Hapkido

Hapkido (HAP-kee-DOH] can also be spelled hap ki do or hapki-do and comes from Korean hapgido [hap̚.k͈i.do]) and it is a highly eclectic Korean martial art known as a “soft” style since it relies more on redirection of force than strength. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, grappling, pressure points and throwing techniques similar to those of other martial arts, as well as blocks, punches, kicks, and other striking attacks. It also teaches the use of traditional weapons, including knife, sword (kumdo), ssang juhl bong (nunchaku), three-section staff, tonfa, sai, kama, butterfly swords, cane (ji pang ee), short stick (dan bong), middle-length staff (joong bong) and bō staff.

The use of many traditional weapons can find their roots in farming implements such as the sai (used for planting seeds) and the tonfa (handle from a grain mill).

Hapkido employs both long-range and close-range fighting techniques, utilizing jumping kicks and percussive hand strikes at longer ranges, and pressure point strikes, joint locks, and throws at closer fighting distances. Hapkido emphasizes circular motion, redirection of force, and control of the opponent. Practitioners seek to gain advantage over their opponents through footwork and body positioning to incorporate the use of leverage, avoiding the use of brute strength against brute strength.

The art was adapted from Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu as it was taught by Choi Yong-Sool (최용술) when he returned to Korea after World War II after having lived in Japan for 30 years. This system was later combined by Choi´s disciples with kicking and striking techniques of indigenous and contemporary arts such as taekkyeon, and Tang Soo Do; as well as various throwing techniques and ground fighting from Japanese Judo.  It can trace its roots back to older styles such as kuk sool won (Korean royal martial art) and pa kua chuan.

It is a highly effective martial art that can be used in self-defense with great success.

Taekwondo

Taekwondo (Korean 태권도/跆拳道 [tʰɛ.k͈wʌn.do] is a Korean martial art known as a “hard” style due to its linear nature, and is characterized by its emphasis on kicking – specifically head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques.

Taekwondo was developed during the 1940s and 1950s by Korean martial artists with experience in other martial arts such as Japanese karate, Chinese martial arts, and indigenous Korean martial arts traditions such as Taekkyeon, Subak, and Gwonbeop. The oldest governing body for taekwondo is the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), formed in 1959 through a collaborative effort by representatives from the nine original kwans, or martial arts schools, in Korea. The main international organizational bodies for taekwondo today are the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), founded by Choi Hong Hi in 1966, and the partnership of the Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo (WT, formerly WTF), founded in 1972 and 1973 respectively by the Korea Taekwondo Associatio knon. Gyeorugi is a type of full-contact sparring, and has been an Olympic event since 2000. The governing body for taekwondo in the Olympics and Paralympics is World Taekwondo.