Hapkido is a Korean martial art that translates as "the art of coordinated power". Hapkido emphasizes joint locking techniques to control or disable an attacker and also includes the use of striking, kicking, and pressure points in its arsenal of self defense techniques.
Hapkido is based on three main theories:
1. The Water Principle (Yu)- Teaches the student to penetrate the defenses of the attacker by "flowing" in, over, under, and around.
2. The Circular Motion Principle (Won)- Teaches the student how to gain and impart momentum by moving in a circular manner. By redirecting the attack in a circular direction the student controls the balance and the kinetic energy of the attacker.
3. The Harmony Principle (Hwa)-Teaches the student to remain relaxed, flexible (not tense) and not to meet force with force.

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In 1990 Grandmaster Pellegrini officially named his style of Hapkido "Combat Hapkido". The name clearly identifies it and sets it apart from other "traditional" styles of Hapkido. It is also referred to as the "Science of Self Defense". In 1999 the Combat Hapkido System was officially recognized and accredited as a legitimate "Kwan" of HapKiDo by the World Kido Federation (Grandmaster In Sun Seo). The Korean name of Combat Hapkido is "Chon-Tu Kwan HapKiDo"

Combat Hapkido is an extremely realistic and versatile discipline of self protection that includes an extensive variety of strikes, kicks, joint locks, pressure points, grappling and disarming techniques. The result is a practical, comprehensive Self Defense system that is enjoyable to learn and that produces effective results in realistic situations.

Combat Hapkido’s dynamic concepts are based on scientific principles of anatomy and bio-kinetics as well as psychology and strategy. It is well suited for men and women of all sizes because physical strength and athletic abilities are not essential. The emphasis is on redirecting the assailants’ aggression and power back toward them with little effort and minimum force on your part.  

Founding this system did not involve "inventing" the techniques. It was a matter of selecting the most realistic, effective and practical ones, modifying others and then combining and arranging these techniques in a structured system of instruction designed for individuals of all physical abilities living in a modern society.

The essence of Combat Hapkido is pure Self Defense. It is the synthesis of dynamic concepts, scientific principles, realistic applications and plain common sense.

Combat Hapkido is the result of over 3 decades of study, research and development. This comprehensive system is now taught in hundreds of schools in the US and in over a dozen foreign Countries.

Combat Hapkido is for sincere and open minded students who are serious about wanting to grow and evolve to a new level of understanding and ability.

Combat Hapkido is ideal for those individuals (for example, many women, busy professionals and law enforcement officers) who do not have the time, desire or ability to commit themselves to the demanding study of a traditional Martial Art.

To recap, it is:

• A new, modern style of Hapkido

• A totally scientific approach to Self Defense

• A realistic and effective discipline of personal protection

• A dynamic and flexible program of learning and teaching the science of Self Defense

• The result of over 35 years of Martial Arts study, research, application and synthesis

Traditional Hapkido vs Combat Hapkido...

Combat Hapkido is a new, modern style of Hapkido developed by Grandmaster John Pellegrini. Combat Hapkido differs from other Hapkido styles philosophically as well as technically:

• Combat Hapkido is 100% Self Defense. There are no forms (Kata/Hyungs).

• All Combat Hapkido kicks are directed to the lower part of the body.

• Combat Hapkido does not teach "acrobatic" kicks.

• Combat Hapkido employs break-falls and throws in a very limited manner.

• Combat Hapkido has no hard blocks or stances.

• Combat Hapkido does not teach "Traditional" weapons like sword. We teach the use of the cane, belt and other Self Defense tools.

• Combat Hapkido teaches special firearms disarming techniques.

• Combat Hapkido contains a complete Ground Survival program.

• Combat Hapkido, because it is flexible, dynamic and eclectic, continues to evolve.

• Combat Hapkido is not a sport. There are no competitions, tournaments or championships.

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The History of Hapkido

As with most Martial Arts, the history of Hapkido is shrouded in mystery and controversy. Lack of original records, hearsay, anecdotes, politics, egos, and the ravages of time all but ensure sketchy and biased accounts of the origin of this Martial Art.

Over the past 2000 years the Korean people have developed several fighting sytems and martial disciplines which have evolved into modern Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Hapkido, Kuk Sool, Hwa Rang Do etc....  Hundreds of years of trade, war, occupation and exchange between Korea and its neighbors, mainly China and Japan, has resulted in "cross pollination", mutual influence and blending of styles and techniques.  It is now virtually impossible to state with certainty which techniques are truly Korean, Chinese, or Japanese in origin.

Hapkido was founded by Choi Yong Sul (1904-1986). Reportedly he developed the system by combining native Korean fighting methods with Japanese Daito Ryu Aiki-Jujitsu. Choi had learned that system from its Headmaster Sokaku Takeda while living in Japan from 1915 to 1945. After his return to Korea, Choi started teaching Self Defense (Yawara) in TaeGue City. He initially called his system Yu Kwon Sul. One of Choi's senior students, Ji Han Jae claims to have been the first one to introduce the name "Hapkido" in Seoul in 1957. However this is strongly disputed by Choi's first student and mentor, Professor Suh Bok Sup, who claims that he and Choi were already using the word "Hapkido" when they opened their first dojang (school) in 1951.

The History of Hapkido

Hapkido (way of coordinated energy) is a Korean martial art derived from Japanese Daito-ryu aikijujutsu.  Hapkido typically includes strikes, kicks, jointlocks, throws, falling, and weapons work, and is aimed at developing realistic fighting skills.  The martial arts of hwarangdo and kuksul are at least partially derived from hapkido, and share many of the same characteristics.  The story that hapkido was descended from Wadoryu karate seems to have been pure fantasy.  The primary link between hapkido and Japanese jujutsu was Yong-Sul Choi, whose history is problematic in many ways.  Nevertheless, hapkido and Daito-ryu share the same general body of techniques and are obviously related in some way.  Even though there are concerns that Choi’s story is false, it still serves to define the relationship between the two arts.