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History of Hapkido Hapkido is a Korean Martial Art familiar to most people knowledgeable in the Martial Arts field. Not many people, however, actually know of its origins and more importantly, what makes it unique. Hapkido was derived from Daito-ryu-Aikijujutsu. "This art, which is said to be the continuation of a martial tradition of the Aizu Clan dating back several hundred years, was propagated in many areas of Japan during the Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods by the famous martial artist, Sokaku Takeda. Known equally for his martial prowess and severity of character, Takeda had used his skills in life-and-death encounters on more than one occasion." as told by Stanley Pranin of Aiki News. Aikijujutsu was brought over from Japan to Korea in 1946 after World War II by Young-Sool Choi, the founder of Hapkiyoosool. Choi studied with the same Master of Aikijujutsu (Sokaku Takeda) as did Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. People often ask, "Why did they not just call it Aikijujutsu then?" Hapkiyoosool is how the Korean Language pronounces the same Kanji (Hanmoon) as the Japanese Language pronounces it Aikijujutsu. So in reality, it was the same thing by a different name. Choi, Young-Sool taught a man named Ji, Han-Jae. Ji, Han-Jae started his own school and added kicks and strikes from the art of TaeKyeon creating a new form of martial art. In that school, our current president Chang, Young-Shil learned Hapkiyoosool being taught under the names of Hapkisool or Hapkiyoosool. "Sool" means "technique". "Do" means "way". Hapkido is a way of life, Hapkiyoosool are the techniques. Our federation uses the name Hapkido because our roots are from Choi, Yong-Sul through Ji Han-Jae and then Chang, Young-Shil. Ji Han-Jae (as history shows) was the person who coined the name Hapkido and many followed this name. Ji Han-Jae had changed the name to Hapkido because it became a way of life for him as well as many others, not just technique. Hapkido greats like Han Bong-Soo, Lim Hyun-Soo, Suh In-Seo, Suh In-Hyuk, Lee Joo-Bang and many others. The founder of our organization's instructor was Ji Han-Jae while it was still Hapkiyoosool under Choi, Yong-Sul's direction. We were also affiliated with Han, Bong-Soo and Myung, Jae-Nam during those times. We became the "International Hapkido Federation" after Chang, Young-Shil started teaching in 1960 and then opened his own school in 1968. The techniques are still refered to as Hapkiyoosool, the art is Hapkido.
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