What is Hapkido Even Good For? 

I do make an error here explaining the history of Hapkido, stating that its creator, Choi Yong Sool, was influenced by Aikido, when in fact he and the creator of Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei, were both individually influenced in Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu by Takeda Sōkaku. I gained historical understanding from my Korean grandmaster, which it appears I slightly misunderstood due to the language barrier, and used it here rather than researching further to confirm. I figured personal testimony from a second generation master trumped anything I could get online. It does, as he definitely understands the history completely, but I just misunderstood it, hence the mistake here. Thanks to all who pointed it out

Ex-bouncer here. Been doing hapkido for 50 years. Seemed to have worked OK for that job. A lot of my students went into the military, police work, or prison guards. Seems to work OK.

Ex-cop and Hapkido black belt. Hapkido is a seriously misunderstood art that hides in plain sight. The circular breathing and philosophy kept me centered and stable even in some pretty bad situations. Thank you for the video.

I studied Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, and Hapkido and Hapkido was, by far, the most useful. It helped me to control situations where I needed to defend myself but didn't want to hurt my attacker. Mostly with drunk people at bars. It may also have saved my life when someone put a gun to my head in an attempt to rob me. Training kicked in and without thought I disarmed him just before the gun was at my head. I don't know if he would have shot me but he sure was trying to rob me. Having the ability and training to defend yourself without causing serious damage to the person you are defending against has been invaluable. For certain people, like working at a bar, a prison, police, and military I can't recommend it enough. From what I've seen it is modern, flexible, and willing to adopt new techniques if they prove to be effective.

All Hapkido I've ever studied or taught has crossed into groundwork and striking, it ultimately comes down to the teacher and style that you study under, I also study BJJ and have done Boxing and kickboxing, but Hapkido is very diverse and really depends on who you train with and what not

There was an amazing amount of striking and grappling in Won Mu Hapkido.

I studied hapkido for over four years. In my experience it is completely different to aikido. There was both striking and grappling. It was one of the hardest martial arts for me to learn because there was so much content.

I have only recently started studying Hapkido. I've trained in other arts, principally Jiu Jitsu, Shorei Ryu Karate, and Muay Thai. But I've also dabbled with a handful of others including Shotokan, Wing Chun, Krav Maga, and Systema. I've worked in both law enforcement and tactical security. When thinking about getting back into martial arts, I started to think critically about each of the times that I've had to go hands on with someone in real life. I came to the realization that in every physical encounter I've been in, not once did I kick or strike anyone. Every time it was about gaining control and compliance of the other person. When I came to that realization, I asked my self if that's the case, then I why am I studying strike based martial arts? What I need is something more grappling based. Likewise, I have never used any of the jiu jitsu I've learned in a real confrontation. It was always grab an arm/hand and get control. It is for these reasons that I have decided to look more closely at Hapkido.

The Hapkido dojang where I tried had a great emphasis on strikes and our grappling was on par with various BJJ students who visited. However, I've since found that curriculum varies greatly from one Hapkido school to another.

I am a first degree black belt in hapkido I have trained in hapkido for 4 years until I left my hapkido school because I wanted to train in something else which I am currently In muay thai and brazilian jiu jitsu but I still use hapkido while I am sparring in muay thai well just the kicks from hapkido I use while I am sparring I gotta admit I miss training in hapkido full time but my hapkido master passed away a few months ago but I have decided I will start back teaching hapkido when I have some time when I am not training in muay thai and Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Dojunim Choi Yong Sul was not influenced by Aikido. He developped Hapkido( or Hapkiyukwonsul ) based on the Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu he had learned with Takeda Sokaku Sensei ( who tautht O Sensei Ueshiba Morihei too, founder of Aiikido ).

in Dojunim Ji Han Jae's lineage of hapkido (the one that is most spread all over the world) there actually is a large enfasis on striking( punching, kicking, elbows, knees, everything)

@MattHinkamp Great explanation! I was once a student of Hapkido as a teenager. Didn’t last long (only a yellow belt), but it made an impression on me enough to start studying Aikido in my 30’s. I enjoy the variety of resources on the internet and you have now become one of mine! 😃. Thanks for sharing and posting!

