Hapkido History
The History of Korean Martial Arts is as old as Korea’s History and can be traced back to prehistory where primitive stone and wood weapons were made to hunt and fight. To understand Hapkido in the depths of its essence, it is essential to understand the evolution of Korean Martial Arts from antiquity to the various forms in which it is shown today. Another aspect to consider is the geographical situation of Korea, a peninsula between two major cultures, China and Japan, a natural passage between them throughout thousands of years. China and Japan have exchanged cultural and commercial interactions through the natural passage of the Korean peninsula. Thus, on many occasions, Korean soil has also been a battlefield for both Chinese and Japanese forces with annexationist ambitions throughout history. Undoubtedly, all these exchanges have influenced the culture and martial arts of Korea.

The old martial arts of Korea
Since the ancient settlers of the Korean peninsula, who came from the northern region of present-day China, there have been documented more than a thousand foreign invasions. Consequently, Koreans have developed unique martial arts and military strategies to defend themselves. These martial arts can be divided into three major groups, Sado Mu Sul (사도 무술), Bulkyo Mu Sul (불교 무술) y Kung Jung Mu Sul (쿵정 무술).
Sado Mu Sul (사도 무술), these are the oldest arts of Korea, and the name refers to tribal arts or family clans. Sado Mu Sul was popular among ancient tribes, city-states, kingdoms formed on the Korean peninsula, and parts of what is now China. Sado Mu Sul has been passed down through family lineages from generation to generation, spreading through militias formed by the lower class, who often fought in battles to defend their cities. Popular tradition had martial sports such as Subak (the art of kicking and striking) and Sirum (close-quarters combat). The popular arts of Taekwondo and Hapkido preserve many techniques that directly descend from Sado Mu Sul.
Bulkyo Mu Sul (불교 무술), by this name, the arts practiced by Buddhist monks are known. Since Buddhism became prevalent in the kingdom of Koguryo in the year 347, martial arts were developed by Buddhist monks and martial artists. The Buddhist monks initially developed these arts to improve their health, enhance their meditation techniques, and learn self-defense through training. As a result, Buddhist martial arts include internal training such as 'Ki control' with an emphasis on special breathing called 'Danjon' and special meditation methods known as 'Mukyon.' They also incorporate external training with a focus on effective techniques of personal defense, which form the foundation of modern Hapkido.
Bulkyo Mu Sul played a significant role in shaping Korean martial artists by providing them with the philosophy of non-violence and compassion, as well as spiritual codes of conduct such as the five commandments of the Hwarang warriors. These are: 1st - Be loyal to your king, 2nd - Be obedient to your parents, 3rd - Be honorable to your friends, 4th - Never retreat in battle, and 5th - Be cautious in taking life.
Kung Jung Mu Sul (쿵정 무술), It means 'Martial Arts of the Royal Court.' The elite warriors of the Kingdom of Silla were the Hwarang knights, who were noble-born and dedicated their entire lives to the training of martial arts with and without weapons. Within the royal court, the use of portable weapons, such as short swords carried by royal guards under their wide robes, was developed. Techniques like Pobak, which involved the art of tying or capturing an attack with a rope or handkerchief, were also developed. These included personal defense techniques for protection and custody, such as joint locks and attacks targeting pressure points. All of these techniques form the foundation of modern Hapkido.
These elite warriors and their various martial arts developed under different names within the kingdoms of Koguryo (고구려), Baekje (백제), and Silla (실라) on the Korean peninsula until the unification of Korea.
The Japanese legacy
The three groups of martial arts, Sado Mu Sul, Bulkyo Mu Sul, and Kung Jung Mu Sul, developed over centuries, both separately and at times collaborating together for the defense of the nation until 1910. In this year, the last Japanese occupation took place. Once again, Japan had imperialistic ambitions and waged war against China and Russia, defeating both countries and annexing territories in East Asia. Korea was invaded, and the Korean king was forced to abdicate. The period between 1910-1945 was disastrous for Korean culture and martial arts. During the 35 years of Japanese dictatorship, the Japanese attempted to erase Korean culture and deny their identity as a people, prohibiting their language and the practice of martial arts. Only Japanese practices such as Kendo and Judo were allowed during this time.
