MAIA Defensive Hapkido

WELCOME TO HAPKIDO

Hapkido is a martial Art that teaches self defense by using soft and hard styles.

            By soft & hard styles, we mean is the techniques in a soft style are applied to an opponent with the appropriate amount of force required to neutralize an attack.  Therefore damage to your opponent can be kept to a minimum unless otherwise needed.  It could be anything from applying pressure to a pressure point to a joint lock or a throw.  Examples of other soft style martial arts are jujitsu, aikido, judo and wrestling.

            Hard styles on the other hand are styles when hard force is needed to make a technique effective such as kicks, punches, elbow strikes and knee strikes.  Some examples of other hard styles are Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Mauy Thai, and American boxing.

            Hap Ki Do was founded by Yong-Sool-Choi, born 1904 in Korea he moved in 1919 to Japan where he was taught Daito-Ryu-Aiki  Jujitsu.   He studied at the same school, under the same instructor as Morihei-Uyeshiba who founded Aikido.  That’s why Hap Ki Do and Aikido are similar and often confused with each other.

            After 20 years of study in 1939 grandmaster Choi moved back to Korea where he studied, learned and incorporated the techniques from Hwrang-Do and Tae-Kyon.

            Therefore the two main components of Hapkido are:

            (1)        The soft style from his Japanese Daito-Ryu-Aiki JuJitsu and;

            (2)        The hard style of Korean Hwrango Do and Tae Kyon.

            Although Hap Ki Do has some Japanese background, it is a Korean martial art.  From his training & experience grand master Choi refined his martial art & came up with three principles which are the foundation of Hapkido today. 

           They are:

            (1)       Nonresistance; by being passive, instead of opposing force.

            (2)       Circular; countering and attacking with circular movements

            (3)       Water; absolute penetration of an opponents defenses either by being soft like

                        water flowing under, around, or over an obstruction or hard like water under

                        pressure taking out everything in it’s path.

            This complimentary manner of hard and soft established a perpetual and liquid rhythm as well as constant mobility, the hallmarks of Hapkido.

            Grandmaster Choi believed that to have a complete and effective martial art, it must have an equal and opposite action for every reaction, or yin and yang.  Everything in life has an equal & opposite for example you have day & night, fire & water, man & woman, hard & soft.  That’s what the um and yang symbol represents it stands for completeness.   “Hapkido”, the word itself means the “art of coordinated power.”

            So by combining these idea’s and principles it’s easy to see how a person regardless of size can defend themselves adequately against the average opponent

            With training you’ll soon see the effect’s of yin & yang in yourself.  If you tend to be anxious or nervous you’ll soon find yourself relaxed and at ease.  or if your passive and shy you’ll find yourself being more confident and outgoing.

            You will also find yourself becoming more physically fit and being more healthy helping to fight off viruses and flu., and reduce chances of accidental injuries.  Your mind will become more clear & alert helping in school and work.  Your spirit will soar, with this new pride and you will radiate a positive self image.

So welcome to “Hapkido”.

You can sign up at our school for a:

• Black belt level course.

• Combat cane course.

• One day a week self defense course.

• One day only course.

• One Half a day only course.

You can also book a half day, full day or two day seminar at your business or school.