Hapkido has a rich, unique history that spans hundreds of years into the past. Not only must we understand the modern art as we know it, but we must also understand the ancient principles from which it was based.
During the Three Kingdoms Era of the Korean Peninsula, disciplined warriors were trained in the arts of combat. These warriors were from the Kingdom of Silla, and they were called the Hwarang (flowering youth). Through the use of the martial arts, they grew as both warriors and scholars.

In the modern era, a young Korean boy known as Yong-Sool Choi (1904-1986) was orphaned and taken to Japan. During his formative years, a Master of Daito-ryu Aikijutsu, Sensei Takeda, took him in. Choi learned from Takeda for many years, serving his master as both student and worker. Later, Choi moved back to Korea, teaching his art (then called Yoo Sool). After years of teaching, Choi eventually incorporated many other techniques into his art—including striking, blocking, and kicking. After these additions were made, Choi eventually began calling his art HapKiDo, “the way of coordinated power.”

J. Park with Yong-Sool Choi, founder of Hapkido

One of Grand Master Choi's top students, Grand Master J. Park, was entrusted with the promotion of HapKiDo in the United States. Grand Master Park moved to the U.S. and opened his own dojang, teaching both TaeKwonDo and HapKiDo to American students. One of these students was Master Ron Berry, HapKiDo instructor to the founders of the MuSool system.

HapKiDo is a complete martial arts style, including advanced striking, grappling, and movement-oriented techniques. The style encompasses the scientific principles of weight, balance, momentum, etc., with the mental applications of meditation and dan-jun breathing.

For More Information, consult:
Master Choe. HAPKIDO: The Korean martial Art of Self Defense, Ki Bon Gi Sool. World Hap Ki Do: 1998.