A preponderance of Hapkidô practitioners can trace their instruction
back to Choi Yong-Shul, or to Choi through Ji. Among the most notable
personalities who have trained with Choi directly, or with Choi through Ji,
are Lee Joo Bang (HwaRangDô), Myung Jae-nam (International Hapkidô
Federation), Myung Kwang-Shik (World Hapkidô Federation), and Bong-
Soo Han (International Hapkidô Federation). These martial descendants
from his line support Ji’s reputation as the “father of modern Hapkidô.”
There are also large networks of contemporaries to Ji who have sought to
introduce their own innovations to Hapkidô. These include Suh In Hyuk
(Kuk Sool Won), Won Kwan-wha (Moo Sool Kwan), and Lim Hyun Su
(Jung Ki Kwan).
If one compares Daitô-ryû, Hapkidô, and aikidô, another Daitô-ryû
derivation, it is not surprising that one can identify a number of similari-
ties. All three arts support practice in both unarmed and weapons tech-
niques. Though curricula vary from organization to organization, all three
arts hold to the position that techniques remain biomechanically the same
whether a weapon is incorporated into the movements or not.
The weapons themselves continue to reflect a certain consistency in
biomechanics, despite cultural variations. The Japanese iron fan or iron
truncheon (jutte) is represented in Korean Hapkidô by the short stick, or
dan bong.The Korean cane approximates the Japanese jô (stick). Sword,
knife, and staff techniques are often comparable in either Japanese or Ko-
rean culture, though the Korean biomechanics more often attest to Chinese
influence by using circular rather than linear motion. To a lesser degree,
Hapkidô practitioners continue to incorporate rope or belt techniques, as
well as the larger Chinese fans on occasion.
A second point of intersection among Daitô-ryû Aiki-jujitsu, Hap-
kidô, and aikidô is the fact that all apply the same three principles on the
physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual planes. These are the Water
Principle, Point and Circle Principle, and Economy of Energy Principle.
The Water Principle calls for adaptation to circumstances and a readi-
ness to adjust an action or response with ease. Sometimes characterized as
“tenacity” or “relentlessness” for the penetrating qualities of the liquid, the
Water Principle is better represented by the manner in which water adapts
to the shape of the container that holds it. In this way, the practitioner ac-
cepts whatever is given to work with and makes the most of it.
The Point and Circle Principle acknowledges that “all things are a cy-
cle” and as such can be much easier to understand by means of cause and
effect. A punch, thrown, does not remain extended, but is “recycled” to
become perhaps a block, another strike, or a grab. The same can be said
for a kick, or a throw, perhaps walking, eating—in fact any activity. Ac-
tions occur and are recycled to become other actions as thoughts recycle to160 Hapkidô