Hapkido

History

Hapkido (합기도) is a Korean martial art created in the 1940s by Choi Yong-Sul. Sent to Japan in his youth, he was there introduced to Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu. Back in Korea in 1945, he taught in Daegu and gradually combined this Japanese heritage with the Korean self-defence techniques he knew.

It was Ji Han-Jae, one of his students, who laid the foundations of modern hapkido: he developed and systematised the kicks, long less present in the original art, and helped spread the discipline across Korea and then the world.

Hapkido is often described as a “complete” martial art: it brings together strikes (punches, kicks, elbows), throws, joint locks and submissions, and blocks. Today it is widely practised as an art of self-defence.

What we practise

At the Mom Ki Do Kwan Moosool, we draw on this complete repertoire — releases from grabs, joint locks, throws, strikes and kicks — without seeking to accumulate. We keep what works and train it until it becomes natural, in respect for the partner and for martial tradition.

Our philosophy

Our approach to Hapkido comes down to three words:

Fast. A technique is only worth something if it applies in the instant, with no dead time.

Effective. We favour what produces a real result against resistance, rather than display.

Simple. The fewer steps a technique has, the more reliable it is under pressure. We strip it down to the essential.