What is Hapkido?
Hapkido is a discipline of coordination, a way of strengthening the mind and body, of fusing the individual’s physical and mental powers so that he or she will emerge as a more fully integrated human being.
The word in fact means; Method or Way (DO) for the coordination Harmony (HAP) of mental Energy or spirit (KI). One should always try to avoid violence, but if someone grabs you, attempts to strike you, or physically assaults you in any way, it has escalated beyond words, and you are left with the only option which is to defend.
The Korean Art of Self Defence, Hapkido is considered a “soft” style of Martial Art, as opposed to “hard” styles that practice the use of force against force, making the outcome a simple matter of size and strength. The Hapkido practitioner diverts or suppresses an attacker’s flow of energy peacefully; this diversion allows him to use the attacker’s power against himself leading to the attacker’s defeat. Through the use of pressure on certain skeletal joints and pressure points, very little strength is needed to overcome an opponent.
Hapkido is not only redirects the attack, but turns it back against the attacker and follows through with offensive techniques which may control his violence or render him incapable of further antagonistic actions. The Hapkido practitioner is in complete control of the confrontation defusing the aggression without the need for uncontrolled damage as seen in many “hard” styles.
Hapkido provides complete physical conditioning which improves balance, posture, flexibility, timing, quickness, muscle tone, joint strength and most importantly, confidence through physical and mental discipline.
The immediate aim of Hapkido is of course the welfare of the one practicing it. Not only will skills in self-defence be attained, but more importantly will be the focus on an individual’s character development. A well-rounded personality can be realized only if the spirit is right. Courtesy, Respect, Modesty, Loyalty, Generosity, and Dedication are not only the source, but also the rewards of Hapkido.
Principle of Hapkido
- Hap: means “together” and means the harmony of body and spirit.
- Ki: defines the life and body energy.
- Do: means “way of life, way of learning”.
- Hapkido: The way to coordinate internal energy.
Hapkido is a traditional Korean self-defence martial art. It consists of kicking, striking, twisting and throwing techniques as well as joint lock and pressure point techniques. Weapons such as the staff, cane, and rope are used in the advanced levels of Hapkido.
Furthermore, many people think that the Korean Hapkido and Japanese Aikido are the same type of martial arts, but they are not. The main difference is that the Korean Hapkido includes both hand and kicking techniques, while the Japanese Aikido only has hand techniques.
Hapkido Philosophy
The philosophy of Hapkido is centered around four principles:
- Honesty and Moral Character
- Loyalty to Parents and Country
- Bravery in Battles
- Protect your Family and Community
From these principles, Hapkido practitioners are capable of sacrificing their own interests to those of family, friends, and country.
Hapkido Theory
To understand the movements and techniques of Hapkido, three theories must be studied:
Yu — Water. Water symbolizes many things in Korea. It is adaptable. Water never fights against the objects in its path. There is no conflict; rather water moves around the objects in its path. It never loses its form. We should learn to adapt in the same way as water to survive the obstacles we all face in our life.
Won — Circle. In Hapkido, the circle represents natural and continuous movement. It also symbolizes the evolution of a martial artist’s training. For as a martial artist gets closer to the black belt objective, he becomes aware that he is returning to the place that he started, thus completing the circle of his training. As he progresses, he starts a new circle with the advantage of the knowledge he has acquired. The new circles will be much smaller like spirals which will lead the martial artist not forward but upward.
Wha — Harmony. While training Hapkido, the simultaneous combination of body, mind, and technique must always be present. The Harmony of body, mind, and technique is essential to the Hapkido practitioner. As the practitioner learns to attain harmony within himself, it becomes possible for him then to achieve harmony with the adversary. From there, one learns to achieve harmony within a situation. And finally, one learns to achieve harmony between oneself, the adversary, and situation.
