The Arts We Teach
What is Hapkido?
Hapkido is a martial art that originated from the training and efforts of a single man, Dojunim Choi, Yong Sul.
Hapkido utilizes the energy derived from an opponents attack. The attack is neutralized through the use of body mechanics including throws, joint locks, kicks and strikes.
Jungki Kwan Hapkido is Hapkido in its most traditional form. This is unique because of its simple, direct and practical techniques that have been time-tested and proven to be effective in the modern world. This is not always the case in other diluted derivatives of Dojunim Choi's original art.
Unlike many of today's martial arts that are oriented to sport games, Hapkido has stuck to the traditional martial arts. Hapkidoists who like the tradition and originality say,
"It is not a game to see who wins and places first and second."
They point out that Hapkido is a martial art that needs both physical and spiritual training. They classify the physical training as a kind of skill called "Hapkisul" and the spiritual training as a principle called "Hapkibup". Hapkibup contains elements of developing personality and a power of inner body strength through mental training such as "chigam", "chosik", and "Gumchok"
Chigam means stopping senses. The senses here refer to the thinking you need to get your mind ready for hapkido training. Chosik means breathing control. It is very important in Hapkido training to breath evenly, get your mind calmed down, and make your mind and body into one. Gumchok means forbidding the senses with takes a high level of training. It is reaching a mental state where you will overcome a matter of life and death by not depending on your five senses.
Hapkido is a defensive martial art comprised of three central elements: Wha, Won and Yu. These elements equal Non-resistance, the water principle and circular motion. All Hapkido techniques contain one or more of these elements.
Start 2013 learning to defend yourself and your loved ones!
What is Kuhapdo?
Kuhap stands for a cutting act while standing up from a sitting posture. In America and Europe they have translated it as quick display of the sword. Kuhap is a martial art that has a profound truth. By practicing the right way of the sword, you get to know an indomitable spirit, a respectful courtesy, and thus get to reach a stage of being free of all thoughts.
Kuhapdo is different from the art of fencing. In Kuhapdo, the sword is always in the sword case, meaning a carrying victor. It does not permit the misuse of the sword.
It cleanses and trains the mind. Through Kuhapdo training, you get a high dignity of personality. It is a moral doctrine to rule yourself. You don't get cut by another person and you don't swing first. In today's high technological society you may ask, why do you need Kuhapdo training when you can learn endurance and politeness from Dado, Sundo from Chansun, and a spirit of academic attitude from Seodo. You can learn a true way of life from Kuhapdo.
What can one learn from Kuhapdo?
- You reach a stage of being free of all thoughts.
- You always make right decisions in a daily life.
- You keep a dignity and calmness even in a dangerous situation, you become confident.
- You get acquainted with the sword and get to understand the sword. You do net learn the way of the killing with the sword. You use the sword for protection only.
- You get a truthful and caring attitude toward other people by learning to be courteous.
- You don't need a practice partner. It is easy for all ages and sexes to learn.
As seen the above, an essential quality of Kuhapdo training is to reach the true spirit of sword of swordsmanship by developing a good personality and politeness towards others.
Kuhapdo emphasizes a mental expression, not an outside looking expression; you have to take a serious view on courtesy and also have to use sword in a right way.
Kuhapdo gives you an opportunity for self reflection. It is has been said in the old days,
"There is no end to learning, learning ends only with death."
Kuhapdo is an everlasting thing.
Kuhapdo is lifetime martial art that is the best for training your body and mind.
Borrowed from www.jungkikwan.com