Who can learn Hapkiyusul?
November 10, 2021(English Translation)I often get asked if someone without any martial arts experience could learn Hapkiyusul. I also get asked if it is a practice one can do even if that person gets older. So, for my first blog post, I’d like to delve into who Hapkiyusul is for.
To begin to answer these questions, I’d like to first introduce my mentor, 3rd Doju Kim Yunsang. He was a direct disciple of Hapkiyusul sucessor, Choi Yongsul, and had received the highest Dan. He was also the only disciple of Choi Yongsul and in fact in all of Korea who was able to reach the highest state of hapki (aiki).
When I met Kim Yunsang Dojunim, he was already 80 years old. He was shorter than me and barely weighed 100 pounds. He was essentially skin and bones without any visible arm muscles.
However, from that small, old man, an indescribably tremendous power poured forth. He threw his disciples easily. I, who had trained in martial arts for 20+ years, and other disciples, who were all known for their physical strength, found ourselves on the ground unable to resist as if we had been hit by an enormous tidal wave.
Kim Yunsang Dojunim was able to reach this level of hapki through meeting Choi Yongsul Dojunim (at the age of 40) and training in Hapkiyusul. Of course, it wasn’t easy. He strenuously and stubbornly trained every single morning and evening for many years.
It was when he was in his late 50’s that he reached the highest state of hapki. But even until his passing at the age of 87, he never slackened in his training. Despite rain or snow, you could find him at the dojang practicing with his young disciples.
Upon hearing that Kim Yunsang Dojunim was very ill, I went to Korea for what was to be my final visit with him. Despite his extremely poor health, he stood up from his bed, asked me to grab his wrist, and showed me a technique using hapki. I can never forget that feeling.
I am grateful that I could learn this deeply profound martial art from a great mentor. And sometimes, when I am physically and mentally exhausted I think about how Dojunim showed us what it meant to have the spirit and fortitude of a martial artist.
Hapkiyusul is an incredible martial art. It goes against the common assumption that we weaken physically and mentally with age. Gender and age doesn’t matter in this martial art- everyone will get stronger if you work hard. If you ever go to a Traditional Hapkiyusul dojang, you will often see a woman easily overpower a man or a senior citizen easily take down a young man. More than that, both Choi Yongsul and Kim Yunsang Dojunim proved this fact through their actual skills developed in their lifelong trainings.
Following this, if you ask me if a person can learn this martial art at any age and/or without any martial arts experience, I would answer yes. It is possible to learn Hapkiyusul whether young (starting around the age of 10) or old (there was a practitioner who began in his 80’s). It is also possible to learn without any previous martial arts experience. Also, this is a martial art that favors persistence and consistency than the athletically gifted.
However, if you ask if Hapkiyusul is easy to learn and train in, I would answer both yes and no. The atmosphere of the dojang is not extremely strict or aggressive. But even if we try to be gentle, because the nature of this martial art includes twisting and throwing, your body will undoubtedly hurt all over. However, after a few months at the least or a few years at most, the pain will disappear and what will be left is a body that is like iron, not on a muscular level, but on a wholistic one. Being twisted and thrown doesn’t hurt anymore- in fact, it becomes fun! Additionally, there comes a time when though you think you’re doing the technique softly, but your partner, who is grabbing their hardest, goes flying to the ground. At this point, training becomes really enjoyable. Your skills increase many-fold. Some aren’t able to persevere through the initial stages and quit. But you have to remember, Traditional Hapkiyusul is a place that teaches martial arts, not a recreational sport.
If you really want to gain something through the practice of martial arts, I suggest visiting the dojang with a humble attitude and a willingness to learn. When people first visit the dojang, it is interesting to note the attitude with which people enter. Some see my white belt and become instantly arrogant saying they have a black belt in this, that or other. Some see that I’m not a big guy and instantly write me off. I get the feeling that many Americans equate height and muscles to strength and power. Usually these type of people either make a promise to return and never do OR start and quit shortly thereafter because of their bruised egos.
Martial arts is about having the power and ability to protect my own life and/or hurt another’s. Someone who thinks they can learn martial arts without patience/perseverance or a sense of humility and willingness to learn is not someone worthy of instruction.
However, if you are willing to train with a sense of tenacity in a community of respectful practitioners, then whether young or old, with or without martial arts experience, you are absolutely welcome.