hap

kI

yusul

UNITE

VITAL ENERGY

INTELLIGENCE

"Hapki (Aiki) is the condition when the ma-eum (heart, thought, spirit), mohm (physical body), and the ki-sul (technique, skill) come together as one. Of these, the ma-eum is most important, then the mohm. The ki-sul follows naturally. If you only focus on the ki-sul, your ki-sul will not improve greatly.”
-Kim Yunsang

techniques

HAPKIYUSUL TECHNIQUES (SULKI) INCLUDING:

hand and foot strikes

vital point aka pressure point attacks to twist joints or throw opponents (breaking/joint locks)
weapons techniques and more

Rather than rely on muscle power to defeat an opponent,

ALL SULKI UTILIZE THE TECHNIQUE OF HAPKI,

the ability to unite mind, spirit and body,

to attack (with minimal force) an opponent’s vital point, allowing a physically weaker person to quickly and efficiently subdue a physically stronger opponent.

It is important to note that practicing Hapkiyusul, unaltered in form, technique or spirit, is imperative in the attainment and correct use of hapki.

Japanese Magazine: Hiden (Click to view)

U.S Magazine: Taekwondo Times (Click to view)

BRIEF history

Hapkiyusul is a samurai martial art that had been, in the past, privately passed down within the Aizu Clan of Japan. Originally called Yawara, this martial art became widespread through Takeda Sokaku, the last samurai and successor of the clan, and the top government officials he taught. This form in Japan came to be called and known as Daitoryu Aikijujutsu and traveled to Korea in 1946 through Choi Yongsul, who had learned and inherited the teachings from Takeda Sokaku from a young age.

Daitoryu Aikijututsu translates to Daedongryu Hapkiyusul in Korean.

Choi Yongsul had taught many students in Korea. However, many of these disciples only partially learned from Choi Yongsul to then create hybrid versions of the form, which is now generally known as Hapkido.

Kim Yunsang is the only disciple who learned the entirety of the Hapkiyusul system and made it a mission to preserve and pass it on to future generations.

Traditional Hapkiyusul in Tacoma is the first and only dojang in the U.S. where these techniques are taught.

choi dojunim.png — Hapkiyusul Successor

**Choi Yongsul**

terms

hapkiyusul

Kim Yunsang had used the term Hapkiyusul (sometimes used as Hapkido Hapkiyusul) to differentiate the original form, which we practice, from the altered form of modern Hapkido that is often taught. Hapkiyusul comes from “Daedongryu Hapkiyusul” (or “Daitoryu Aikijujutsu” in Japanese) which Choi Yongsul learned under Takeda Sokaku.

doju(nim)

“Caretaker” or “keeper” of a martial arts form. “nim” is added to words in Korean to signify respect.

dojang

A place to practice martial arts

sabu(nim)

Master (in martial arts)

Yongsulkwan

In 1980, Choi Yongsul officially bestowed his name to be used in the places (kwan) that preserve the original spirit, discipline and techniques of traditional Hapkiyusul.