Although the concept of MuSool HapKiDo has been around for many years since the development of the Hwarang Warriors over two thousand years ago, the name and modern philosophy was developed in 1997. The concept came to me as I trained at Mudo College of TaeKwonDo, a small dojang (training hall) in Orange Park, Florida. I was studying with my two partners and best friends Brian Stanton and John Combs.

Brian, John and I were always dedicated to training in every aspect of the fighting arts. Like the hwarang of yesterday, we used our hands and feet, the ground, and weapon techniques. It was not until the development of “sport arts”—like Judo (soft art) and TaeKwonDo (the art of kicking and punching)—that the styles outlawed certain techniques. For example, in Judo you cannot kick or punch—but you can throw. In TaeKwonDo, you can kick and punch—but you cannot grapple.

With this in mind, our varied backgrounds, and the skills we acquired at Mudo College, we trained in a way that much paralleled the warrior ways of the hwarang of yesterday. We practiced kicking, punching, and we also went to the ground and worked grappling techniques. We also studied Kum Sool (sword techniques). It is important to realize that we did not try to reinvent the wheel or a separate martial art. By sharing our unique talents, we just formulated a concept that would sharpen our abilities in the real world. Our priority was to train our mind, body and spirits to a toughness that was second to none.

The name MuSool—meaning “martial technique,” and HapKiDo—meaning “the way of combined energy or Ki,” was the name we chose. It best fit what our practices and philosophies represented. However, HapKiDo was only one of the arts with which we had practiced. We adapted groundwork which we obtained from our studies of Judo and Brazilian Jujitsu. In addition, we added striking techniques found in Kempo Karate and Western Boxing. We also used sword techniques from Kumdo/Kendo. Lastly, each of us trained extensively in TaeKwonDo, so we incorporated kicking skills that could be used “on the street.”

Shelby Creech
Master and Founder
MuSool Academy of Port Orange