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March 2007
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Kwanjyelisul

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The Physics of Martial Arts

This video states that it is 15:45 minutes long. But the actual video is only 8:30 minutes long. The rest is blank.

Any experienced mudoin (martial artists) will tell you that the most important thing you can learn from mudo (martial arts) is the ability to fall properly.

The Birth of Hapkido

The father of hapkido is Choi Young Sul. Choi Doju was born in 1904 in the Chingbuk province near Taegue, in a village named Yong Dong. A Japanese candy merchant named Morinoto, took Choi Young Sul to Moji, Japan when he was around 8 years old.  Shortly after arriving in Japan, Choi Young Sul survived by begging and after being picked up by the police, was sent to a Buddhist temple with a monk named Kintaro Wadanabi.

After 2 years of living in the temple, he was sent to the monk’s friend, Takeda Sokaku, the 32nd patriarch of daitoryu aikijujutsu. Choi Young Sul was given the Japanese name Yoshida. Choi Doju was originally assigned to be Takeda’s houseboy and later became a personal manservant. Upon the death of Takeda in April 25, 1943 Choi Doju returned to Taegue, Korea.

Ueshiba Morihei who founded the Japanese martial art of aikido was an older contemporary of Choi Young Sul and studied under Takeda Sokaku briefly while Choi Young Sul was in Takeda Sokaku’s service. Although Korean hapkido and Japanese aikido have similar origins and even many similar techniques, there is a difference in the philosophy of the two martial arts. 

Initially, Choi Doju taught his students a very pure form of daitoryu aikijujitsu. Many of the later students of hapkido attempt to falsely date the origin of hapkido to some ancient Korean art. This is historically inaccurate. Choi, himself, never made this claim.

Historically there are two distinct types or styles of hapkido. The first are the schools that hold tightly to the original teachings of Choi Young Sul. This style of hapkido will commonly be observed in the hapkido dojang located in the Taegu vicinity of South Korea.

The second distinct style of hapkido is those that trace their lineage to Ji Han Jae instead of Choi Young Sul- whether directly or indirectly. This style of hapkido will commonly be observed at the dojang based in Seoul, South Korea.

Red River Hapkido follows the path of the original teachings of Choi Young Sul. With a history in both styles.

Glen Shivers, hapkido 2nd dan

When you think of mudo (martial arts), many think about unarmed self-defense. As hapkidoin, we spend our time practicing striking techniques, blocking techniques, kicking techniques, locking and pinning techniques, throwing techniques, choking techniques, pressure point techniques, weapons techniques, breaking techniques, sitting techniques, ground techniques, counter techniques, and arresting techniques. 

Most hapkido dojang practice mukisul (weapons techniques), but on a whole, weapons are taught mostly for yudanja (those at black belt ranks). Even though weapons are taught to gup ranks as well, they are mostly just the basic techniques. In this article, we will talk briefly about a few of the weapons that are found in hapkido.

We will start with knife techniques. Most attackers who use a weapon will be so focused on the weapon that is in hand, they will forget about the other weapons they have (hands, and feet). While the attacker is a threat to you, you should also be aware of your surroundings. Check to see if there is something that is within reach that you could use as a counter weapon or shield. Remember, in hapkido anything can be used for a weapon. We practice in hapkido to take the attackers balance away from them. This goes for weapon attacks as well. If you can distract them some way this will help to take their concentration off the knife or the attack itself.  This can be done as easily as knocking things over, or throwing things at them. We can also attack the opponent first. This can throw the attacker off. It would take him or her out of their comfort zone. As hapkidoin, we also practice strikes and kicks. But don’t miss the first time! You may not get another chance. A lot of the knife defenses in hapkido are easily practiced; however, if you are going to choose not to run and to try to stay and defend yourself, you should practice in class as much as possible of what to do when attacked with a knife. All of the locking and pinning, and throws work in a knife attack, but you have to practice to have the muscle memory to react quickly. Above all else, one of the greatest thing to remember in a knife fight is; “you will get cut”! 

Another popular weapon in hapkido is the short stick, also known as the danbong. This weapon is very effective in a close situation because of its short length. This type of weapon can be used in both defensive situations as well to use for attacking. This weapon is effective being gripped at the end, middle, or at both ends. The end grip is used mostly for strikes to the head, major muscles, throat, or pressure points, and even groin. Gripping the middle of the dan bong is useful for hooking certain body parts, such as the leg or neck, to aid in a throw. You can also use this grip to aid in the removal of an attackers grasp. Plus this grip can also be used to strike the attacker the same as the grip on the end of the stick. The third, and most fun grip, is the two handed grip. This is my personal favorite. This grip is very effective in performing locking pinning techniques, chocking techniques, forceful striking techniques, breaking an opponent’s grasp, or even a very vicious block of an opponent’s punch or kick. This weapon is very fun and easy to practice with. One of the best things about the dan bong is that you can use just about anything in its place. Think about a wrench, ink pen, marker, any stick, screwdriver, or pipe. All you have to do is look around you to find about a dozen things that can be substituted for a danbong.

