Techniques of Hapkido

Hapkido is practiced by students of all backgrounds, ages and physiques, male and female.

The core techniques learnt in the AHA are:

C1 Wing Lock
C2 Elbow Knifehand
C3 Z-lock
C4 Face Push
C5 Corkscrew Lock
C6 Fan Lock
C7 Hammer Lock
C8 Arm Bar
C9 Wrist & Shoulder Throw
C10 Leg Reap
C11 Hip Throw
C12 Step Behind & Throw
C13 Whip Throw
C14 Tornado Throw
C15 Neck & Chin Throw.

Hapkido can be applied from any position: standing, sitting or lying, and from any direction.

Hapkido employs the philosophy of using minimal force to overcome a stronger opponent. Therefore, great strength is not needed to apply the techniques effectively. In addition, Hapkido uses pressure points to assist in controlling or limiting the opponent’s movement.

Hapkido has a powerful arsenal of spinning kicks, thrusts and sweeps combined with hard and soft fist attacks and defenses. As well as the use of kicks and punches, Hapkido also uses nerve and pressure point attacks, wrist and joint locks, and many twisting and throwing techniques.

The popularity of Hapkido is largely due to the fact that anyone, young or old, male or female, can practice this complete art of self-defence regardless of physical weight or strength. Health is improved through systematic training and exercise.

In Hapkido, linear techniques form a solid base upon which the skill of circular techniques can be developed. Everything is taught in correct order to produce a balanced martial artist able to handle any situation.

Our Hapkido syllabus teaches 15 core self defence techniques. These techniques form the core of our syllabus; most variations originate from one of these core techniques. All the basic principles and concept of Hapkido are learnt through these core techniques.

These 15 core techniques are taught in a specific order so that the student has the skill to do the technique and to receive the technique (i.e. fall safely).

These core techniques are taught in the following 6 stages, each more challenging:

Mechanics - leverage, body weight, circle, torque, centre of rotation, centre of gravity, balance, sources of power.
Footwork – added to off-balance attacker, to nullify their attacking opportunities, to be in a stronger position.
Flowing - not stopping, non-resistance, blending with opponent’s effort, using their momentum, creating momentum if required.
Meeting resistance from the attacker - what to do if they do not co-operate, what if they are taller, shorter, use of pressure points to assist.
Finishing – options for finishing the technique – lock them up, strike a weak point and run.
Different situations – 2 hands, grabbing clothes, from behind, against a strike, etc.

By progressing through these 6 stages of learning each technique the student can then execute that technique effectively with a high level of understanding and will be able to adapt the technique to most situations.

We teach our core techniques through all these stages because we want students to know how to make each technique work effectively in a realistic situation before they move onto the next technique. We emphasise quality rather than quantity.

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