DAEHAN KWAN HAPKIDO

Hapkido is a Korean martial art consisting of techniques designed for self-defense rather than sport. "Hapkido" means "The Way Of Coordinated Power" and operates on the principles of redirecting an attacker's force, using circular momentum, and blending with an attack. 

Hapkido was created by a group of South Koreans who combined their knowledge of Aiki-Jujutsu, Judo, and Karate after the Japanese occupation of Korea ended in 1945. 

Choi Yong-Sool is usually recognized as the founder of Hapkido, having brought knowledge of Daito Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu back to Korea from Japan after World War II but his students contributed greatly to Hapkido's creation. For example, a major contributor to the earliest form of Hapkido was a Judo Black Belt called Seo Bok-Seob, who was the first to train with Choi in Korea and who infused the art with Judo techniques. In addition, Hapkido soon incorporated Kong Soo Do (Korean Karate).                  

Kim Joon-Woo had begun training in Hapkido in 1955, a decade before Ji Han-Jae formally organized the now defunct Daehan Hapkido Association. Since that time, many separate schools of Hapkido and a plethora of organizations have been created with no unified syllabus of techniques or training methods. Meanwhile, Mr. Kim continued to train in the original hybrid form that had developed in Korea, referring to his art as "Daehan Kwan Hapkido" which translates to "Korean Style Hapkido" in English. This is to distinguish the style from other Hapkido systems that have been created internationally.                                  

After the death of his wife in the early 1990's, Mr. Kim moved to the United States to stay with family members and began teaching his old-school style of Hapkido to a small group of private students in a modest Dojang constructed by his son-in-law on his family's property.                 

For verification of Dan Ranks issued in Daehan Kwan Hapkido by Mr. Kim, please send Email inquiries to:

info@daehankwanhapkido.com