The Bear – our symbol for inner strength
Like the bear, each of us possesses an inner power waiting to be discovered.
The bear teaches us to move forward with courage and embrace challenges.
Self-awareness and mindfulness are the keys to personal growth.
True strength comes from within – through discipline, training and community.
HapKiDo is a Korean martial art founded in 1948 by Grandmaster Choi Yong-Sool. The name consists of:
At Artos HapKiDo e.V. we combine this philosophy with modern training. Our students learn not only self-defense, but develop confidence, discipline and respect.
THE WAY
HapKiDo was founded in 1948 by Choi Yong-Sool in Daegu, South Korea. After spending over 30 years in Japan studying Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu under Takeda Sōkaku, Choi returned to Korea and began teaching his own martial art system that combined Japanese techniques with Korean kicking and striking.
In the 1950s and 1960s, HapKiDo grew rapidly across Korea through students like Ji Han-Jae, who is often credited with spreading the art internationally and refining its curriculum. Ji founded the Korea Hapkido Association in 1965 and brought HapKiDo to global attention.
Today, HapKiDo is practiced worldwide and is known for its comprehensive approach — combining joint locks, throws, kicks, and weapons training into a versatile self-defense system suitable for all ages.
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