Sin Moo Hapkido

Infobox Korean name

width=120px
hangul=신무 합기도
hanja=神武 合氣道
mr=Sin Mu Hapkido
rr=Sin Mu Hapgido

Sin Moo Hapkido is a martial art that combines "hard" and "soft" techniques. It is closely related to its parent art, Hapkido. "Sin" means spiritual and "Moo" means martial, thereby "Sin Moo Hapkido" can be translated as, "A spiritual martial art."

History

Sin Moo Hapkido was founded in the United Stated in 1984 by Ji, Han Jae (b. 1936). Ji, Han Jae was an early student of Choi, Young Sool, the founder of Hapkiyusool, a forerunner of Hapkido. Therefore, some argue that it was Choi who is the actual founder of hapkido.

The Art

Sin Moo Hapkido incorporates a philosophy of non-violence, self improvement, adaptability, and physical, emotional and spiritual balance, with the basic Hapkido training. Additionally, Sin Moo Hapkido formalizes a series of techniques, although at advanced levels students are expected to synthesize their own work, building on the principles of circular motion, energy flow, and the water principle (Yu) to arrive at techniques that are suited to their style, size, and ability levels. Advanced training also includes weapon training and study of acupressure for both defensive and healing techniques. The core principles of Sin Moo Hapkido are circular motion (Won), the water principle (Yu), and adaptability also referred as harmony (Wha). The use of energy flows are also emphazited in Sin Moo Hapkido.

Techniques

Sin Moo Hapkido uses holds, joint locks, throws, re-direction, kicks, punches, blocks, pressure points, weapons, and energy flow techniques.

Holds and Joint Locks

Holds and joint locks are used primarily for control of an aggressor. They are primarily defensive, but at more advanced levels can be interpreted as attacks. At the 4th dan black belt there is also taught 30 special attack techniques using variations and combinations of basic locks.

Throws, Re-direction and Blocks

Throws and re-direction of an aggressor's energy use an attacker's momentum to continue their own motion using the circular motion principle (Won) of Hapkido. These techniques depend on the incoming energy of the attack to determine their outcome; a soft or weak attack will require a small or soft re-direction. A large or powerful attack will result in a re-direction or throw that involves much more energy, translating to a more devastating outcome upon the attacker. The blocks used in Sin Moo Hapkido are usually also re-direction blocks, but some blocks are intended to be used to stop an aggressor's attack and because of this some blocks are hard blocks. Also legs are used for blocking.

Kicks and Punches

Sin Moo Hapkido uses a wide variety of strikes. Sin Moo Hapkido incorporates 25 defensive kicks that are useful in "street style" defensive situations that counter incoming attacks - out of the 25 two are specially only used to block kicks, but some of the other kicks can be used the same way also. Many of the kicks are designed for use in restricted spaces like hallways or crowds. After learning the basic 25 the student then learns 29 special kicks. Special kicks are harder to master but they need more room to be used, and they include doublekicks, flyingkicks, from the ground done kicks, jumpingkicks and combination kicks. Sin Moo Hapkido has also 17 different kind of punches.

Pressure Points and Energy Flow

Pressure points are used in Hapkido to control the physical body, and to manipulate the body's Ki to stop, disarm and disable an attacker or heal a patient. Sin Moo Hapkido uses 365 pressure points out of the body's over 600 pressure points. The pressure points are also referred to as vital points. Sin Moo Hapkido has a special side called Hyol Do Bup which specializes on pressure point fighting and eastern medicine.

Weapons

Sin Moo Hapkido weapon training consist the use of short stick (Dan Bong), walking stick (Dan Jang / Ji Pang e), long stick (Jang Bong), the sword (Kum), rope (Po Bak), knife (Kal), thrown weapons and adapting everyday objects to use as weapons. Weapon training is learned in the black belt stages, but knife techniques and defences against them are learned in the upper red belt (2. gup).

Ranks

Sin Moo Hapkido's ranking system is somewhat similar to other ranking systems. Gups (급, called also kups) are student stages and dans (단) are teacher stages. Students use color belts and teachers use black belts. If a color belt teaches she or he is referred as Sung Sang (Assistant instructor). Practitioners are referred as Wong Sang.

