Is Hapkido a hybrid martial art?

Januray 2025

On Facebook, if you type “Hapkido” in Korean, the automatic translator will translate it to “Fusion Art” in English. It’s an absurd translation. At the same time, it cannot unfortunately be called incorrect because so many Hapkido dojangs themselves introduce Hapkido as a ‘hybrid martial art.’ 

In fact, these ‘hybrid martial art’ dojangs include in their curriculum mixtures of Judo and Jujutsu, kicks that are reminiscent of Taekwondo and Kickboxing, Bruce Lee style nunchucks, and even western Boxing punches. Choi Yongsul’s teachings, which follow a long lineage with a very unique and systematic curriculum are nowhere to be found in any of these dojangs. 

Dojangs that use “Hapkido” in their name are doing this. So, when a dojang’s sign bears the title “<insert last name>’s Martial Arts” with “Taekwondo, Hapkido, MMA, Kendo” below it, the quality (or lack thereof, rather) of Hapkido is obvious.

If you truly want to learn Judo, wouldn’t you want to go to a Judo dojo instructed by experts in Judo? If you wanted to know how to really use your fist, wouldn’t you want to go to a professional boxing gym?

A while ago, I saw a documentary on Amazon called Jiro Dreams of Sushi about a master chef who had dedicated his life to sushi and only sushi for the last 60+ years. Some might ask what the difference between Jiro’s sushi and the sushi at the Asian buffet was. Sushi is afterall, sushi. However, the difference in the diner’s experience between the two is sure to be as vast as the ocean itself. 

If sushi is like this, what about martial arts, an art that deals with the study of life and death?

My master, Kim Yunsang, met Choi Yongsul when he was 40 and trained in Hapkiyusul (the original form of Hapkido) until he passed away at the age of 88. It’s because of his dedication that at the age of 60, he could realize the highest level of ‘hapki’. Kim Yunsang’s master, Choi Yongsul started his practice at a very young age under Takeda Sokaku, and he too dedicated his entire life to Hapkiyusul (also known as Aikijujutsu).

In order to become a true master of any martial art, there is no time to look at, let alone train in other forms. If you do, none of the forms amount to anything. If someone who wants to become a master sushi chef starts selling steak and Chinese food, the chef will never be called a ‘master’ and the restaurant will begin to be called a buffet.