I've never needed anything mystical in these kinds of things. The mechanics alone are sufficient to explain the effect. I still often refer to it using the ki vocabulary, but my students learn first that ki is just a shorthand for a certain type of mechanics.
I'm still trying to figure out how to write a full article on the shamanistic nature of martial arts. So far all I've got is drawing power from the ground.
The "shamanistic nature of martial arts". That's a corker of a phrase. You know, Skribs, I hope you've compiled a lot of notes on the arts up until this point. You need to eventually write some books.
Not at all. I’m talking about your passion for the arts, good writing skills and your ever growing experience.
Agree. I have practiced/taught joint lock self defense/counter drills to some big men who some joint locks simply do not work on without some sort of setup or distraction to set the lock. Even then it is very hard. I am intrigued by Hapkido but so much of the video was predicated on what the attacker did after contact. Frankly, I am more impressed by how the attackers were able to respond, apparently without much damage because they kept coming. There is great value in that mentality of continuance in a actual fight/bout or for LEO. I couldn't tell for certain but it looked like they were on pine straw bedding, not exactly padding.
Nice video, but I do not believe all the history. More likely Hapkido was develop from Korean Martial Artist who learn Japanese Martial Artist during the long Japanese occupation of Korea.
It's pretty well established (and pretty obvious, IMO) that it's largely derived from Daito-ryu (perhaps via Ueshiba's Aikido?).
Yes the art did emerge from Daito Ryu, but not from Ueshiba's Aikido. There are no records of Choi in the archives of Daito ryu, either in his Korean name or adopted Japanese name. But Saito is on record in an interview stating his father claimed Choi did indeed attend seminars as an assistant to Takada Sagaku. Choi returned to Korea before Ueshiba had created Aikido. An interview with Choi in the late 80's refers to his art as Yawara, and it is claimed by some that Ji Han Jan added most of the Korean influence and the name of Hapkido, the exact truth will probably never be known. I enjoyed the art when I trained it, it is fascinating, and still use some of the techniques in training today.
He did return to Korea before Ueshiba started calling anything Aikido, but there's no really good dividing line as to when he started teaching something he would have considered Aikido (when he later used that term). A few things I've seen in Hapkido (haven't seen much, but enough to wonder) have me wondering if he had some significant interaction with Ueshiba in those days. It's a vague wondering, at best, and not backed by anything substantial.
I agree, Choi would not have been given any status, 1 because he would have been classed as a servant, 2nd he was not Japanese, and the only evidence is say so. The most interesting part was Morihei Ueshiba's acknowledgement to Saito Sense about Choi assisting at a seminar. Assiting in what way we are unsure of, but it is clear Choi was proficient at the techniques. After Takada ended his life via a hunger strike, it is unlikely Morihei would have associated himself with Choi, seeing as Choi stated in his 1980's interview, he returned to Korea, because he did not feel his Korean heritage would have been tolerated.
Found this link for the mentioned interview. Though it is not the full interview. Historical Interview with Choi Yong-Sul – Hapkido Journal
Also this link may help, but we will still not know the whole truth. The History of Hapkido - Scott Shaw
Missed this reply when I read this before. You are of course correct. Too many who don't practice the grappling arts don't understand that. When a grapple is correctly applied, there will be destruction unless the defender stops before that happens, or the attacker applies the correct break fall. And for further clarification, there are actual throws, at least in the Hapkido I studied, and I am sure the other grappling arts must be the same.
Yes sir! Another thing that is sometimes hard to learn. One of the reasons I felt so uncoordinated when I first began studying Hapkido. For that reason, when I started teaching, footwork was one of the things I emphasized and ensured I taught with any new technique I taught.123