I.H.F.- USA HEADQUARTERS, SF CA
  
HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY HAPKIDO
Hapkido is a form of Korean Martial Arts familiar to most people knowledgeable in the Martial Arts field. Not many people, however,
actually
know of its origins, and more importantly, what makes it so unique. The original Hapkido was derived from ancient Aikijutsu, an early form
of the Japanese Martial Art Aikido, and was blended with Korean Karate.
Aikijutsu was brought over from Japan to Korea in 1946 after World War ll by the founder of the original Hapkido, Young Sool Choi. To
understand the nature of Hapkido and its unique form, it is perhaps best to become more acquainted with its predecessors.
Aikijutsu, a combination of bending, twisting and pressure point application to various parts of the body, was developed into the present-day
Aikido, whose immobilization techniques and energy throws have become its trademark. While Aikido retained the methods and precision of
its precursor, the difference between Aikijutsu and Aikido is found in the fluidity of Aikido's style. This is very important when examining
Contemporary Hapkido. Korean Karate (now known as Tae Kwon Do), differs mainly from
Aikijutsu in its skillful
implementation of dynamic
kicks and powerful strikes. It was with this difference in mind that the original Hapkido
was created, producing
a dynamic balance of both
methods.
International Hapkido Federation style or Contemporary Hapkido is actually
the result of the extreme hard work and training of three
men who have given it that uniqueness which sets it apart from other Hapkido
styles. In Korea, in mid-1960's, Jae Nam Myong
(the Late Founder of I.H.F) and Myung S. Kang, both accomplished Hapkido Masters,
met with an equally accomplished Aikido Master,
Hirada, with the desire to incorporate the fluidity of Aikido into Hapkido.
Their task was to add the more fluid, circular movements of Aikido into Hapkido while retaining Hapkido's original, direct techniques
and style. After more than 25 years of research and arduous training, this new form of Hapkido was perfected into a precise Martial Art
with more advanced methods than the original Hapkido. What resulted was a unique blend of kicks, strikes, joint locks and energy
throws which no other form of Martial Art can boast.
The late Kuk Sa Nim, Jae Nam Myong, was the founder and world chairman of the International Hapkido Federation and also represented
the International Aikido Federation in Korea. Grand Master Myung S. Kang is the President of the United States International Hapkido
Federation. Grand Master's son, Jino Kang, is the 7th Dan Master Instructor of the USA Headquarters for the International Hapkido
Federation - Hapkido USA - located in San Francisco.
|
