WHAT IS HAPKIDO?

Hapkido has the most varied types of techniques and is an extremely integrated art consisting of extensive joint locking and pressure point techniques, takedowns, submissions, ground-fighting, throws, dynamic kicking techniques, strikes, punches, falling-down skills, breathing techniques, and an array of weapons techniques, including the sword, the cane, the fan, short stick, and belt skills. The vast array of techniques equip the student to defend against any situation, and the full array of possible holds, grabs, punches, kicks and weapons attacks. Falling down and rolling skills are vital for self-protection in real-life situations. Training in Hapkido is also a very effective way of promoting good health. As the practitioner becomes more skilled, special breathing techniques are also developed, in order to enhance inner understanding and appreciation of one's own body.

The philosophy of Hapkido focuses upon the harmonious co-ordination of three principles: Won (Circle Principle), Yu (Nature/Water Principle) and Hwa (Principle of Non-Resistance).

Won - In Hapkido, external fluid circular movements are used in order to manipulate and utilise an opponent's weight, strength, movement and line of balance, with minimal effort.

Yu - Hapkido techniques should be executed like water flowing down a mountain. In order to move naturally, movements are soft, fluid and move together with nature.

Hwa - Rather than opposing force with force, Hapkido techniques move with the direction of an opponent's force, in order to re-direct the accumulated energy. For example, as an opponents pulls you towards him, you should push backwards. Equally, as an opponent pushes you, you should pull him towards you. This is basically the principle of push-pull which should be developed throughout Hapkido training, in order to efficiently unbalance an opponent and execute techniques with minimal effort, by utilising an opponent's own force against him.

Above all, Hapkido is a practical method of self-defence that is suitable for everyone. It is such a highly developed and practical art, that it can be executed skilfully, without regard to the size, strength, age or sex of the practitioner or opponent. The secret is in its precision and in its ability to unlock the hidden wells of self-strength and confidence that lie deep within us all.

OUR ACADEMY

GRAND MASTER KIM DUK IN

Grandmaster Kim Duk In is a Senior Advisor to the Korea Hapkido Federation and he is the Korea Hapkido Federation's 9th Dan certificate number 3. He is also the Founder and President of the Korea Hapkido Federation's affiliated Duk Moo Academy.

Grandmaster Kim's family has a 37-generation history, both in the military and of possessing good quality weapons techniques - the family founder is King Kyungsoon, who reigned during the Shilla Dynasty.

From an early age, Grandmaster Kim learnt Korean military weapons under the guidance of his Grandfather, General Jul Chung Kim Kyung Sik.

General Jul Chung was very good at the spear. Grandmaster Kim also especially enjoyed long stick training with his Grandfather and it eventually became his speciality.

At the age of 18, Grandmaster Kim joined the Korean Air Force. By the age of 23, he was teaching martial arts to the Korean Special Army and Government.

Then, in 1959, after completing his military service, Grandmaster Kim returned to his hometown of Sae Gum Jung. It was at this time that a police officer introduced him to the Sung Moo Academy, the first Hapkido dojang in Seoul.

Grandmaster Kim wanted to learn Hapkido and so he moved to Seoul. In Seoul, he joined the Sung Moo Academy and started his training under Grandmaster Ji Han Jae.

Grandmaster Kim's weapons skills and good memory meant that his progress was fast and, within one year, he was already an Assistant Instructor to Grandmaster Ji Han Jae.


Before that time, the Sung Moo Academy had had many different Assistant Instructors and then Grandmaster Kim and Grandmaster Song Young Ki trained together and were the Assistant Instructors at the Sung Moo Academy for a long time. Grandmaster Kim was the physical trainer, Grandmaster Song Young Ki was the Academy's Secretary as well as a physical trainer. Today, Grandmaster Song Young Ki is the Korea Hapkido Federation's 9th Dan certificate no. 2 and Grandmaster Kim Duk In is the Korea Hapkido Federation's 9th Dan certificate no. 3.
At the same time, Grandmaster Kim developed his own training and, in 1962, he founded the Duk Moo Academy and opened his first dojang in Seoul. However, at that time, promoting Hapkido was difficult as Hapkido was still relatively unknown and the economy was still poor following the Korean War, so he returned to the Hapkido Headquarters.

Then, in 1963, Grandmaster Kim taught the Presidential Bodyguards of President Park Chung Hee at Cheong Wa Dae, the Korean Blue House.

In 1964, Grandmaster Kim was the Action Director and Stuntman for a movie made about General Nam Hee.

