Hapkido is an eclectic, effective, powerful martial art that combines the soft with the hard. Joint locks, throws, strikes, kicks, weapons…ground survival.

I have studied Soo Moo Kwan Hapkido with Master Seung Choi Park (GM Lee) and obtained my first Dan with them here in Seoul Korea, then I have studied under Master Shin, Dong Won in Daegu Korea where it all originated. Our Granmaster is Lim, Hyun Soo and has been awarded his ninth degree by the founder of Hapkido.

Interesting to notice is that the original Hapkido only had low powerful kicking (below the waist) few kwans practice only low kicking like JungKi Kwan Hapkido. Hapkido does not take from Aikido techniques, Hapkido originates from Daito-Ryu-Aiki-jujutsu which was practiced by the Royal Japanese families, The Minamotos and was then taught by Master Sokaku Takeda in Japan who trained GM Choi, Yong Sul (Founder of Hapkido) and Master Takeda also trained O-Sensei (Founder of Aikido).

Aikido and Hapkido originate from the same parent style. To note some historians say that Korean monks came to Japan and taught the Royal families and then this awesome art returned to Korea with GM Choi, Yong Sul. Japan does not recognize this because of the eternal feud between Koreans and Japanese.

If you review Hapkido history it is recorded that GM Choi’s certifications were stolen at arrival to Daegu and cannot prove with paper his involvement with Daito Ryu, but if you see the techniques you will be amazed how similar they are. Thanks.

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