I have a huge turn around in my regards to Hapkido. I practiced this for some years and thought it unpractical to a real street fight. But realistically, all the elements to survive an encounter are there in Hapkido. It is a truly beautiful art.

I study WT TKD. Your video has sent an excellent message for all Traditional Martial Arts. Thank you!

Practiced with Judo and Tao Kwon Do . Kicking and Grappling mixed with it helps it to become a better all around self defense program. Called Hwa Rang Do. It is a Korean art also. I liked Hapkido and Judo because the attacker has to come to you .Add low kicks or leg sweeps . That 3 to 5 feet boundry really helps better with self defense. Some street fights go to the ground within 20-30 seconds for the most part. You can also throw one attacker into another once their lined up. It is easier to use their body weight against the other . More power than a punch by most people.

I trained in HKD for over 11 years, and yes there is a view that groundwork is a weak point, and is one of the reasons I left HKD, but upon learning groundwork I began to realise a few things, blending with your opponent, and redirecting your opponents energy along with circular movement are the basics for groundwork too, once understood, you will be amazed at how many HKD techniques you can fit into ground work. If you are contemplating ground work, take some lessons in a ground art along side your HKD, once the basics are learnt and put it into practice, you will find its not an alternative to Hapkido, but an extension. @ Leo Parafuso , good luck on your Hapkido journey, it will be a blast, trust me.

I think Hapkido is an excellent martial art! I have been practicing martial arts for about 55 years (mostly Kung Fu based) and have been an instructor since 1982. My focus (from a physical perspective) is on practical self defense, however I think that ultimately the point of martial arts training is to make a better person, not a better "fighter".

Hapkido has Aikijujutsu origins in common with Aikido but is not at all like Aikido. I am 60 and spent my life as a bouncer, bodyguard and have all but lived in hard bars and clubs. My Hapkido has served me very well.

Been training hapkido and kuk sool for long time and found your videos just recently have to say I really enjoyed them ,like the way you look and talk about hapkido,

So much depends on the teacher. I’ve seen so many videos of various style black belts that are so lazy in form. My old Moo Du Kwan teacher wouldn’t let anyone get away with poor technique. My later Aikido teacher was focused very much on practicality, and indeed, I was once grabbed from behind and the attacker ended up on his back in front of me. I barely knew what I was doing. My short time with Hapkido was also practical and rewarding.

I spent time in Korea, the way they teach there is more dynamic, as far as almost everyone had military training. Many people in my dojang were police, military or pro fighters and bodyguards. A few injuries, but training was serious. The attitude was very traditional. Respect was number 1. Belts were not so important, but your age and knowledge were used to improve every class. I think the main point wasn't money. Sometimes the head teacher would drill you do hard a couple of days. Then call you to the front the third day and call everyone to attention, then award you a belt. Usually to claps and tears of joy. The higher students really helped the lower students, like a big extended family. Even me, a Migook Saddam (Foreigner) Thank you all my Hung Nim (Big Brothers) in Korea. You are great people.

Worked for me when I needed it. Studied it from 1988 till 1998 , then found Gracie jiu jitsu

Matt, i study uechi ryu an okinawan style of karate . This style isnt massively popular either because we dont focus on flashy kicks and compete . I really appreciate your remarks on studying an art because you enjoy it and it enhances your community. It is great to have holistic approach and be humble like that . Great video!!

Hapkido is a viable effective martial art. IMO it is a very well rounded martial art incorporating punches, kicks, locks, throws, grappling, and forms. The forms are not widely known, or taught unfortunately. There is practical bunhae, and muscle memory training in them. Anyone who says Hapkido is useless should explore the art more in depth. IMO the modernization, and amalgamation of Korean martial arts has left many concepts, and techniques lost to the sands of time. I can understand why many Korean martial arts seem fragmented, and incomplete to the uninitiated.

