Opposites in Hapkido
While idealistically we as hapkido practitioners want to flow, harmonize and use circular techniques it is not always possible, you may not always have time to step out of the way. Also in our school we talk alot about Um and Yang (Yin/Yang in Japanese) and the opposites that Hapkido is comprised of.
Um: being the more soft, flowing, circular, mental aspects
Yang: being the hard, distancing, angled, physical aspects
Hapkido is comprised of opposites in the techniques and the theories. We practice the "Wae Gong" phyiscal techniques (Yang) and we practice "Nae Gong" meditation and ki breathing(Um). We do punches and kicks(yang), and flowing throws and jointlocks(Um). You can go further and say that a crescent kick which is circular and has no focus is um, and a side kick which is very linear and focused is yang.
Also the theories of Hapkido have opposites which we practice:
"Yoo" Flowing as in water (Um) is the opposite of "Kang" Hard as steel (Yang) which when you make a focused kick and tighten your stomach and your whole body for that split second you want to be hard.
"Won" Circular theory (Um) is the opposite of "Kak" angles (Yang). A lot of the foot work that we do has to do with stepping to the side and then coming into the opponent and delivering angular kicks, also the different angles of the jointlocks.
"Hwa" Harmony or nonresistance (Um) is the opposite of "Kan" distance (Yang) Keeping the proper distance from the opponent so they cannot hit you instead of melding with their techniques.
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Joshua Cather
Shin Koo Hapkido
Yoo Sok Kwan
Lincoln, NE
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