Hapkido: Past, Present & Future - Paperback

by Todd Miller (Author)

A young man, inspired by a movie and a love of learning, embarks on a search for the authentic hapkido of founder Choi Young Sul. This thinking man's art draws amazing talent from all over the globe to the South Korea city of Daegu, a beautiful city surrounded by mountains where Choi Doju Nim taught thousands his powerfully concise art. Some learn hapkido to augment their own martial art. Others continue to pursue the pure art in its entirety. But what is Hapkido, and how did it evolve?When we speak of the founding of Hapkido, we immediately encounter the opaque and controversial origins of this art and its techniques. In the US, the questions begin with the founder and which men have been most relevant. Many of GM Ji Han Jae's students recognize him as the founder of the art. Many go back to Choi Young Sul, recognizing him as the founder.Even the Masters in the country of origin of this art are divided as to the affirmation of who the founder is. As with many arts, inventions, and discoveries, the founder is not necessarily the most famous, and fame, although it may not indicate who is best, does draw the eye and thus it tends to re-write history. Ji Han Jae, has made films in Hong Kong with Bruce Lee and those films became a hit in the most important country in the world (USA). All this gets a fantastic repercussion and the speeches and affirmations always tend to be endorsed in chorus by his followers. The story of the origins and spread of Hapkido is bigger than we imagine, and certainly larger than we can cultivate or experience in this limited lifetime. To begin to grasp the panorama of events, we must turn to masters who have been in the art for decades, and who have traveled and researched to find the original masters, their histories and their lineages. In their stories and lives, the true history unfolds.Todd Miller gives us an account of his experience, bringing us all a bit more of the story. Dozens of practitioners are featured in the study of Hapkido presented by Chief Master Miller concerning Choi Doju Nim's legacy and his contribution for the future of martial arts in general, and Hapkido specifically. We will hardly be able to understand from this book the entire chain of events, but it will certainly be valuable to those who sincerely seek understanding of the origins and development of Hapkido.