Color Belts:
* 9th gup (white)
* 8th gup (yellow)
* 7th gup (green)
* 6th gup (green with black stripe)
* 5th gup (blue)
* 4th gup (blue with black stripe)
* 3rd gup (red)
* 2nd gup (red with black stripe)
* 1st gup (brown)

Black Belts:
* 1st-4th dan, Sa Buem Nim (Teacher);
* 5th-8th dan, Kwan Jang Nim (Master);
* 9th dan, Chong Jae Nim (Grand Master);
* 10th dan, Dojunim Ji Han Jae (Founder).

Uniform

Sin Moo Hapkido practitioners in some schools use a white Dobok, which has black edges on the jacket part of the suit. On the back side is usually a large Hapkido eagle and the text Sin Moo Hapkido or a large Korean Sin Moo Hapkido Emblem. It is common to see some type of badge on the uniform's left chest, typically the badge of the Korean Sin Moo Hapkido or the World Sin Moo Hapkido Association, other Association badges are common also. Usually the local clubs emblem can be also found. Black belts can use black pants but this is not mandatory. The World Sin Moo Hapkido Association also has released a grey official Sin Moo Hapkido suit, but the suit is a rare sight in some countries.

This varies from school to school. Some schools use a purely white dobok with no black (or any other color) on it anywhere, except for the letters or characters describing the school and its affiliation. Some schools do not include badges, just the text of the Sin Moo Hapkido association.

Meditation

Sin Moo Hapkido has many meditation techniques. The Korean word for meditation is "Mun Yum". Sin Moo Hapkido has also breathing techniques which are referred in Sin Moo Hapkido as Tanjun. The Korean term for formalized breathing techniques is, "Ki Gung". Sin Moo Hapkido lessons usually start with Tanjun and end with meditation.

Nine basic rules

Sin Moo Hapkido's basic rules are categorized into three groups to make a total of 9 rules. These rules will help the Sin Moo Hapkido practitioner to have a better and healthier life.

Physical:
* 1st Good/Healthy Food/Eating
* 2nd Healthy sexual behavior
* 3rd Beneficial Meditation

Mental:
* 4rd Do not be Angry
* 5th Do not be Sad
* 6th Do not be Greedy

Spiritual
* 7th Water Control
* 8th Air Control
* 9th Sunshine Control

Basic Techniques to Attain Yellow Belt

The following are the basic techniques one must know for the exam to attain a yellow belt:

Strikes

* 1. sudo an chigi (hand in shape of knife (sudo). Circular strike from the outside in towards the neck)
* 2. sudo bakat chigi (same as above, but in opposite direction, from the inside outwards, towards the opponent's neck)
* 3. yok sudo (hand is shape of knife (sudo). Hand starts on your side at the belt level, palm facing upwards. Strike the side of the head - the temple- in a circular motion ending with palm facing downwards. The strike point is the first joint of the index finger)

Kicks

* 1. andari cha noki (frontal kick to the knee using the sole of the foot)
* 2. choki chagi (frontal kick to the groin using the tips of the toes, foot in a straightened angle continuing the shape of the leg)
* 3. tuit kum chi mit dari chagi (circular kick to the quadriceps -thigh- area from the outside, using the heel of the foot)
* 4. hadan yop chagi (descending kick to the knee, using the heel of the foot. The foot comes up, knee bent, then straightens as it strikes the opponent's knee)
* 5. andari chagi (circular kick using the sole of the foot at face level. From the outside in. Used a lot as a defensive kick)
* 6. bakat dari chagi (circular kick using the sole of the foot at face level. Same as above, but in the opposite direction, from the inside outwards)

Wrist Holds (8 techniques)

Sleeve Holds (4 techniques)

Elbow Clothes Holds (4 techniques)

Shoulder Clothes Holds (4 techniques)

Neck Clothes Holds (4 techniques)

Highest ranked masters

* Ji, Han Jae 10th Dan. DoJu; Founder of Sin Moo Hapkido
* Ken MacKenzie 9th Dan
* Yung T. Freda 9th Dan
* GM John Beluschak 9th Dan
*Laura Beluschak 5th Dan(highest ranking woman)

External links

* [http://www.sinmoo.com/ The Sin Moo Hapkido dojangs and associations worldwide]
* [http://www.the-dojang.net/ The_Dojang email discussion forum, for Hapkido and other Korean Martial Arts]
* [http://www.sinmoohapkido.eu/ European Community Sin Moo Hapkido Website]
* [http://www.sinmoohapkido.be/ Belgian-Dutch Sin Moo Hapkido Association Website]