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The Way of Coordinated Power / The Way of Harmony and Inner Power
History and Thoughts by Grandmaster Rogers
History of Hapkido:
"This history has been passed down from master to student in numerous dojangs (training halls) around the world for many years. To write the history in its entirety would be a book in itself. However, I would like to go back to the early 1900's in the land of the Morning Calm where a young boy had been orphaned at an early age. This boy would grow up to be an accomplished Master of the Martial Arts. His name was Choi, Yong Sul.
Choi, Yong Sul taught many students in his native land of Korea and shared his stories as most masters do with their students. Great Grandmaster Choi, Yong Sul told many of his students of his experiences growing up in Japan. Choi immigrated to Japan at a very young age after the death of his parents, it was then he would move in with a famous Japanese warrior by the name of Sogaku Takeda and remained as Takeda's surrogate son for the next thirty-three years learning the Martial Arts of the Takeda family.
In 1943, Takeda was dying and gave Choi his blessing instructing him to return home and share his Martial Arts knowledge with his people. Upon the death of Takeda, Choi returned to Korea and began spreading his Martial Arts across South Korea. It was a new martial art and people were reluctant to accept it; however, after it was proven effective in a couple of real situations, it was not long before many people wanted to study Great Grandmaster Choi's techniques.
From 1945 until about 1963, Choi's Martial Arts would be taught under many different banners, however, since 1963, the name hapkido has been used and when people think of hapkido the majority automatically think of Choi, Yong Sul as the founder whom without his techniques hapkido would probably resemble more of its kicking cousins like Tae Kwon Do, with the major emphasis being placed on the kicks and disregarding the arm bars, choke holds, throws, and pressure points which we in hapkido depend on for the majority of our techniques.
The lineage I teach to my students begins with Sogaku Takeda as the surrogate father and instructor of Great Grandmaster Choi, Yong Sul, father of hapkido; Grandmaster Choi, Han Young, student of Choi Yong Sul, President of the World Chun Ki Association, Master Rogers, Daniel, student of Grandmaster Choi, Han Young (founder of WUHA).
Hapkido evolved out of the combining of Choi's techniques which he studied for over thirty years to the art of Tae Kyon. Tae Kyon translates to smashing with the feet and is considered one of the oldest Korean Martial Arts and is gaining popularity once again in Korea today.
Due to the politics which have entered into our Martial Art, I have deliberately avoided the issue who actually named Choi's Martial Art Hapkido. Since the death of Great Grandmaster Choi in 1986, many claims have been made which no one but he could honestly answer. Therefore, I do not nor cannot discuss the name or the possibilities of how the name hapkido was finally settled on, those are parts of history which will remain void. "Patience is a virtue." So let us all have patience.
Philosophy of Hapkido
Literally translated, the word, hapkido means coordination, power and way.
Hap = is coordination
(or Harmony).
Ki = is (inner) power.
Do = is (the) way.
The student of hapkido must learn and practice and apply all three of the principles if he wishes to master hapkido.
Ki is the central and most important essence of power. When the mind, body, and spirit become one then Ki is gained.
As one begins to recognize his Ki, he will develop a union between the mind and body, at this point basic techniques will be taught and must coordinate power with the mind and body allowing his energy to flow freely.
Three basic skills are taught in hapkido. (Yu Won Wha)
Yu - Non-resistance. Meet force with
minimum force. Do not clash with your opponent's power.
Won - Circular motion countering,
redirecting, and attacking.
Wha - Water principle. Obtain access
within your opponent's defenses.
One thing which separates hapkido from its karate cousins is the concept of non-resistance. Take the method a hapkidoist uses to defend against a kick or punch, once the techniques have been executed, the hapkidoist would step side and circularly parry the punch or kick with a soft circular motion redirecting the opponent's power, the hapkidoist (then has) the opportunity to attack with a counter of his own to the opponent's exposed target areas.
Hapkidoists use circular, continuous, free flowing techniques to gain momentum allowing them to go from one technique to another without interruption. By redirecting the strikes of your opponent with circular parries and strikes, the momentum can be changed from one angle to another by merely altering the axis of the circle. This will allow you to move from one circular pattern to another. This concept is what makes hapkido, the way of coordinated power."
The preceding information was taken from Grandmaster Daniel T. Rogers book on hapkido entitled: Hapkido - The Way of Coordinated Power: The Ultimate Self Defense System and may not be reproduced in any way without the written consent of the American Hapkido Academy and the World United Hapkido Association .