Hap - means "together" and means the harmony of body and spirit.
Ki - defines the life and body energy.
Do - way of life or way of learning.
Hapkido includes a vast variety of arm an leg joint locks, weapon techniques, throw, kick, hit, and nerve pressure techniques. Hapkido is no martial sport but a martial art, which is outstandingly suitable for self-defense. It can be learned both by men and by women, regardless of their age.
Three Principlines of Hapkido
Principles of Motion
But first, in order to understand the movements and techniques of Hapkido and other Korean martial arts, one must study and practice the theories of Yu (flowing like water, Won (circle theory) and Hwa (non-resistance or harmony).
THEORY OF YU (flowing like water): Softness, adaptability, strength, patience, conformity - all ideas which are present in the Eastern mind, and indeed in the mind of the Kido person when thinking of the theory of YU. Water never struggles with any object that it encounters! If a stream comes upon a rock in its downhill flow, it merely goes around it. If this rock is too large for the water to go around, the water will be patient, collecting until it rises to a level that allows it to flow over or around this obstruction. Similarly, as we "go with the flow" in the execution of our techniques, when we are pushed, we pull; when we are pulled, we push. In comparing an opponent's defenses to an obstacle, a rock for instance, it should be noted that although the water can simply flow over or around the obstruction, it also eventually permeates every pore and completely engulfs the obstacle.
Water in liquid form has no permanent shape. If you put it into a box, it becomes square; put it in a sphere, it becomes round; freeze it, it becomes solid. Although constantly adapting to its environment, water remains basically unchanged. As for water's forcefulness, one need only observe a high water fall to be reminded of the force behind this very same soft and adaptable, yet forceful liquid.
THEORY OF WON (circle): A circle represents the perfect geometric figure. People have their own circle that is his or her "private space." It is this circle that we seek to protect. An opponent's attack should be met with a graceful, circular defensive motion. We choose not to meet an opponent's force with direct force. Instead, we choose to lead this oncoming force in a circle, deflecting it, so as to minimize its effect. Therefore, we end up redirecting an opponent's force against himself. We should think of this circle as a form of least resistance, always moving (active), and therefore difficult to hold or grasp.
A Hapkido person chooses to deflect an attack in a circular manner, he/she gains an immediate advantage in several ways. First, injuries are less likely to happen to the defender when the attack is not met squarely. Second, the defender sets up the opponent for a powerful (nearly unavoidable) counter-attack. Third, the opponent's balance (the very thing he needs most) is destroyed. And lastly, the opponent's body position is controlled, therefore, affording the defender the option of a much more devastating, continuous, circular combination of counter-techniques.
THEORY OF HWA (HARMONY)
Finally, the theory of HWA (harmony) represents the unity of mind and body. In practice, this is accomplished through repetition. Harmony is achieved within oneself, through a state of “emptiness” that recognizes “+” (yang) and “-“ (um) are part of one; each is there to allow the other to exist, and cannot exist if the other part is not there.