I have been learning Hapkido for a very long time, started with an uncle at Five and I’m thirty seven now. Hapkido has served me well many times over the years. And while I’ve used it for self defense, I can boast that a majority of those who considered me enemy now call me friend and brother. Keep training ❤

Very well put together video Matt. You have opened my eyes to a new form of martial arts that will no doubt set me on a virtuous path of self discipline and righteousness. Thank you

The way you train and teach your students will dictate how well they actually apply there techniques. I've studied hapkido my entire life. Second generation practitioner. My father was army special forces and taught hand to hand combat to green barets. I have used my hapkido in real fights threwout my life and had no problem winning or just easily defending myself without fighting . When I teach my student I give them realistic approach to what there learning and as long as you incorporate, bag work, sparring and good combinations to your training as well as conditioning and hard sparring they will learn what they can apply fairly easily. You only need a hand full of grappling techniques to get back to your feet. have the students roll as part of sparring. Sparring sessions should be wrestling/grappling no strikes. Stand up no grappling. Then one person attacks the other defends with grappling and switch. Then a free for all. The students will get so much better this way. Sparring is a tool not a game of tag. I have several experiences where my students had to stand up for themselves and used techniques i taught them. Hapkido is a great style to learn it falls in the teachers hands as far as how useful it will be to the students!

The biggest take away I got from your video is how you are open to everything, I wish more people had your mindset.

Your explanations are sensible, modest, and grounded, and you don’t exaggerate and talk about the benefits rather than aggression l. Thus is a sound and great approach.

Thank you.

Hapkido is great, comprehensive martial art, do judo and taekwondo sports for combat experience, and practice the dangerously effective techniques carefully with a good partner or you will have injuries. I have always described Hapkido as taekwondo and judo plus lots more

Hapkido, the traditional style taught in Korea, or in America by Master Bong Soo Han, is one of the most complete Martial Arts. It is effective in all forms. Striking, Kicks, Punches, throws, and the ground. One of the big mistakes is people talk about when the fight goes to the ground. BJJ usually starts on the ground. If you have average take down defense, which you can learn in a few months of training, BJJ becomes ineffective. In most traditional Hapkido DoJangs, the ground element is taught much later. Since the majority of life is spent on your feet. So to cultivate a ground posture is ineffective and increases the risk of injury. Thank you for the good content.

Hapkido is practised for self-defense not sport. It can be very painful and harmful if not practised properly. A lot of demonstrated Hapkido is for show only and in training sessions, you don't see it at all! Too many people think MMA is the ultimate but it is still a competition, even sport. I am speaking as a black belt in judo and Taekwondo spending a total of some 8 years training under Japanese and Korean masters sent to train the military and police force (no, these trainees do not have port bellies like the ones in the US). I also trained in Hapkido , Shaolin Temple boxing (5 Ancestors style) and spent short stints training in Praying Mantis Kung-fu and Taichi-chuan.

Hapkido is a great traditional martial art. As good as any other. I no long study Hapkido, but I have been kickboxing for decades now, and I feel that Hapkido has many practical and useful applications for competitions or bartenders/bouncers. I have been doing so since the late 80’s and just worked last night. You can’t, and don’t want to, hit people, or injure them in anyway. You just want to solve a situation. Hapkido does offer tremendously fabulous kicks, as well as nice judo type throws. I can’t use those at all in my work, but it has applications at my small kickboxing club. But, the self defense part of Hapkido works very well for situations where you don’t want to severely injure people, but must stop them.

The dojan im frequently training, we do a lot of boxing and ground practice. It's very cool

I took combat hapkido for 2 years..way back 24 years ago, and as you say, I have found the foundational movements and use of leverage and footwork have aided me even this far out from the training, I never stopped studying various arts but that is my foundation. Now I want to a actually train in jujitsu and kick boxing with a mma instructor,.he also teaches hapkido so he knows where I come from. Should be fun.

