) striking, joint locks, blocking, trapping, pressure-points, throwing, grappling, ground fighting, falling & acrobatics, weapons, meditation & breathing, and healing methods.