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How to Learn Hapkido Self Defense

How to Hapkido Techniques

Hapkido is a Korean martial arts style.  One of the distinctions of Hapkido versus other martial arts styles is that Hapkido utilizes techniques from a number of other martial arts styles.  The Hapkido student who has mastered their craft then has the luxury of switching seamlessly between different martial arts styles.

Hapkido is a martial arts style that utilizes techniques from a number of different martial arts styles such as Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and Aikido.  For the student who has mastered Hapkido, they are able to seamlessly transition between different techniques.



  1. Master the fall.  One of the most basic techniques that the Hapkido student learns is how to fall properly.  Hapkido techniques teach the student how to fall and break your fall without breaking anything else.

  2. Master the roll.  Learning to roll helps the Hapkido student escape danger while simultaneously springing to your feet in a ready position.  Rolling and falling are both essential techniques for the Hapkido student.

  3. Master striking.  Hapkido kicks and punches are very similar to Tae Kwon Do in that they tend to use full leg and hip extensions.  Hapkido punches are also generated from the hip as are their Tae Kwon Do counterparts.

  4. Master the joint lock technique.  This is a technique that distinguishes Hapkido from other martial arts styles.  The primary focus of joint lock techniques are the wrists, elbows and shoulders of your opponent.  In order to master these techniques, the Hapkido student can spend years to learn them properly.

  5. Master leverage.  Throws are similar to Judo throws, which involve pushing, pulling, and maneuvering in order to gain a leverage advantage.  Positioning to get beneath an opponent’s center of gravity is another emphasis of Hapkido.