I really respect the message in all of the videos I’ve seen by you. A lot of people however seem to get sucked into the romance of martial arts without remembering the practical applicable correlation in the modern day. Pure focus on one style can be for 100 different reasons, right down to just using it to bring positive action to other areas of your life, discipline and fitness, for example. You can also take a small effective fraction from 100 different styles, forms and martial arts and free flow them into a lucid form of combat. And that’s what’s beautiful about MMA. Nothing is fixed, no style is better or worse in martial arts, everything is looked at with practical eyesight. This whole style may not work today… however, this move is undeniable, what if I blended it with this move from this other martial art… people that think MMA is it’s complete own thing don’t see things like Tony Ferguson use Wing Chun to create split second, muscle memory, in the pocket offensive decisions with an elbow over the top or Lyoto Machida literally issuing the karate kid crane kick for a flash knockout. Traditional martial arts are everywhere in MMA, including the weird ones that loads of people doubt because overall as 1 style it isn’t as impressive. Bruce Lee was on to something with his original idea for Jeet Kune Do.

Hapkido is more effective than aikido

Best description of the benefits most TMA can bring to one’s life. The critics only possible valid point is how these TMA are marketed to attract new members- quite a few clubs I’ve trained in had that “you will be able to use this practically” credo. I wish more TMA clubs would try to advertise with all of the real benefits their styles can have on members. This would also weed out those who would seek more competition combat styles as well. Great video!

I trained Hapkido as a minor to my Tae Kwon Do training years ago. It's a nice additive to any martial art.

Do what ever you enjoy because you will more than likely never need to use it in the street. Just being in good condition with decent flexibility gives you an edge anyway.

Awesome message... 👍👍

I just signed up for hapkido, wish me luck. Great video by the way and also, will you be making more hapkido videos? If so I will subscribe

I like hapkido.. Its a very well rounded discipline.. Where most emphasize on 1 dimensions of fighting.. If I were to take any of the disciplines Ive learned.. Id start with western boxing.. Then BJJ.. And Hapkido to round it all out, Hapkido truly encompasses it all. encompasses everything..

I've finally learned for about 2 years...I have a black belt in kenpo, but always wanted to learn hapkido👍🏻 only had to defend myself once...thank God I didn't get hurt, the other guy wasn't so lucky. I used hapkido to take this guy out. I hate violence and i hate when guys get drunk and try to use their mma bullshit while drunk..lol....🤦🏻‍♂️

Actually hapkido is the martial art of the South Korean army so they seem to believe there's some practicality in it

Thank you for the great informative video.

Very well stated. Thank you!

Good message and presentation. Very respectable. I like how this separates those who want to learn the art as a way of well rounding the self, vs using the art in conjunction with being a "fighter".

Great video bro im training in Hapkido rt now under 3 different organizations. I like it a lot... I know how to fight. But I'd rather not if I don't need too. 3rd degree blk blt bjj 3rd dan blk blt ashihara karate Student in: CSW, Arnis, WC, MT, and H.E.M.A.

Never studied hapkido, wish I did. Because it empathizes self defense first & how to fall correctly. Not all fights have to end up in mma match. I studied basic Japan karate and that totally sucked! The self defense moves were so none practical. Wish I could go back in time & have studied hapkido. 👍

Hapkido is fine for self-defense. It is a viable fighting art. No, your opponent in an actual fight isn't going to allow any techniques to be done on them. Pressure testing your skills is important.

The main thing I have learned thus far in my almost one full year of Hapkido is that it has one main purpose--to survive and hopefully win a fight after trying unsuccessfully to avoid it. There is no competition type attacks taught, no kata, no illegal moves. Hapkido is about doing as much damage as necessary to incapacitate, disarm, or escape an attacker. Some of it I would NEVER deploy in a street fight! Mainly the complicated wrist locks etc. Those are for a subdued opponent who is no longer attacking. They look cool and impressive in a controlled environment with a docile training partner but my feeling is they would get you destroyed on the street because there is such a small margin for error. Hapkido teaches old school stuff like taking out the knees, eye gouges, throat punches, kicks to the groin, fist to the solar plexus etc. Most people can do those things--Hapkido teaches you to do them even better!

