Aikido vs Hapkido
Difference between Aikido and Hapkido is in the methods that a user follows in each fighting style. For those who do not know, Aikido and Hapkido are martial arts from Japan and Korea respectively. Both are offshoots of Japanese martial art called Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu. Both martial arts are amazingly electric, and share many common techniques, but Hapkido has incorporated many Korean striking arts to become more acceptable to the people of Korea, who had won their independence from Japan. This was when everything Japanese was looked down upon. Thus, there are many differences between Aikido and Hapkido because of the many native Korean styles that were absorbed to make Hapkido look more native. Let us take a closer look, to find out more differences between Aikido and Hapkido.
What is Aikido?
Aikido is a martial art that focuses on defense and has very few attacking styles. Aikido is regarded as a spiritual martial art. It believes in defense without causing much harm to the opponent. This martial art teaches proponents to receive the blows of opponents using them to use the momentum, and turning it against them. Aikido is Japanese in origin. If you take the name Aikido, it can be divided into three parts. These three parts are ai, ki, and do. They speak of different components one needs in following this martial art. Ai is a reference to Japanese culture. Ki means breath or spirit. The last one do refers to the way or principle. When fighting, Aikido uses pressure and locks against the joints of the opponent. Also, it is believed that Aikido follows the yu principle of Tae Kwon Do. This yu principle is about achieving the ideal form of flexibility.
What is Hapkido?
While Aikido was originated in Japan, Hapkido originated in Korea. There is a lot of kicking and striking in Hapkido. So, you can say that Hapkido is very much a fighting art. There is a very interesting story about the origin of Hapkido that flows in the following manner. They say that the Korean housekeeper of a Japanese Aikido master took what he learned from the master to Korea, and started teaching the martial art incorporating Korean influences. Hapkido is drawn from a single source, which is the training in Daito Ryu that Choi Yong Sul had for over 30 years with Takeda Sokaku. Like Aikido, Hapkido can also be divided into three main parts as hap, ki, and do. Hap means harmony. Ki means spirit or a person’s mental energy. Then, do means, principle or way. Hapkido is all about bringing together physical and mental energy to fight your opponent. This Hapkido uses both yu and kang principle of Tae Kwon Do. This kang principle focuses on applying your energy during war. You should apply your energy for a specific purpose at a specific time.
What is the difference between Aikido and Hapkido?
• Though both Aikido and Hapkido have origins in Japanese martial art Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu, Aikido is its Japanese offshoot, whereas Hapkido is its Korean offshoot.
• In fact, Hapkido resulted when a Korean returned home after having learnt Aikido from a Japanese master for 30 years, and incorporated Korean influences. He did this because everything Japanese was looked down upon because of Japanese colonization of Korea for nearly 40 years.
• Aikido is a defensive martial art, and many consider it as spiritual, whereas Hapkido is more aggressive and makes use of kicking and striking. This is reflected by the fact that, where Aikido stops with a few wrist locks and take downs, Hapkido makes use of strikes from the start. These strikes remain hidden in Aikido, until a person becomes a black belt.
• Aikido uses the yu principle of Tae Kwon Do. Hapkido uses yu principle as well as kang principle.
• For Hapkido you need more of the lower body strength as a lot of kicks are involved in this fighting technique.
• Aikido applies pressure and locks to the joints of the opponent. Hapkido tries to use the opponent’s strength against him.
Both of these martial arts are there for an individual to protect one’s self from an aggressive opponent. Though they have different styles, to master any of these arts, you have to have patience and discipline.
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