But not all practices disappeared; many enthusiasts, both civilians and former military personnel, as well as Buddhist monks, continued the tradition in secrecy. Some joined the resistance and taught traditional arts to guerrilla fighters, while others followed the ancient tradition of passing down the knowledge from generation to generation. Thanks to them, the essence of Korean Martial Arts has been preserved to this day. After Korea was liberated from Japanese rule at the end of World War II in 1945, many instructors emerged from hiding, leading to the gradual recovery of the martial arts.
One of the individuals who had a significant influence on the development of the new Korean Martial Arts was Grand Master Choi Yong Sul (최용술) (1904-1986). Korean historian He-Young Kim states that in 1910 (the year of the invasion), Choi, at the age of six, was adopted by a cultured Japanese family and taken to Japan. The Miramoto family, who were candy makers and frequently traveled, left Choi under the care of Abbot Wadanabi in a Buddhist temple in the city of Kyoto. This arrangement allowed the family to travel and ensured Choi received a proper education and learned the Japanese language.
Choi Yong Sul was renamed with the Japanese name Yoshida Tatsujutsu (吉田達術) as Japanese law mandated the use of Japanese names. Choi had no interest in studying and constantly had disciplinary issues and fights with other children. He was fascinated by the combat scenes depicted in the murals adorning the temple walls. One day, when the monk asked him what he wanted to do with his life, Choi immediately responded that he wanted to learn how to fight. Upon hearing this, Wadanabi decided to send him to his friend, a martial arts master named Sogaku Takeda (武田総学), who was the Grand Master of Yawara Daito Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu (矢原大東流合気柔術). Choi spent the first five years on probation to temper his character, and after that period, he began his training.
Upon hearing this, Wadanabi decided to send him to his friend, a martial arts master named Sogaku Takeda (武田総学), who was the Grand Master of Yawara Daito Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu (矢原大東流合気柔術). Choi spent the first five years on probation to temper his character, and after that period, he began his training.
After World War II ended and Korea was liberated from Japanese rule, Choi, like many Korean exiles, returned to Korea. Choi, like many exiled Koreans, returned to Korea. Master Choi settled in the town of Taegu, the post-war period was very hard and Choi had to start from scratch, he did not master the Korean language after 35 years in Japan, he started earning a living raising pigs.
Choi first met Suh Bok Sop (서복섭), his first student, around 1947. Early every day he would get up and go to Suh brewery and get free vulgar grain peat, one morning when Suh watched from the office of his father's factory as several men were fighting over the grain peat, he saw one defending himself against several attackers without much effort. Suh sent the clerk to bring the man in, Suh was very surprised, he was 20 years old and a Judo Black Belt and had never seen anyone fight like that, Choi Yong Sul was 43 years old at that time. Choi and Suh came to an agreement, Suh promised him all the free peat he wanted and in return Choi would train him in the brewery's gym and pay for his classes. There Suh Bok Sop began his apprenticeship in Yawara Daito Ryu Aiki Ju-Jutsu. Suh Bok Sop acted as a godfather to Master Choi, as Choi was very poor and Suh was truly interested in his art.
According to Marck Tedeshi in his work 'Hapkido, traditions, philosophy and technique' there was another Yawara Aiki Ju-Jutsu Master in the Taeguk area, Chang In Mok who was a Korean contemporary of Choi. Master Chang was born in Korea in 1.912, he learned Yawara Daito Ryu with Mazeda Hosaku (student of Takeda) and he has a certificate of the Daito Ryu, his profession was doctor in medicine and massage, although he also gave classes to a small group of students, but he did not dedicate himself fully, Chang affirms that he had more knowledge than Choi in Yawara. He and Choi returned together from Japan in 1945, he says that Choi spoke normally in Japanese because he did not understand the Korean language, he affirms that he never heard Choi say that he taught Hapkido, both taught the Aiki Ju-Jutsu of Sogaku Takeda.
It is convenient to know that the word Aiki Ju-Jutsu has its Korean pronunciation as Hapki Yu-Sul, so Master Ji Han Jae affirms that Choi to name his style sometimes called it Yawara, sometimes Hapki Yu Sul and sometimes Yu Kwon Sul. Only in the 60's when his student Ji Han Jae began to become famous with his art of Hapkido, Choi also began to name his art as Hapkido. This has created international confusion as to who was the true founder of the 'Art'.
The Korean legacy
Suh Bok Sop (서복섭), Choi's first student, influenced the 'Art' to evolve it to Hapki Yu Kwon Sul (합기유권술). Suh had a mishap with a well known Taegu gangster, in the confrontation Suh hits him with a powerful side kick called Yop Chagui knocking him out, this made the art known in Taegu city. Suh incorporated in his own way some Korean punching techniques and suggested to his Master Choi to change the Japanese name to the Korean Hapki Yu Kwon Sul, which means both soft and hard style.
