The Ki In Hapkido, SZTUKI WALKI, Hapkido
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The Ki in Hapkido
By Scott Shaw
The Korean martial art of Hapkido is most frequently associated with its extensive
arsenal of deflections, joint locks, throws, and powerful kicking techniques. There is,
however, an element of this martial art system which not only helps to form its name,
but is essential to this arts overall process of self defense. That element is Ki.
The Basis of Ki in Hapkido.
The science of Ki is generally only taught to the advanced practitioners of Hapkido.
This is because of the fact that for the martial arts student to truly comprehend the
workings of the advanced science of Ki, they must first possess a mastery of the
physical aspects of the human body. As such, discussion of Ki's existence within this art is limited to those
practitioners who have been involved with this martial art syst0em for many years.
The Foundation of Hapkido.
Hapkido was created in post World War II Korea by Yong Shul Choi. Choi's mastery of the martial arts
was not founded in the indigenous Korean martial arts but, instead, in the Japanese understanding of self
defense.
In 1909 Japanese troops took Choi from his homeland, at the age of seven, to be assigned work in Japan.
The relocation of male Korean children was a very common practice by the Japanese occupying forces
between 1909 and 1945. As fate would have it, Choi was assigned to Sokaku Takeda (1860-1943), the
32nd patriarch of Daito Ryu Aikijitsu. Choi was given the Japanese name Yoshida Asao.
Choi remained with Takeda until his death, working for him and mastering his advanced system of martial
arts. Ueshiba Morihei, also a student of Takeda, used Daito Ryu Aikijitsu as a basis for Aikido. This is
where the similarities between the two arts arise.
As Korean Hapkido can be directly linked to Japanese Daito Ryu Aikijitsu, to understand Hapkido's use of
Ki as a self defense method more precisely, one must study the path Ki science took in its development.
From this, one will come to understand how Ki developed into an effective martial arts tool.
The Science of Ki.
Ki or Internal Energy was first written about in the Chinese document, Huang Ti Nei Ching Su Wen, or
The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine. This text is commonly referred to as the Nei Ching.
The Nei Ching is written in the form of a dialogue, on the subject of healing, between the Huang-ti, The
Yellow Emperor, and his minister Chi-po. Huang-ti, was a mythological ruler of China, legend to have
lived from 2697 to 2599 B.C.E. He is said to have invented most aspects of Chinese culture. Though
Chinese folklore claims the Nei Ching was written during the life of Huang-ti, the text is historically dated
at approximately 300 B.C.E. -- during the Warring States Period of Chinese history.
In the Nei Ching, Ki is described as the Universal Energy which nourishes and sustains all life. It flows
through the universe and thus, through each individual. An abundant, non restricted, flow of Ki in the
body allows one to remain healthy; while a diminished or impeded flow of Ki in the body lead one to
illness.
The Nei Ching describes how Ki circulation in the human body is directed by invisible circulation
channels, similar to veins, known as Meridians. In the Korean language these Meridians are known as: Pu-
dan-ui Kyung.
Chinese Contact with Korea.
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Formalized Chinese contact with the Korean Peninsula began in approximately 200 B.C.E. during the
Chinese Qui Dynasty (221-206 B.C.E.). This contact was intensified by the placement of Chinese military
colonies on the Northern Korean Peninsula during the Han Dynasty (202-220 B.C.E.). From these
contacts, the Korean Peninsula was led into a period of rapid advancement in agriculture, health science,
(which includes the doctrine of the Nei Ching, and formalized governmental statesmanship.
Confucianism, Taoism, and later Buddhism were all introduced to Korea from China.
The Transmission of Ki Knowledge from Korea to Japan.
From Korean, Chinese philosophic ideals were first transmitted to the island nation of Japan at the bequest
of King Kunch-ogo (346-375 C.E.). Two Korean scholars, A-Chikki and Wang-In were sent to Japan, to
instruct the Japanese Crown Prince in the Confucian doctrines. They brought with them copies of the
Analects of Confucius, Chien Cha Wen, (The Thousand Character Classic). This first transmission of
Confucian thought became one of the most culturally influential events in ancient Japanese history.