I started in combat hapkido 26yrs ago, we transitioned and evolved into practical hapkido. I absolutely love the practicality of our hapkido n how its evolved, recieving my masters a couple yrs ago n i still continue my journey,

I disagree with you about Hapkido Striking range for it trains you strike at points that will destroy movement. I been practicing Hapkido since the 1970s and learned more deadly strikes then any other art I have seen. My instructor had ways of striking in fact white Balt basic your learn 15 strikes off punch. Each strike deliver right will hurt if not stop the fight or kill, I learn so many strikes at points on the body to setup for throw. Pain is center for hapkido. I did learn lot of ground attacks but it illegal in the sports. Like judo blocks in Hapkido are NOT legal it stop judo since is sport. I have the greatest respect for MMA training and fightering but they are limited where lo strike. They have rules hapkido does not. MMA has rule to prevent taking out a knee. Hapkido has so many strikes and in different ways. Keep up the review..

When I started taking BJJ, I won a few matches by using hapkido techniques until I was asked not to. They do work in certain situations.

I got my BB through the IHF. The 1st Dan was basically for self-defense, while the 2nd Dan was more a combat style where you were trained to start and win a fight, and the 3rd Dan was for weapons training with the primary weapon being a sword much like the Japanese katana. From my experience, I agree that the training varies from dojang to dojang. The master in our school, Master Jin-O Kang, said that HPKD was a foundation on which you built. Many graduates of the school went on to Muay Thai, Judo, BJJ, or MMA training. I was very happy with the training I got and the good people I met along with the excellent instructors. On average, the 1st Dan would take 4.5 to 10 years to complete; the 2nd, 2+ years; and the 3rd, 5+ years of training.

Those who criticize Hapkido nd Aikido should learn and understand these Arts. These 2 arts have much to offer just have patience nd keep an open mind

Hapkido was good enough for the Green Berets, who were trained in the essential aspects of the art during the Vietnam War.

Good Video! Even Better Principles

this video was beautiful good job brother

I agree, there is more to martial arts than self defense. But, HKD is practical for self defense. I train with a bodyguard who owns his own agency. I asked him about ground fighting in HKD. He asked me who is protecting his client when he's on the ground and who is protecting him from his opponent's friend while he grapples his opponent. He uses the locks to break joints fast and moves on. Likewise, I know a bouncer who swears by HKD.

Great Video, and Very Positive Message.

Trained hapkido almost 20 years . From Korean grandmaster in judo and tkd. The real deal. He taught the US military self defense who were stationed at the border or south and North Korea. He considered hapkido combat fighting style. We did a lot of joint locks, kicking, strikes, plus judo throwing and ground work.

Greatly enjoyed your point of view in this video. I agree. ;)

I studied all the way up to 3rd degree blackbelt level Hapkido. I have used it more times than I can count. From Hapkido, I went on to learn some Tae Kwon Do and Aikido as well as some Judo and Jiujitsu and various weapons training. I love Hapkido though. I’ll always have my base in Hapkido as something close to my heart.

I have trained in hap ki do andnit helped me prevent someone from pick pocketing me in Rio Dijanrio Brasil. The wrist grab allowed me to control the situation without harming the person while I was able to get away .. It works just fine for me. I have studied Tae Kwon do, mua Thai and kick boxing and hap ki do I find is practical and my favorite

I'm remembering a scene from a movie called "They Call Me Bruce" which is a parody of martial arts movie. I didn't see the movie entirely, but the scene I'm recalling is how the character talks his way out of a fight with other martial artists. This a lot harder than fighting at times. Incidentally I recall a video from Scholagladiatoria where he points out in incidents where a fight goes to the ground, to which he describes reports in that regard, where fights go to the ground, and the opposition's friends step in and attack the other fighter on the ground. So as realistic as it might that the fight will go to the ground, it also realistic that someone is going to step and attack the other person.