Also in 1964, Grandmaster Kim was the first person to be appointed as the Chief Instructor of the Korean Royal Military Academy (similar to West Point in the United States). Grandmaster Kim held this position for three years. After completing their military training, Grandmaster Kim's students gained high positions within the police force.

Some of his students followed him and, in 1966, Grandmaster Kim moved to the City of Chun-Cheon, in the Kang Won Do province of Korea, where he opened a Duk Moo Academy dojang, teaching both police and civilians.

In the early years after the Korea Hapkido Federation was formed in 1965, the Duk Moo Academy was one of only ten leading Academies recognised by the Korea Hapkido Federation.

In 1975, Grandmaster Kim was awarded a certificate and the positions of Korea Hapkido Federation Manager and Chief Examiner, by the then Korea Hapkido Federation President and Presidential Bodyguard Director, Chai Tae Huon.

In the 1970's, Grandmaster Kim was also part of the group of pioneering Masters who first spread Hapkido into Columbia. He had been sent by the Korea Hapkido Federation to Columbia in order to promote Hapkido and Grandmaster Kim held Hapkido demonstrations and taught Hapkido at Columbia University.

After Grandmaster Kim returned to Korea, he was the Instructor for the 1st-6th Korea Hapkido Federation Black Belt Instructor Seminars.

Grandmaster Kim then travelled to Europe and was the first Korea Hapkido Federation Instructor to teach Hapkido in several European countries - introducing Hapkido in France, Switzerland and Sweden.

In France, the World Taekwonmudo Academy had asked Grandmaster Kim to assist them with their syllabus. Grandmaster Kim agreed and introduced the Academy to the Duk Moo Academy syllabus, particularly helping them with self-defence and kicking techniques. As well as establishing the Duk Moo Academy France Headquarters in Paris, Grandmaster Kim also gave Hapkido demonstrations for the Police Nationale's RAID police force, who were then very keen to learn Hapkido from the Grandmaster.

In 2000, Grandmaster Kim visited the UK, after being asked by the World Taekwonmudo Academy to again assist them with their syllabus. Grandmaster Kim agreed and taught weapons, self-defence and kicking techniques as part of the World Taekwonmudo Academy International Instructors Course.

Grandmaster Kim still travels regularly to the UK in order to hold Hapkido Seminars, Gradings and events, and give support to his son, who resides in the UK.

As a Senior Advisor to the President of the Korea Hapkido Federation, Oh Se Lim, Grandmaster Kim continues in his aim towards the promotion of Hapkido.

FAMILY TREE

From the Shilla Dynasty (57 B.C. - A.D. 935) until the Choseon Dynasty (A.D. 1392-1910), there were 600 different Kim family trees. In 1985, the Korean Government found that, from the population of Korea, 270 Kim family trees still remained.

The Shilla Dynasty was ruled by three Family names, Kim, Pak and Seok. 56 people were King during the Shilla Dynasty, 38 of them were from the Kim family.

King Kim Al Gee was the founder of the Kyung Ju Kim Family Tree and his descendants for the next 7 Generations also ruled at some time during the Shilla Dynasty. King Michu was the 7th-Generation descendant of Kim Al Gee. In AD 262, King Michu became the 13th King of the Shilla Dynasty and ruled until AD 284.

The last King of the Shilla Dynasty was King Kyungsoon. When King Kyungsoon was defeated in the war with the Koryeo Dynasty, he surrendered and retreated with his family inside Kumgang mountain, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Kyungsoon is the family founder of Grand Master Kim Duk In's family tree. King Kyungsoon had nine sons: Mitaja Kim Ill, Kim Kwang, Kim Myung Cheong, Kim Oon Yul, Kim Seok, Kim Kwan, Kim Sun, Kim Choo, and Kim Duk Gee.

Some of the Descendants of the next Generations also held high positions in Korean history.

For example, Tae Jang Kun (Military Director) Kim Soonung was Chief of General Staff during the Koryeo Dynasty (A.D. 918-1392).

Kim Kyun was a meritorious retainer in the Choseon Dynasty.

More recently, General Jul Chung Kim Kyung Sik was a high-ranking General in charge of the King's bodyguards and he taught martial arts to the military. He was particularly well thought of by loyal King Gojun, the last King of the Choeson Dynasty. After Japan invaded Korea and all of King Gojun's bodyguards dispersed throughout Korea, the King gave a few of his Generals the land around the Palace in Sae Gum Jung, in order to protect the King if he returned. The King gave General Jul Chung some land behind the Palace.

General Jul Chung Kim Kyung Sik was the Grandfather of Grand Master Kim Duk In, (Founder of the Duk Moo Academy).