Suh suggested the change for two reasons; firstly because after 35 years of Japanese dictatorship, there was a resentment towards the Japanese and instead there was anxiety about the revival of Korean nationalism, secondly because Yu-Sul (Aiki-Ju-Jutsu) trained mainly reductions, keys and projections, and due to Suh's influence some kicking and punching techniques began to be introduced.
Between 1950-1951 Korea is immersed in a civil war, at this time Choi opened his own school in his house in a small room in the city of Taegu. This school was called Dae Han Hapki Yu Kwon Sul (대한 합기유권 술).
Another notable student of this stage was Master Kim Moo Hong (김무홍), who was hired by Suh as an Instructor at his Dochang in Taegu. Kim had outstanding students such as In Hyuk Suh (인혁서) founder of Kuksulwon in 1,958 and Lee Ju Bang (리주방) founder of Hwarang Do in 1,962.
Master Choi Yong Sul deserves much honor because he trained great martial artists that with the basis of Hapki Yu Kwan Sul gave birth to the current Korean Martial Arts, his most representative students were:
HAPKI YU KWON SUL - Kwan Chang Nim's
- Suh Bok Sop (서복섭): Helped Choi forming Hapki Yu Kwon Sul
- Kim Moo Hong (김무홍): Helped Ji Han Jae define the kicks that are used nowadays in Hapkido.
- Ji Han Jae (지한재): Founder of Hapkido in 1.959
Ji Han Jae (지한재) was born in Andong in 1936, at the age of 3 he fled to China with his family leaving occupied Korea. After the war (1945) when Korea was liberated, Ji returned with his family to his native country. At the age of 13 in 1949 Ji moved to Taeguk to attend high school, he lived right next to Master Choi's house and attended his Yawara classes, Ji remembers that the classes were very hard, but he endured the training. After several years Choi appointed Ji as his first assistant, and he was awarded the Yu Kwon Sul Black Belt (유권술).
In 1956 Ji Han Jae finished his studies and moved to his hometown Andong, Ji's father wanted him to continue his training in a purely Korean Martial Art since what he had learned with Choi was of Japanese origin. In Andong he continued his training under Taoist Lee Do-Sa (리도사) who trained him in the art of Samrangdo (삼랑도). This art contained Taekkyon (kicks, throws, strikes), Bong Sul (Korean stick techniques), Kum Sul (sword) and Sondo (Taoist meditation). Ji opened his first martial arts school in Andong which he called An Moo Kwan (안무관), where he taught Yu Kwon Sul. His most prominent student in this period was Oh Se Lin (오세린), currently president of the Korea Hapkido Federation.
Ji practiced extremely hard kicks, he put chickpeas in a sock, tied it with a rope and hung it from the ceiling, then practiced jumping with circular kicks over and over again. He also practiced jumping techniques by leaning on the wall and throwing himself towards the target, in order to innovate the kicking techniques he had learned.
In September 1957 Ji decided to try his luck and moved to Seoul (capital of Korea), there he founded his second school in the district of Ma Jang Dong, he called it Sung Moo Kwan (성무관), it was the most important, the one that would shape the current traditional Hapkido, in it Ji perfected the teachings he received from Yu Kwon Sul from Master Choi Yong Sul and Samrangdo from Master Lee Do-Sa. In this district Ji had few students, they were mainly from Han Yang University and had little money. One day Lee Yung Sung, a well-known gangster from Ma Jang Dong district (where Sung Moo Kwan was located), went to Ji's school to challenge him. He grabbed his Black Belt and threw it at him, Ji, angry at the affront, performed an elbow lock with his left armpit, stepped behind him and continued the elbow lock, Lee said nothing, he just left. After this incident Lee respected Ji Han Jae's techniques and sent about thirty of his followers to enroll in the school.
The most notable students of this school were: Hwan Dok Kyu (환독규) future President of the Korea Hapkido Association), Myung Kwan Shik (명관식) future President of the World Hapkido Federation. Ji's situation began to improve and in 1958 Ji moved his school to the district of Jung Bu Shi Jang, in this period of time his outstanding students were: Han Bong Soo (한봉수) future President of the International Hapkido Association and Myung Jae Nam (명재남) future President of the International Hapkido Federation.
