The martial art of Hapkido was developed by two Koreans, but they acted independently of each other. Accordingly, from the beginning there were two different styles, but they have the same roots.
In the following article we would like to offer a little insight into the history of the two styles in Hapkido.
- Bülow, Christian (Author)
The first style
The first style was developed in 1945 by Choi Yong-Sul in Daegu, South Korea. The techniques he taught represented pure Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, but were taught under a different name. Choi was brought to the city of Moji in Japan at the age of eight in 1912. By his own account, he learned Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu there under the samurai Takeda Sokaku. Choi did not return to his homeland until Japan’s rule over Korea ended in 1945. He began teaching his martial art in Daegu shortly thereafter. However, it did not bear the name Hapkido from the beginning. He hardly changed the techniques Choi had learned in Japan. However, he occasionally changed the name of the martial art.
He opened the first school in Daegu in 1951, and it was mainly through his student Ji Han Jae that he spread his martial art, which was by then known as Hapkido. Ji Han Jae also founded a school in Daegu in 1956. In addition, Choi had another well-known student, Suh In Hyuk. He founded the World Kuk Sul Association in 1958.
The second style
Also, the second style of Hapkido was developed around 1945 in Daegu, South Korea. Its founder was Dr. Chang In-Mok. He also learned Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu in Japan under a student of Takeda Sokaku, who was named Matsuda Yutaka. He then returned to Korea at the same time as Choi. However, unlike Choi, he did not care about spreading his art, but earned his money as a doctor. He also significantly changed the fighting techniques he had learned in Japan.
His techniques were gentler and softer than the fighting techniques that Choi taught. Another well-known student of Dr. Chang was Choi Han-Young. He later moved to America and developed his style of Chun Ki Hapkido.
Update: 2023-05-28 / Affiliate Links / Bilder von der Amazon Product Advertising API