Korea begin to embrace Buddhism as the early centuries of the Common Era unfolded. Korean Buddhist
monks were sent to Japan in the 5th century C.E., introducing Buddhism to the island nation. The
Buddhist monk Kwall-uk, (Kanroku in Japanese), crossed the Sea of Japan in 602 C.E., bringing with him
a large number of Buddhist sutras, historical books, medical books, works on astronomy, geography, and
the occult arts. Kwall-uk was instrumental in the founding of the Sanron school of Buddhism in Japan.
As there was no evidence of Chinese medical practices in Japan until this period, it is believed this is when
the knowledge of Ki, detailed in the Nei Ching, was first transmitted from Korea to Japan. Though
Chinese and Korean medicine rapidly expanded throughout Japan and was practiced by monks and priests
from this time period forward, the use of Ki for other than medical purposes did not evolve in Japan until
the 12th century with the Samurai. From the continued contact between Korea, China, and Japan, Ki was
assimilated into Japanese culture, where its practice has taken a firm hold.
Daito Ryu Aikijitsu.
Daito Ryu Aikijitsu is one of the oldest recorded forms of Japanese Aikijujitsu. Korean legend states,
Aikijujitsu was developed by Prince Sadsumi, (850-880 C.E.), known as Prince Teijun in Korean -- the
sixth son of Japanese Emperor Seiwa. It is said that he founded Aikijujitsu after receiving martial arts
instruction from traveling Korean Buddhist monks, in the Korean martial art style of Yu Sul. The first
historic documentation of Aikijujitsu's existence, however, attributes the styles development to Minamoto
no Yoshimitsu (1056-1127 C.E.), the third son of Minamoto no Yoriyoshi who was the 5th generation
descendant of Emperor Seiwa.
Ki science was passed down through Japanese history, not only through Daito Ryu Aikijitsu but via
Japanese Buddhist monks, as well. Ki science as a source of martial defense was, however, predominately
formalized and refined in Japan at the hands of the various martial arts schools or Ryu. Until it ultimately
reached the point it has ascended to in the twentieth century; where it is propagated not only as a science
of health but as a defense method as taught by Hapkido.
Understanding Ki Energy in the Human Body.
As described, Ki flows through the human body along invisible circulation channels known as Meridians.
There are a total of twelve Primary or "Constant" Meridians in the human body. The reason these twelve
Meridians are referred to as "Constant" is because Ki energy circulates through them in a constant and
continual delineated path. Ten of these meridians are defined by, and govern specific organs of the human
body. These Meridians are: the Gall Bladder Meridian, the Liver Meridian, the Lungs Meridian, the Large
Intestine Meridian, the Stomach Meridian, the Spleen/Pancreas Meridian, the Heart Meridian, the Small
Intestine Meridian, the Bladder Meridian, and the Kidney Meridian. The final two "Constant" Meridians:
The Heart Constrictor Meridian and the Triple Warmer Meridian are related to the control of bodily
functions. The Heart Constrictor Meridian dominates the continual flow of blood throughout the body and
the Triple Warmer Meridian control the energy of respiration.
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Each of the "Constant" Meridians possesses a location on both the right side and the left side of the body.
Ki flow along the Meridians is, therefore, exactly directed to specific regions of the body the Meridian
effects. Furthermore, when an individual is experiencing a blockage of Ki flow along any of the
"Constant" Meridians, exacting stimulation can be applied to reinstate proper Ki circulation.
There are two other Meridians which also aid in the control and circulation of Ki throughout the human
body; they are: the Conceptual Meridian, and the Governing Vessel Meridian. As they do not possess a
direct relationship to a specific body organ and are not an integral element of the body's primary Ki
circulatory system, they are referred to as "Secondary" Meridians (Pu-ch-a-jok Kyung). These
"Secondary" Meridians influence highly specific Ki channels and bodily activities.