Hapkido has served. Me well as a bouncer and several street attacks. It is VERY practical

Where did you find the second clip in the intro? The man in orange was a teacher of mine back in the 1990’s. I have since lost track of him.

I started practicing Sin Moo Hapkido when I was younger, after moving to other city, where I currently live, I've been practicing Combat Hapkido and the difference between those two are that there are no flashy kicks or other flashy movements in Combat Hapkido, just straight self defence, which I like more since I don't really like jumping kicks (reason for that is I'm not young anymore :D ) however, I loved Sin Moo Hapkido, it was basically karate combined with bjj and judo, even tho I've never practiced judo or bjj before but I have some experience with karate. It's honestly good stuff, it depends on how you practice.

WHAT is the name of that form at 2:12. I've been trying to remember how to do it (practiced Hapkido about six years ago) but cannot find a video anywhere on it. I THINK it was Ki Hop Hyung, but I may be misspelling it.

I trained in Hapkido for 5 years. I agree with everything in you video.

Hapkido kept me alive and well growing up on the streets of the inner city of Chicago

I've done hapkido for almost 3 years now and the owner has 2 other schools... each school teaches it different, mine does judo and hapkido so we do a lot of grappling and such, the other teaches hapkido and I believe kick boxing so ofc they focus on striking... hapkido is an amazing martial art if you do pressure testing and sparring, like wing chun it improves other things as well!

The solution for me, is that I cross train. My BJJ instructor also has black belts in Hapkido and TKD, so we work on strikes and kicks some of the time, work on Hapkido-style self defence from stand up and as a means to get to the ground on other days, and then of course we do BJJ too.

Well its basically Daito ryu jujutsu. Later koreans invented that it had elements of their folkloric combat dance.

Based on your video, if the goal is being active for health while doing a fun activity, Hapkido could be your thing. In terms of fighting, maybe Hapkido can help during clinching which can lead to a takedown. It's not a recommended base discipline for MMA, but it would be nice to see which moves can be used for MMA.

We put our 6 year old son in Hapkido and he loves it. He'll have his yellow belt next month.

1:58 ...from this position, a simple twist of his waist is a joint dislocation to the elbow. Notice the Grand-Master secure "absolute wristlock death" position...a sure spiral fracture, before even showing the next technique. This is the essence of the craft...chess vs. checkers. Deep truth hidden in plain sight. For those who know, and as the creator implies...studying Hapkido; once you understand that one must "strike to twist and twist to strike"...negotiating the harmony of hard and soft energy and style is a paradigm shift.

Very true, a lot of fights are messy and end up on the ground! That's when (if you're not out of breath) some kind of wrestling skills can come in handy! Apart from that, well said!😉

Good commentary !!! Thx

Well said.

Not sure what Hapkido you've been studying but back in the day before BJJ and mma came along it was a force to be reckoned with. Plenty of strikes and Grappling was on par with Judo. On top of that Taekwondo practioners would often study Hapkido to compliment there training. Phillip Rhee from best of the best and Wang In-Sik from way of the dragon and the young master. Are both notable practioners. The art was always sound. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QKfLl2Cc7Fk.html - Hapkido Tournament 70-80s Part 1 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zGp4CRKO4g4.html - Hapkido Tournament 70-80s Part 2

I am thrice removed from the founder Choi Dojunim. My teacher's teacher always said you must train Judo simultaneously with HKD to make it effective. I must add our HKD is striker heavy and we always spend time doing all three levels, ground and stand up grappling and striking as taught to us. This makes it a very effective system.