Foundation of Hapkido
It was in 1959 when Ji decided to change the name of Hapki Yu Kwon Sul to Hapkido. The reasons were the following: he had enriched Master Choi's style with Taekkyon techniques (kicks, strikes, takedowns), Moo Gui Sul (weapons) and Sondo (KI techniques) learned with Taoist Lee. Although Ji began instructing under the name Hapki Yu Kwon Sul (대한합기유권 술), Ji liked to use the word Do (도), then removing the word Sul (술), because Do (도) means way of life and Sul (술) means techniques. He then decided to name his style Hapkido (합기도).
Ji Han Jae chose the symbol of an eagle catching an arrow in the air as a graphic representation of Hapkido. Hapkido's skill in catching to neutralize the opponent's attacks or aggressions is the basis of Hapkido techniques. The eagle catching the arrow represents the original schools of Doju-nim Ji Han Jae.
In 1961 Master Kim Moo Wong, Ji's friend and Choi's student, trained for 8 months at Ji's Sung Moo Kwan school. Kim was an excellent kicker and for quite some time he was looking for new kicking styles, practicing and perfecting them with his friend Ji Han Jae at his school. It was during this time that the Hapkido kicks were defined, these are the ones practiced today in most Hapkido schools.
Doju-nim Ji moved to the Kwan Chul Dong district, where the military academy was located. During those years, the security of the President of Korea was being organized. Ji’s Sung Moo Kwan school was well-known and particularly rigorous. Ji was summoned by Major Lee Dong Nam for a demonstration of his techniques at the Military Academy before the Supreme Military Council. Ji was immediately hired by the government and appointed Chief Instructor in Hapkido for the presidential security guard of Korea (under General Park Chung Hee), which consisted of 300 bodyguards. He also became one of the president’s personal bodyguards. Master Ji held this position at the Blue House (Cheongwadae) until 1979.
In 1963 Doju-nim Ji Han Jae was 27 years old, that year the embargo on imports to Japan was lifted and he got his hands on a Japanese Aikido book, the Chinese ideogram is the same for Hapkido and Aikido and only the pronunciation is different. Ji did not know that there was a style called Aikido and did not like that the same name was used as for the Japanese style, so he removed the Hap (합) and for a short time called his art Ki Do (기도).
Taking advantage of his political influence he decided to create an organization for the Korean Martial Arts, thus founding the Korea Kido Association to supervise and standardize the teachings and requirements of the black belts of the classical arts, which included Hwarangdo (화랑도), Kuksulwon (국설원) and Hapkido (합기도). Taekwondo (태권도) considered sport already had its own organization in the Korea Taekwondo Association. The Korea Kido currently brings together more than 30 different styles of martial arts.
As a sign of respect to his first teacher, Ji offered the presidency to Choi, but despite Ji being one of the founders, Choi appointed Kim Yung Jung (his right hand man) as general secretary, this did not please Ji, neither did the students who were training Sung Moo Kwan (Ji's school) under the name Hapkido, they said they did not like the new name Kido (기도). They continued to name their art Hapkido (합기도) and continued to teach it as such, they said they did not feel the Kido and did not care that there was a Japanese art whose name was similar. The two styles were not related and the students who practiced it assiduously needed to change the name, and they did not let up.
For all these reasons and at the suggestion of Park Jong Kyu (3rd Dan of Hapkido, Head of Security of President Park), Ji left the Kido and in 1965 founded the Korea Hapkido Association. The KHA was mainly focused on President Park's security, in 1967 the association sent 50 members in exhibition teams to Vietnam, some of these: Myung Kwang Shik, Han Bong Soo, Jung Won Sun and Ji Han Jae. The team demonstrated various Hapkido techniques to Korean, American and Vietnamese troops. All the Korean soldiers were trained in military Taekwondo and with these exhibitions they were impressed by the effectiveness of Hapkido.
Soon Hapkido began to be part of the training of the special forces of the Korean army and police. Nowadays, a black belt in Hapkido is required to join the Korean police force.
In the Sung Moo Kwan stage of the KHA Ji Han Jae contact with the Nun Grandma (할머니) who was Master of Taoist Lee (his teacher in Samrangdo), DJN Ji continues under her in Sondo techniques (Ki Meditation).
