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The Factors That Created
Hapkido
Yong Shul Choi, the founder of Hapkido, was
born in the town of Yong Dong, Choong Chung Province, relatively
near Taegue, South Korea in 1904. In 1909 Korea came under Japanese
occupation. It is believed that Japanese troops took Young Shul Choi
from his homeland at the age of seven to be assigned work in Japan.
It was a very common practice, at this period of history, for the
Japanese occupying forces to relocate young male Korean children to
Japan for various types of labor.
Hapkido's Founder, Yong Shul
Choi, stated in an interview conducted shortly before his death in
1982 that he had been abducted by a candy store owner, Mr. Morimoto,
and taken to Japan to be his son. As he did not like the man, he
eventually escaped.
The actual causation for his
transport to Japan may never be proven. If a Mr. Morimoto had been
the causation, it would have sadly been for him to be a laborer and
not a son.
As fate would have it, Choi
eventually came to work for, Sokaku Takeda (1860-1943), the 32nd
patriarch of Daito Ryu Aikijitsu. Takeda was forty-four years old at
the time Choi, a seven year old boy, came to his service. Choi was
given the Japanese name Yoshida, Asao. The first or given name
Tatjuttsu which is propagated as being the name Choi used in Japan
is not a valid Japanese name. Therefore, it is historically
inaccurate to believe he went by this name, though this is the name
that Choi, himself, told people he went by while in Japan.
Takeda and Choi
Choi, now living under the employee of Takeda
in Hokkaido, was not treated as an adopted son by Takeda, as legend
has led many Hapkido practitioners to believe. Choi, in fact, was
simply an employee of Takeda.
We must place this association
into historical perspective to understand the relationship between
Takeda and Choi. At this juncture of history, the Japanese viewed
themselves as the "Divine race." Koreans were simply thought of as a
conquered people. Takeda, perhaps came to be fond of Choi, but due
to his cultural programming, he would never have accepted him as a
son.
Certainly, there were affluent
indidivuals, of Korean descent, who lived in Japan during this
period and were more readily assimilated in Japanese martial
culture. Unfortunately, Choi did not possess this status and was
forced to live a life supported by labor.
Though it is impossible to say
where this myth that Choi was the adopted child of Takeda was
originally born, all of those who propagate this falsehood in the
west base their knowledge upon one interview conducted with Choi in
1982. It may simply be that Choi's statements were misinterpreted or
mistranslated in this interview, as the statement of him being the
adopted son of Takeda was never mentioned in any media report in
Korea. It must be emphasized that it is factually inaccurate to
perpetuate the belief that Choi was the adopted son of Takeda.
Takeda's own son, Tokimune
Takeda, stated that he never knew Choi, Yong Shul. This may be
explained by the fact that Takeda possessed two distinct households.
Only one of which housed his family. Or, that Tokimune Takeda simply
wanted to disavow Hapkido link to Daito Ryu due to cultural reasons.
In any case, Japanese immigration records, of the late 1930's and
early 1940's, list Choi, under his Japanese name, as an employee of
Takeda.
Choi remained in the employ of
Takeda for thirty years until April 25, 1943 when Takeda died. At
that point he took his leave from the house of Takeda and shortly
thereafter returned to Taegue, Korea.
It must be noted that there is
no historic record of Choi ever being certified as a student or
teacher of Daito Ryu. The myth that Choi lost his certificates while
returning to Korea is a falsehood as there are in depth records of
every Daito Ryu Aikijitsu student kept in Japan. Choi, by his Korean
or Japanese name, was never listed as a student. This fact
substantiates the relationship between Choi and Takeda. Choi,
however, for decades was under the direct influence of the art. He
obviously mastered its techniques.
This photograph, taken in the
early 1900's, shows Takeda Sokaku, Ohbata Shigeta, Hiratsuka
Katsuharu, Yoshida Kotaro and several other men. It is sometimes
claimed to also depict Yong Shul Choi, (first row, second from the
left). Initially, it must be noted that employees, especially those
of Korean decent, were never photographed with their Japanese
superiors. Furthermore, the name of this man was Takuzo Kawatani.
This individual was an associate of Hiratsuka Katsuharu.
The Birth of Hapkido
As stated, Choi remained with
Takeda for thirty years until Takeda's death. Relieved of his
duties, Choi returned to Korea.
Choi's first student was a successful brewery
manager named, Suh, Bok Sup. Prior to his study with Choi he had
been awarded a 1st Dan Black Belt in Judo, under the direction of
Korean Judo instructor, Choi, Yong Ho. In February of 1948, the
twenty-four year old Suh witnessed Choi, who was then in his
forties, get into a fight with several men. Choi rapidly devastated
his opponents. Impressed with his technique, Suh summoned Choi to
his office and inquired as to his style. This meeting eventually
lead to Suh hiring Choi, who had previously been a poor rice cake
seller and hog farmer since his return to Korea. Choi would teach
Suh for several years privately, eventually also became a bodyguard
for Suh's father, Suh, Dong Jin.
Suh, Bok Sup became
instrumental in helping Choi open his first school of self defense,
which was established in February of 1951. He also became his first
Black Belt. Due to Suh's advanced understanding of Judo, Suh lent
some of this knowledge to the system which later became known as
Hapkido. Many of the basic sleeve grabs, shoulder grabs, and throws,
used in Hapkido, can trace their origin to Judo.
The initial name of the system
of self defense Choi taught was, Dae Dong Ryu Yu Sool. This is the
Korean translation for Daito Ryu Jujitsu.
Initially, Choi taught his
students a very pure form of Daito Ryu Aikijitsu. Many of the later
students of Hapkido attempt to falsely date the origin of Hapkido to
some ancient Korean art. This is historically inaccurate. Choi,
himself, never made this claim.
As time progressed and other
Korean martial art pioneers, such as General Hong Hi Choi (Taekwondo)
and Hwang Kee (Tang Soo Do) were rediscovering and expanding upon
the offensive nature of Tae Kyon, their discoveries influenced some
of the advanced students of Choi, such as Ji, Han Jae, who slowly
began to incorporate the very aggressive punching and kicking
techniques into the overall understanding of Hapkido. Choi, himself,
never taught kicking in association with Hapkido, however.
Hapkido's final criteria came
through a slow testing period, as did the other martial art systems
born on the newly independent Korean Peninsula. Even the name
Hapkido went through various changes, including: Yu Kwon Sul, Yu
Sool, Ho Shin Mu Do, and Bi Sool.
Today, there is no one system
of Hapkido, as is the case with WTF Taekwondo, for example. As time
has gone on, each teacher and ensuing organization has integrated
their own understandings and self defense realizations into this
art. There are, however, two distinct types of Hapkido. The first
are the schools which hold tightly to the original teachings of Yong
Shul Choi. This style of Hapkido will commonly be observed when
visiting or studying in the Hapkido dojangs located in the Taegue
vacinity of South Korea. Here, the focus is placed primarily upon
the Daito Ryu based joint locks, deflections, and throws. The second
distinct style of Hapkido is those instructors, schools, and
organizations who trace their lineage to Grandmaster Ji, Han Jae -
whether directly or indirectly. In these schools one will observe a
plethora of punching, kicking, and weapon techniques, in association
with the joint locks and throws commonly associated with Hapkido.
This style of Hapkido will commonly be observed at the dojangs based
in Seoul, South Korea and, in fact, most of the Western world.
The continued evolution of
Hapkido is a good thing. It has allowed the art to change and
embrace the needs of each student in their own unique way.
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