Differences between Hapkido and Aikido

[granitemiller]

Has anyone practiced both Hapkido and Aikido and would you mind explaining your experiences? I have read about Hapkido and took some Aikido and would like to hear about other people's experiences. Thank you!

[bushido_man96]

I do both. I study Aikido with the American Aikido Association, and I have been doing Combat Hapkido for about 3 years now, I think.

Combat Hapkido is pretty straight forward stuff. Low-line kicks and hand techniques used as distraction techniques to facilitate the techniques. We do some circular motions, but not to the extent that Aikido does.

I have only been doing Aikido for about 7 or 8 months now, I think. From what I have seen, Aikido is based a lot on using the energy of your opponent, if he gives you some, or the energy you give the opponent, if he is more static, to initiate the circular, spiraling, spherical types of movements that generate the momentum for the techniques. There are rarely any striking techniques involved. In class, we spend at least an hour doing Aiki movements that involve a lot of turning and spinning, and the breakfalling techniques, before getting into the actual technique work. These spinning and turning movements are what build the foundation of the movements used to produce the energy to do the techniques.

I am still growing in both, and I have more experience with the Hapkido than with the Aikido, so my experiences here may not echo those of the more experienced. However, Hapkido does have its roots in Daito-Ryu Aikijitsu, so there are some similarities in the two.

[The BB of C]

If I remember correctly, Hapkido is a lot more likely to throw a high kick as well as all the wrist locks and throws.

[bushido_man96]

If I remember correctly, Hapkido is a lot more likely to throw a high kick as well as all the wrist locks and throws.

Some styles, yes. Grandmaster Bong Soo Han of Hapkido was quite the kicker.

What I like about the Combat Hapkido system is that it doesn't emphasize the high kicks or the extreme levels of diving and rolling. It is focused on more efficient modes of defense and breakfalling.

Does Kuk Sul Won focus on high kicking very much, or is it more basic kicking?

[granitemiller]

Would you say that Hapkido is more in line with a TangSooDo Korean art than it is to Aikido/Aikijutsu?

I took Aikido for a semester while in college. Found it very interesting. I have just started learning Aikijutsu - it is similar to Aikido in the joint locks. Have not taken it long enough to form any type of opinion.

[The BB of C]

If I remember correctly, Hapkido is a lot more likely to throw a high kick as well as all the wrist locks and throws.

Some styles, yes. Grandmaster Bong Soo Han of Hapkido was quite the kicker.

What I like about the Combat Hapkido system is that it doesn't emphasize the high kicks or the extreme levels of diving and rolling. It is focused on more efficient modes of defense and breakfalling.

Does Kuk Sul Won focus on high kicking very much, or is it more basic kicking?

Bruce Lee once said "I'm not afraid of the person who practices 10000 techniques once. I am afraid of the man who practices one technique 10000 times."

The Kuk Sool Won school I attended practiced 10,000 techniques once. There was a bit of everything and I took from it what I needed which was the high kicks, wrist techniques, dives and breakfalls. That's all I could say about it though. It's very similar to Hapkido.

[bushido_man96]

Would you say that Hapkido is more in line with a TangSooDo Korean art than it is to Aikido/Aikijutsu?

No, I wouldn't say that, because Hapkido has its roots in Daito-Ryu Aikijitsu, and Tang Soo Do also has some Karate roots. Hapkido is probably closer to Aikijitsu than Aikido, is my guess.