Hap: means "harmony", "coordinated", or "joining"
Ki: describes internal energy, spirit, strength, or power
Do: means "way" or "art"
Hapkido can be described as the way of coordinated power.
Hapkido is considered a "soft" style of Martial Art, as opposed to "hard" styles that practice the use of force against force, making the outcome a simple matter of size and strength. Hapkido techniques do not require that the practicioner be larger or stronger than the opponent.
Hapkido provides complete physical conditioning which improves balance, posture, flexibility, timing, quickness, muscle tone, joint strength and most importantly, confidence through physical and mental discipline.
Hapkido combines joint locks, pressure points, throws, falls, kicks, ground control tactics and strikes for practical self-defense. Hapkido is more of a soft style than a hard style, but elements of each are included. Hapkido emphasizes principles of circular motion, non-resistive movements and water.
Basic Hapkido Principles
Circular Motion: Most of the joints in the body move in some type of circular motion. It is this circular movement which the Hapkido practitioner uses to his or her advantage. Straight, jerky movements are extremely difficult to employ when trying to redirect power. However, by employing the principle of circular motion one can change the momentum of an opponent from a frontal motion to a lateral motion.
Non-resistance: Non-resistance is very characteristic of Hapkido and one of the major areas where the art differs from its more traditional hard style martial arts cousins. Moving with an attack and redirecting the attack or using the attackers momentum against them is the principle of non-resistance
Water Principle: The water principle is best described by the direct strength of flowing water. As water flows in a stream it surrounds and eventually wears down any obstruction in its path. Similarly, the Hapkido student flows in and about their opponent, looking for the weakest point.
Hapkido classes are currently held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:15pm.
(Must be at least 16 years old) | 
