Historically, Hapkido was an art confined to the nobility and upper class society. Today, it is practiced by students of all backgrounds, ages and physiques. HapKiDo can be applied from any position: standing, sitting or lying down, and from any direction.

HapKiDo is a counter attack technique of self defense based on understanding the biological kinetics of the human body. This reliance on medical research helps differentiate HapKiDo from the other oriental martial arts. HapKiDo makes use of over 700 pressure points found within the human body, allowing the practitioner successfully to defend himself against attackers of any size without any reliance on brute force.

HapKiDo employs the philosophy of using minimal force to overcome a stronger opponent. Therefore, great strength is not needed to apply the techniques effectively.

Through the use of pressure on certain skeletal joints and pressure points, very little strength is needed to overcome an opponent. Thus, HapKiDo’s seemingly gentle manner can inflict significant damage to an attacker. This form of martial art is suitable for anyone, especially women. Traditional HapKiDo includes hand strikes, twisting and throwing techniques as well as a powerful arsenal of kicking techniques. The HapKiDo Master is also trained in several weapons, including the sword, the cane, the staff, and short stick. In the art of HapKiDo you will also learn the use of traditional and modern weapons.