Customer Reviews

Korean Hapkido: Ancient Art of Master

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As a student of Hapkido, I felt I should make plain that theauthor and publisher of this excellent book is the founder and head ofthe World Hapkido Federation, and holds a 10th degree black belt in Hapkido. This 300+ page book covers techniques ranging from beginning level to black belt. While you cannot learn a martial art from a book, it is a handy reminder and study aid for the student.

Along with Dr. He-young Kimm's Hapkido I, this book is one of the best references for Hapkido available. Supplemented by his second volume "Special Self Protection Techniques" makes for an attractive, easy to carry and reference set for any serious student of Hapkido. It is a good sized book, solid and sturdy but a lot more portable and easy to handle than Dr. Kimm's Hapkido I. It provides a nice reference for everything from basic strikes to falls and various techniques.

I have only two complaints about the book. The first complaint is that it is all in English and Romanized Korean. I would have liked to had have the Hangeul for the techniques as well. (The next book fixes this though)

My other complaint about the book falls within the "History" aspect, especially along the lines of:

"Hapkido was introduced to Korea along with Buddhism. Hapkido techniques were originally known and handed down through the heirarchy of monks, ruling families and royal officials as a means of self protection and personal safety.

Therefore it wasn't known among the common classes. Often the origin of Hapkido is misunderstood and thought to be a form of Chinese or Japanese martial art." (p. 24)

and

"Today Hapkido has been brought to light by the father of Hapkido, Yong Sool Choi (1904- ). Yong Sool Choi had studied in a deep mountain since the age of nine. By the time he came back to the world, Korea had been liberated from Japanese colonialrule (sic). Choi has taught all of the techniques to a few outstanding disciples." pp. 26-27

Overlooking the influence of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu and the evolution of the art by senior students like Ji Han Jae can be justified by the Nationalistic era of its publication and politics of the time, but it still does a disservice by "making up" history. Regardless this book is a must-have. I wish he would have modified the "history" section in the next book, but he didn't, and even as recent as 2002 still quotes from the "history" in these books in articles for martial arts magazines.
Regardless, the history section is just a small portion of the book and the rest of the book is well worth the money.