Ki flow, through each of the body's Meridians, progresses in a constant and unchanging direction of either
"Ascending" or "Descending." Each of the Meridians is dominated by either Um (Yin) or Yang.
Pressure Points.
Pressure Points or "Hyel" in Korean are precise access sites along a Meridian. These Hyel, when properly
stimulated by Acupuncture (Chim Sul) or Accupressure (Ki-op-sul), enhances the flow of Ki along a
specified Meridian. Thus, exacting pressure to points aid the body in recovering from Ki blockage or Ki
deficiency.
Ki stimulation of a specific meridian is commonly understood to aid in adding Ki flow to a specific
meridian of the body; additionally, if these Hyel are impacted in a precise and specific manner, they can
also be accessed to hamper the flow of Ki in an individual. This is where Hapkido begins its understand of
Ki self defense.
The Basis of Ki Self Defense in Hapkido.
To utilize Ki in self defense, one must possess an abundance of Ki and know how to focus its energy
precisely. The ability to focalize Ki power is known in Korean as Ki Gong. The first step in obtaining the
ability to consciously focusing your Ki energy for external use is initially accomplished by concentration
on your Center Point or Tan Jun.
Tan Jun.
Tan Jun is the center point of the human body. The Tan Jun is located approximately four inches below
the navel. This bodily location is the source point of all usable Ki in the human form. The martial arts
practitioner who desires to utilize Ki energy efficiently must first define this location. This can be
accomplished by performing a Tan Jun defining exercise.
Tan Jun Defining Exercise.
Stand with your legs separated, approximately even with your shoulders. Allow your knees to be slightly
bent. Your feet should be pointing forward, in a natural pattern. Bend your elbows slightly. Extend the
fingers of your hand naturally straight. Do not tighten the muscles of your hand, but allow your fingers to
be semi relaxed and naturally separated. Bring your two hands in front of your Tan Jun. Separate your
thumbs from your forefingers, allow them to form an inverted triangle with approximately one inch of
separation between both of your thumbs and forefingers.
Once you have achieved this stance, close your eyes and breathe slowly, yet deeply. Allow your breaths to
go deep into your abdomen. Once you achieve a relative state of calm, after approximately ten natural
breaths, begin to visualize the location of your Tan Jun.
Now, pivot your wrists, until your open palms face upward. Bring your fingers together and allow then to
point towards one another. Breathe deeply in through your nose, as you visualize your breathe entering
your body in a golden flow through your Tan Jun. As you perform this exercise, bring your hands slowly
up your body, accompanying your breath, until they reach your chest level.
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Once you have taken in a full breath, hold it in naturally for a moment. Then, as you release it, pivot your
palms over to a downward facing positioning and allow the breath to naturally leave your body, as your
hands travel downwards to their beginning positioning. As your breathe leaves your body, visualize it
exiting through your Tan Jun in a golden flow.
From this exercise, the exact individual location of your Tan Jun will clearly come into focus and you will
develop the ability to easily direct Ki throughout your body, from it. You should perform this Tan Jun
breathing technique at least ten times, any time you need to refocus your body, mind, or Ki energy.
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Tan Jun and Self Defense.
Once the location of the individual's Tan Jun is firmly delineated, all Ki orientated strikes and self defense
applications are accomplished by initially focusing on this Center Point. The Korean word "Ki Hap," the
yell associated will all punching, kicking, and throwing techniques, signals the fact that the practitioner is
pulling Ki up from this location and then releasing it as any offensive or defensive technique he is
unleashing.
Pressure Point Strikes.
