Hapkido, or “the way of focused energy,” is an ancient Korean martial art that uses a variety of techniques to gain control over an opponent and incapacitate him. The World Hapkido Association calls it a “soft” martial art that trains practitioners to “suppress an attacker’s flow of energy peacefully” and use that energy against him to make further attacks impossible. To that end, hapkido is a defensive art, and its damaging techniques should be used only when necessary.
Hand Techniques
Hapkido uses a variety of strikes to defend against attacks. Hand strikes are effective for distracting and softening an opponent before employing other techniques, such as throwing and joint locks. These will also cause damage when targeted toward soft tissue areas. You can aim knife-hand and ridge-hand strikes at the neck. Center-knuckle punches use the center knuckle extended from the fist to strike pressure points in the throat, chest or groin. Eye pokes and gouges, as well as slaps or palm strikes, are also used to distract opponents.
Kicking Techniques
Kicks can be aimed anywhere as a powerful strike, but are also used similarly to hand strikes. Knife-edge kicks focus the power to the blade of the foot for maximum damage or raking stings across the shin. The center-toe kick, similar to the center-knuckle punch, uses the point of the toes to jab pressure points. Another specialty kick of hapkido is the low-spinning heel kick, which uses the heel to strike shins and knees, knocking opponents off balance and damaging their support base.
Hapkido also uses the front kick, roundhouse and sidekick standard to taekwondo.
Joint Locks
Joint locks use an understanding of human anatomy and physiology to manipulate opponents’ joints in painful ways that cause them to submit. These include wrist locks and arm bars, neck twists, leg locks, and even finger and toe manipulation.
Throwing
Hapkido is known for its effective throwing techniques that use an opponent’s energy and movement to put him off balance and throw him. This is generally done by raising the opponent’s center of gravity above the defender’s solid base so that the defender can throw using the hips or shoulders. Hip throws use a quick, rising thrust of the hips to propel the attacker. For foot throws, the defender drops to the ground in a backward rolling motion and places the foot on the attacker’s midsection to launch him overhead. Other throws include the fireman’s carry and leg sweeps.
About this Author
Nick Davidson lives in Boston and has been a writer and editor for six years. Some of his work has appeared in “Ball State Daily News” and LIVESTRONG.COM. He holds a Master of Arts in publishing and writing from Emerson College.