The frank introspection and circumspection are profound. How many practitioners of their respective styles mention the weaknesses in their chosen art? I haven't heard a single one until now. In stark contrast, they argue how their art is effective in all situations, against all opponents, against all styles. I believe there is an ethos and a pedagogy in many Hapkido schools that is unique from Japanese and Chinese styles. The focus is not about the perfect spacing of feet in a stance or the angle and placement of a strike. There is no exhaustive taxonomy of techniques and their many variations. For those interested in these things, karate would be the art that would embody these characteristics. While the instruction seems less exact and more free flowing, the Hapkido practitioner's body eventually learns. Since there is no single accepted technique, no sacred canon of appropriate execution, Hapkido practitioners are able to make the adjustments to make the technique work for him or her. It rewards the thinker, the motivated. The techniques become yours, even if you need to train them up like dogs you picked up as puppies. You do not serve the technique and those who deemed it to be executed in a specific manner. It may take the time it takes to become a brown belt to learn a front kick correctly in Hapkido, while the karateka can snap a beautiful high front kick with mechanical perfection after the first year. When it is learned, though, it is yours, and not something that is borrowed from its composer to be performed following an instruction book. An excellent video.

I must have taken a different Hapkido, we did a lot of kicking, punching and ground fighting. There were def complex forms and a lot of wrist work and throws. I thought it was well rounded.

Did Hapkido for a long time now also train BJJ the two go together extremely well. For me one is the holistic martial art with some use (hapkido) and the other is the one if someone who tries to pick a fight doesn't take my "back away" signals.

I took 2 years of hapkido. It is pretty lethal and deadly. At times the class was interrupted and the Sensei would have us to leave, because special classes would come in to teach the SWAT team and the Navy seals. It is close quarters to the point, take down and control. It is none of that acrobatic, flying, spinning, martial arts. Hapkido is involving ; lockups, bone breaking and death.

Dojunim Ji, Han Jae student and black belt, I'm in the military police and CPO agent. I can tell you it works from experience.

I like Hapkido but it is great for performance and film. It has some techniques that are applicable like any martial art, buts it’s very flashy. Learn the basics of MMA(Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) then add Hapkido, Aikido etc. Wesley Snipes is my favorite practitioner by the way 👍

nice video and alot of good things were said that i truely believe in.

Great Video!!!💯

Trained with the dojunim Ji Han Jae and I’m glad he was included in your clips

I. amen a former akido practitioner, and like you said it's about self defense and not fighting, it's about stopping It before it starts, hapkido like akido should be for self confidence...

There is no comprehensive martial art that covers every scenario. As a physical therapist, I’ve learned A LOT about human anatomy and biomechanics. I know how the body is supposed to move, and how it’s NOT supposed to move. Hapkido takes those vulnerable positions of joints to gain literal leverage over another person with minimal force. It’s as simple as opening a door. Are you going to push a swinging door open as close to the hinges as possible? Or near the outside opposite the hinges? The answer is opposite of the hinges because that’s where you generate the most torque, with the least amount of force. This is the basis for hapkido, and throwing a body, restraining, or gaining the upper hand in a fight comes from understanding where you are in space and where your target is in space. The best way to deal with a fight you can’t run away from, is by knowing how to keep distance with strikes, but also knowing how to move another person’s body with ease when they come in close. In case you think people in training are over exaggerating when they flip a body, look up the golgi tendon organ reflex and the muscle spindle reflex. These 2 reflexes are things that you have no control over, and occur when a muscle is stretched too much, or a muscle’s tendon becomes suddenly stretched near it’s limit. Your body will reflexively relax the antagonist muscle to allow the muscle or tendon being stretched to relax, because your bicep can’t perform a curl unless the tricep relaxes the same amount. When this reflex is forcefully caused in a person’s joint, the body will do whatever it can to prevent muscles or tendons from tearing, and the jump is what the body ends up doing to prevent that from happening, as well as preventing joints from dislocating or bones breaking.

I worked as a corrections officer for TDCJ and armed security as well as a bouncer on the side.. Hap Ki Do and Jesus kept me alive and kicking, through a lot of fights not for a belt or a trophy but just to live.

Aikido and Hapkido are both based off of Daito Ryu jiujitsu. Hapkido incorporates other aspects from other Korean styles that became Taekwondo, which were based off of Chinese hand or ( Kung Fu ) and that's what makes it most effective

I do hapkido, we do striking, ground work, forms, weapons, and compete and spar every class.