Of all the students of the first Sung Moo Kwan school it is worth mentioning the following Chung Kwan Chang Nim's as Grand Masters of Hapkido:
SUNG MOO KWAN - Chung Kwan Chang Nim's:
- Kim Myung Yong: Founded in 1.967 the Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido
- Han Bong Soo: Founded in 1.971 the International Hapkido Association
- Myung Jae Nam: Founded in 1.974 the International Hapkido Federation
- Myung Kwang Shik: Founded in 1.976 the World Hapkido Federation
- Hwang Dok Kyu: President of the Korea Hapkido Association
- Oh Se Lin: Actual president of the Korea Hapkido Federation
In 1973, the three leaders of the most important Hapkido associations in Korea met at the request of the Doju-nim Ji Han Jae, to unify these organizations into one. The initial project was to standardize Hapkido teachings and examination methods. The groups represented were:
Ji Han Jae for the Korea Hapkido Association: Ji was the original founder and his Sung Moo Kwan school the most traditional and influential in Korean Hapkido. Kim Moo Won: Friend of Ji Han Jae and student of Choi Yong Sul, he represented his school Sin Moo Kwan. In 1971 he founded a new Korea Hapkido Association. Myung Jae Nam: Founded in 1972 the Korea Hapkido Association and finally in 1974 the International Hapkido Federation.
Since 1965 Master Myug Jae Nam received Japanese Aikido teachings through Sensei Hirata for a period of 4 years. Later he traveled to Japan and visited the Aikikai Honbu Dojo (his headquarters) at the invitation of Ueshiba's son, who wanted to learn about Korean Hapkido. Later Myung created his own style which he called Hankido, in which he included the circular techniques typical of Japanese Aikido and made a softer and different system to the original philosophy of the Sung Moo Kwan school of Ji Han Jae.
On October 26, 1979, Korean President Park Chung Hee was assassinated by Kim Jae-Kyu, head of the Korean CIA (KCIA), and Cha-Ji Chul, head of the president's bodyguards, was also a victim. This fact puts Master Ji Han Jae and the entire presidential guard in a compromising situation, because both Kim Jae-Kyu and Cha-Ji Chul were responsible for the security of President Park and the Blue House (Presidential House) Cheongwadae.
The entire presidential guard was forced to resign, an investigation was opened and until everything was cleared up, Master Ji, along with other members of the government, was imprisoned for a year.
In that year in prison, Master Ji practiced 'Mukyon' (Ki meditation), techniques he learned with the nun Grandma (Grandmother) and the Taoist Lee Do-Sa, and slightly modified the Hapkido kicking system by structuring it into the 25 basic kicks combined with various step systems.
Doju-nim Ji Han Jae decided to evolve his Hapkido based on the philosophy of Sam-IL-Sin-Do (삼일신도). The Samilsindo is a work (facsimile) inherited from Grandma that only Doju-nim possesses, based on the concept of the three forces in one, uniting through training, body, mind and spirit. Doju-nim Ji says that by developing equally physical, mental and spiritual power you build a 'super self'. Thus he added to the word Hapkido the words Sin Moo. Sin (신): Mental-spiritual and Moo (무): Martial Art, Ji says that in prison he practiced Sin Moo Hapkido.
The 70's-80's decade was politically very turbulent in Korea, the new government withdrew support to Ji's Korea Hapkido Association, after the incident he also lost his job as bodyguard and Head Hapkido trainer at the Blue House (Cheongwadae). In these years there is a strong migration of Korean masters to the West, mostly from the national sport of Taekwondo, but also from Hapkido, Kuksulwon, Hwarangdo, etc.
Finally, Doju-nim Ji Han Jae decided to emigrate to the United States and settled in California where he founded the World Sin Moo Hapkido Association.
This is a personal investigation of several years about Hapkido, its masters, and its history, where I have consulted several sources and a multitude of works and documents published both in books and online, even in personal conversations with Doju-nim Ji Han Jae. If this helps to spread and clarify the history of Hapkido, I will feel legitimately satisfied.
Bibliography
- Hee Young Kim (Hapkido book)
- Kwang Shik Myung (Hapkido books)
- Marc Tedeschi (Hapkido book)
- In Hyuk Suh (Kuksoolwon books)
- Lee Hoo Bang (Hwarangdo website)
- Ji Han Jae (Personal conversations)
- World Sin Moo Hapkido Assoc. (Documents)
- World Sin Moo Kwan Hapkido Assoc. (Documents)
- Wikipedia (Various authors)