The long staff, or long pole (jangbong) is about five to six feet in length. They can be different weights to satisfy ones preference. This is more of a range weapon, too long to be used in close quarters, as from its length. However, some close quarter techniques are practiced. The long staff can be used for many different ways to use the long staff, but each one depends on the grip of the staff. Depending on the grip the staff can be used to lure an opponent closer with a close grip, or a longer grip can be used to keep opponents back. With this grip you can circular strikes, thrusts, pushes, blocks, parries, traps, or even pins, throws, or chokes. Most of the strikes are the same as the ones for the danbong. You tend to see the long staff used in other arts, besides hapkido. A lot of times the staff is used in forms for a competition. While in hapkido we don’t compete in tournaments, these forms are fun to learn and do help with the familiarization of the weapon.

My favorite weapon is the cane. And that is the next weapon to say a little about. While there are some types of canes that are more sophisticated and have blades hidden in them, or can even be modified to house a gun. In hapkido, we use just a typical cane. Although not too easy to conceal, do you really need to? It’s just a cane. Lots of people use canes to aid in walking. All canes are basically the same. They are a three foot or so shaft with a curved hook at one end. A cane be used for both defensive or offensive strikes, and blocks. Also with the hook at one end it is really easy and fun to grab a body part. The cane can be held at the top of curve, front of curve by shaft, middle, or the end of the cane. The cane can be used from the defensive position, to strike, or block an attacker. After the block or attack, then it can get fun. Some of the techniques are throws, locks, pins, pressure points, and strikes to the head or muscle group or even groin. Also jabs to the throat, hip joint or other joints. The curved part is great for the neck for choking or throwing. There are an endless number of techniques that can be done with the cane. In my opinion the cane is the perfect defensive weapon. You can take it anywhere (even on planes). Sometimes you even get on the plane first!

The sword is probably the most dangerous weapon (besides a gun) that can kill very quickly. However, the sword will not be encountered too often in the community. It’s not too likely that someone will try to rob or harm you in society with a sword. You are more likely to encounter someone with a knife or gun. Today the sword is used mostly to develop mental concentration, cultivate spiritual qualities, exercise the body, aid in the use of any bladed weapon, or to help in sue with similar weapons (long knife, long stick, or other similar object). The sword also can be used in helping with balance, stances, and proper movement for other hapkido techniques.

Rope techniques are very effective for offensive and defensive applications. Also you can use just about anything to substitute for a rope. The belt you use to tie your dobok, any length of rope lying around, sleeve of shirt or jacket, piece of cord, strap of purse or just about anything else. Most rope techniques are used for blocking and restraining. You can wrap an opponents wrists, arms, or hands, as well as their feet ankles legs, or even feet and hands at the same time (hog tying). Rope can also be effectively used for choking. Rope is also very effective at blocking. Blocking can be done against kicks, punches, other strikes, or other weapons. After the block you can move quickly to the locking, pinning, choking, and throwing aspect of effective use of rope techniques. Rope techniques are not the easiest weapon to use, and require quite a bit of practice to be proficient.

Somewhat new to hapkido is handgun defense. It seems that the criminal’s choice of weapon is now the gun. And at a distance defense against a gun is just about nonexistent. However defense against a gun at close range is no easy task. It is very likely that you will be shot or even killed. It is best to only try to defend yourself with a disarming technique if you feel that you ARE going to be shot. Otherwise it is best to give the attacker what they want so you can go home alive. Remember, you can’t dodge a bullet; you can only get out of the line of fire, or find cover. “Matrix” was a cool movie, but you can’t dodge bullets.

These are just the basic weapons of hapkido. It takes lots of practice, “perfect practice”, to master these weapons. This is just an overview of hapkido weapons. It would take pages, and pages, and pages to write about the possible different techniques for each weapon.  Not to mention all the photos that you would need for illustration.  Remember that a lot of hapkido instructors don’t start teaching weapons till a student has achieved their chodan (first black belt). Most of the techniques you learn in weapons are defense against a certain weapon, or defending yourself with a weapon. Also in hapkido we will use anything as a weapon, and we can substitute other objects for those weapons (umbrella for a cane, wrench for a short stick). After all a weapon is just an extension of yourself.