什麼是合氣道？
合氣道是種培養協調性、強化精神和身體，將身體及精神力量結合，從而使他/她成為一個更為完整的人。
從字面意思而言，是一種對於協調(合)精神力量或靈魂(氣)的方法(道)。人應該經常避免暴力，但如果有人抓住你、企圖攻擊你、或身體上以任何方式襲擊你，或比以上所言的更為惡劣，那麼你就只餘下一個選擇︰自衛。
韓國自衛術—合氣道是一種以柔制剛的武術，有別於以剛制剛的方式。練習合氣道者能夠溫和地壓制對手，以攻擊者的力量以反擊對方。透過按壓關節和穴位，從而達到以極少的力量便可以抑壓對手。
合氣道不止將攻擊方向扭轉了，通過主動攻擊技術，可是控制對方的暴行或使對方無法作出進一步的反抗行為。練習合氣道者能夠完全控制衝突和緩和敵對情緒，而無需使用一般於剛烈方式中常見而無法控制的破壞。
合氣道能夠全面地鍛鍊身體，提高平衡力、姿勢、柔韌性、時機掌握、速度、肌肉、關節結實度以及最重要的 – 通過身體及精神訓練而來的自信。
合氣道直接為練習者帶來好處。但不是單單獲得自衛術的技巧，而是更應該著眼於個人性格發展。只要精神上正確，就能發展出全面的人格︰禮貌、尊重、謙虛、忠誠、寬宏大量、奉獻的精神，並不只是來源，亦是學習合氣道所得的。
再者，很多人會認為韓國合氣道跟日本合氣道是同樣的武術，然而他們並非一樣的。主要分別是韓國合氣道包括手技及腿技，而日本合氣道則只有手技。因此，可以說韓國合氣道比起日本合氣道更為實用一點。
合氣道的原則
- 合 (HAP)： 有「融合」的意思，即把精神和肉體合二為一。
- 氣 (KI)： 指生命中的能量。
- 道 (DO)： 是方法的意思。
「韓國合氣道」是一種有系統地協調體內能量的方法。
韓國合氣道是韓國的傳統武術，融合了腿擊、拳擊、扭折(擒拿)、摔技、關節技以及穴位點壓術等技巧，而更高層次的韓國合氣道還包含刀棍、劍、藤杖和繩索等兵器的運用。
很多人把韓國合氣道和日本合氣道混為一談，其實不然。韓國合氣道和日本合氣道兩者的最大分別是前者手腳並用，而後者則只著重雙手。
合氣道蘊含的哲理及講求的四大原則
- 培養誠實和仁厚的性格
- 孝順父母，效忠國家
- 臨陣不畏縮
- 以保家衛國為己任
憑藉這四大原則，修練合氣道的武者都能本著家人、朋友和國家的利益而發揮犧牲小我的精神。
合氣道的原理
要瞭解合氣道每個動作和技術，必須從以下三個原理著手：
流（上善若水）： 在韓國，水是很多東西的象徵。水永遠與世無爭，在它流經之處即使遇到任何障礙，也只會繞道而行，不會輕易改變本身的形態。所以我們在面對人生各種障礙時，亦應以水為借鑑。
圓（源源不絶，生生不息）： 合氣道所強調「圓」的概念，是指自然流暢而連續不斷的動作，亦象徵著習武者的修煉過程。當習武者距離黑帶的目標愈近，便會發覺他正朝着起步點邁進，令習武過程趨於圓滿。隨著進入更高層次，習武者憑藉既有的武學根基展開另一個嶄新的習武過程(我將這個過程比擬為一個圓周)。每一個新的圓周都較前一個圓周細小，從而令習武者的武學修為循著螺旋模式更上一層樓。
和（和諧）： 在鍛煉合氣道時，必須經常保持身體、意志和技術三者互相結合。隨著合氣道學員達到心神合一的境界，對敵時便能闖進對手的陣地。這樣，便會懂得控制整個形勢。最後，習武者無論在自身、對手和格鬥形勢各方面都盡在他掌握之中。