As has been explained, there are numerous locations on the human body which will directly access Ki
meridian pathways. These Hyel can be employed to interrupt the flow of Ki in an attacking opponent. In
its most elemental form of Ki orientated self defense, Hapkido teaches its students to strike precisely to a
Hyel. From this Ki science defensive application, you can effectively stop the Ki flow of the opponent
along the specific Meridian pathway you are impacting. Thereby, Ki to the element of the body that
specific Meridian effects is halted and your opponent will be hindered in his offensive abilities.
Striking to a Hyel does not necessarily immediately knock a person out or cause a body part to become
instantly numb, as has been propagated by many martial art charlatans. What this type of self defense does
achieve, however, is the interruption of the overall Ki force in an attacker. This type of self defense may
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be understood by the analogy of a body part which has fallen asleep, when proper circulation has been cut
off from it.
When applying forced pressure to specific Hyel, your goal is not to magically render your opponent
lifeless. What you are planning to achieve, however, is both short term and long term interruption of your
attacker's Ki energy.
In Hapkido, a focused Pressure Point strike is initially accomplished by focusing your energy in your Tan
Jun. Then, as your strike travels towards its final Hyel impact point, you expel your focused Ki, with a Ki
Yap, and strike your opponent to one of these precise locations. From this, his Ki will be interrupted and
you can continue on with additional self defense as necessary.
The Ki of an attacker is not only interrupted by forceful striking techniques. In fact, the more advanced
martial artist will not focus his defense on offensive techniques, at all. Instead, he will choose to interrupt
the Ki of his opponent by far less obvious methods. In many cases, this may be achieved by applying
direct pressure to one of the opponent's Hyel with a holding or a grabbing technique.
Non-Forceful Ki Interruption.
When a martial artist uses Ki interruption techniques, in the midst of self defense, he does not posses the
time to exactly locate a specific Hyel. The extended time frame such as an accupressurist would have
when applying healing touch therapy. Equally, he does not generally have the time to hold a pressure point
for more than a few seconds. It is for this reason, that a martial artist must not only possess an exact
understanding of Meridian Pressure Points, to make Ki self defense effective, but also must possess the
ability to strike or apply debilitating pressure to them rapidly and precisely.
To maintain the ability to effective deal with any opponent, one must initially remain free for injury. To
this end, when attacked by an aggressive opponent, the first element in all forms of Hapkido self defense
is to remove your body from the intended path of an opponent's strike.
To Block or Not to Block.
In many traditional martial art systems they choose to intercept a powerful attack with a forceful block.
Though this type of self defense is common, it is, in fact, one the easiest ways to become injured in the
process of defending yourself. As has been proven time and time again, by encountering a strike, bone to
bone, the defender will often times injure himself, having his own bones broken due to the forceful impact
of the block. In the least destructive of these encounters, the defender will become severely bruised due to
the forceful blocking of the strike. This is due to the fact, by allowing your opponent to first launch his
attack and then waiting for it to be fully deployed before you encounter it, you have allowed him the
ability to develop full power and velocity with whatever strike technique he has unleashed upon you.
Hapkido, does not follow this method of self defense. It, instead, chooses to encounter an attack before it
has the potential of reaching climax or to simply move out of the path of the attack, deflecting its
onslaught before it has the potential of making harmful impact.
Hapkido Deflection.
To put this Hapkido defense theory into practice, the easiest form of opponent deflection is to simply
move out of the pathway of any oncoming strike. This can be easily achieved in the case of a linear
technique, such as a Straight Punch or a Front Kick by side stepping the path of the offensive technique. In
the case of a circular technique, such as a Roundhouse Punch or a Roundhouse Kick, the best method is to
simply step back beyond its range. In either case, your opponent's offensive technique will not strike you
and you will not become injured by attempting to forcefully block it. Thus, you will maintain the ability to
effectively move forward with additional self defense as necessary.
Once your opponent's onslaught has not made contact with you, is the moment where you must
immediately take action to debilitate him before he can launch a secondary attack. Hapkido practices
"Continual Motion Theory." This is to say, that one technique immediately follows the last, be it offensive
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