Hapkido is one of the most suitable martial arts to promote the strengthening of both the mind and the body. It is a non-violent martial art that teaches practitioners to control an opponent’s force and to protect against outside threat. It is one of the best forms of self-defence by using joint locks, grappling, throwing, and weaponry as well as striking, kicking, and punching. Unlike some of the other martial arts, Hapkido uses soft, circular motions and the redirection of force rather than strength against strength.

What does it mean?

Hapkido literally means ‘Method or Way (DO) for the Harmony (HAP) of Mental Energy or Spirit (KI).  Hapkido encourages the integration of physical power and mental power through training, concentration, meditation, and the diversion of force. Students will learn how to overwhelm an opponent using a variety of diversion techniques all the while learning how to avoid a physical confrontation.

Hapkido is rendered "합기도" in the native Korean writing system known as hangul, the script used most widely in modern Korea. The art's name can also however be written "合氣道" utilizing the same traditional Chinese characters which would have been used to refer to the Japanese martial art of aikido in the pre-1946 period. The current preference in Japan is for the use of a modern simplified second character; substituting 気 for the earlier, more complex character 氣. The character 合 hap means "coordinated", "joining", or "harmony"; 氣 ki literally means air, gas or breath but is used to mean spirit or so-called 'internal energy'; and 道 do means "way" or "art", yielding a literal translation of "joining-energy-way". It is most often translated as "the way of coordinating energy", "the way of coordinated power", or "the way of harmony".

Although Japanese aikido and Korean hapkido share common technical origins, in time they have become separate and distinct from one another. They differ significantly in philosophy, range of responses, and manner of executing techniques. The fact that they share the same Japanese technical ancestry represented by their respective founders practice of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, and that they share the same Chinese characters, despite 合 being pronounced "ai" in Japanese and "hap" in Korean, has proved problematic in promoting Hapkido internationally as a discipline with its own set of unique characteristics differing from those common to Japanese martial arts.

Who can learn Hapkido?

Hapkido can be learned by everybody: men, women, and children.  Any person of any age wishing to improve their physical technique, coordination, and motor skills can benefit from the training of Hapkido. Law enforcement and security personnel particularly benefit from this integrated martial art.

Benifits

1. Hapkido can improve your confidence and leadership
2. Self discipline
3. Physical fitness, strengthen core muscles and mind (inner piece)
4. Anti bullying
5. Better school marks
6. Social relationship