Silent Warrior Hapkido Academy

Hapkido was founded by Choi Yong Sool (1904-1986). Reportedly he developed the system by combining native Korean fighting methods with Japanese Daito Ryu Aiki-Ju Jitsu. Choi had learned that system from its Headmaster Sokaku Takeda while living in Japan from 1915 to 1945. After his return to Korea, Choi started teaching Self Defense (Yawara) in TaeGue City. He initially called his system Yu Kwon Sool. One of Choi's senior students, Ji Han-Jae, claims to have been the first one to introduce the name "Hapkido" in Seoul in 1957. However this is strongly disputed by Choi's first student Prof. Suh Bok Sup, who claims that he and Choi were already using the word "Hapkido" when they opened their first dojang (school) in 1951.

Some "traditional" Instructors claim that Hapkido contains over 3600 techniques, including as many as 120 different kicks. Again Prof. Suh Bok Sup, disputes this and asserts that the original Hapkido system as taught by Choi was comprised of only 100 Self Defense techniques. Nowadays there are many styles of Hapkido and over a dozen associations/ Governing Bodies. 

The literal translation of the word Hapkido is actually the combination of three words.

HAP- To combine, to unite, to coordinate, to join.
KI- Internal power, dynamic energy, life force.
DO- The way, the system, the method.