DAITO-RYU AIKI-JUJUTSU

The history of Junsakwon can be traced back to the Japanese martial art of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu. In the early 20th century, Takeda Sokaku served as the headmaster of Daitō-ryū. While little is known about the system prior to his leadership, it is widely believed that the art was a synthesis of multiple fighting styles, as Takeda himself was trained in a broad range of martial disciplines.

 

Between 1910 and 1945, during Japan’s occupation of Korea, the Japanese government made a concerted effort to suppress Korean identity. This included attempts to eradicate Korean language, cultural traditions, and indigenous martial arts, which were seen as potential threats to their control. During this time, many Koreans were taken to Japan—often as forced laborers or personal servants—further influencing the blending and evolution of martial traditions.

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GRANMASTER CHOI YONG SOOL

Choi Yong Sool (also known as Asao Yoshida) was born on November 9, 1904. It is said that at the age of eight, during the Japanese occupation of Korea, he was taken to Japan as an indentured servant.

 

Through a series of circumstances now obscured by time—and perhaps reshaped by martial arts legend—Choi eventually found himself in the home of Takeda Sokaku, the headmaster of the Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu tradition. According to various accounts, Choi became a student of Aiki-jūjutsu during this time. While some dispute this due to a lack of official records listing him as a student, it's important to understand the historical context: as a Korean servant under Japanese rule, Choi's name may have been deliberately omitted from any formal registries. Regardless of the controversy, one fact remains undisputed—Choi returned to Korea highly skilled in a martial system closely resembling Aiki-jūjutsu, and by his own account, he had trained in it extensively.

 

In 1948, after returning to Korea, Choi began teaching martial arts at a local brewery owned by the father of one of his students. What he taught was a unique blend: the grappling and joint-locking techniques of Japanese Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, combined with powerful Korean-style kicking techniques.

According to Grandmaster Yu Chong Su (Chong Su Kwan Hapkido & Kumdo, Songtan City, South Korea), many of the kicks now commonly associated with Hapkido were not part of the original Japanese jūjutsu system Choi brought back. Instead, they were influenced by TaeKyun, a traditional Korean kicking art and precursor to Taekwondo. These kicking techniques—and many of the innovations that shaped modern Hapkido—were introduced by other key figures, particularly Master Ji Han-Jae, who played a pivotal role in the art's evolution, global spread, and may have even coined the name Hapkido.

 

HAPKIDO

“Hap” is harmony, coordination or balance, “Ki” denotes the essence of power/energy/spirit and “Do” means the way/path/method. "The Way of Coordinated Power and Spirit".  

This style of fighting should never be confused with its Japanese counterpart, Aikido. While both systems share the same martial "parent"—Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu—their founders were vastly different in character, cultural background, social status, and philosophical intent.

Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, developed his art with a very different goal in mind. Much like Jigoro Kano (founder of Judo), Ueshiba sought to preserve Japanese martial traditions while adapting them to a modernizing society. His goal was to create a martial art rooted in peace, harmony, and spiritual development, rather than combat or warfare.

Choi Yong Sool, on the other hand, had no such objective. He took what he had learned from Japanese jūjutsu and, alongside other pioneering Korean martial artists of the era, infused it with Korean cultural elements—particularly dynamic kicking techniques and practical self-defense applications. Together, they forged a new and uniquely Korean system of combat.

That distinction is crucial: Hapkido was created as a method of self-defense, not as a philosophy or competitive sport. If Tang Soo Do is considered Korean Karate, then Hapkido is best understood as Korean Aiki-jūjutsu—a martial system born from necessity, forged in adversity, and dedicated to real-world effectiveness.

 

CHONG SU KWAN HAPKIDO SCHOOL, SO. KOREA (1984) 

As a direct student of Choi Yong Sool, Master Yu Chong Su was trained in the traditional methods of Jūjutsu (Yu Sul). Many of his students from that era—and those who came before—received similar instruction. As a result, their version of Hapkido closely resembles the original Aiki-jūjutsu that emerged from Japan, rather than the more stylized forms seen in many contemporary Hapkido schools today. 

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JUNSAKWON

Junsakwon is a modern evolution of Hapkido that emphasizes the combative applications of the art. Rooted in the principle of efficiency in close-quarters combat, Junsakwon rejects overly "flowery" or theatrical techniques often found in today’s martial arts landscape. Instead, it embraces realism and practicality.

 

This system integrates joint locks, weapon defense, takedowns, and grappling into a cohesive and effective method of self-defense. Junsakwon remains true to the original intent of Hapkido as a martial system designed for survival and real-world application—not sport, not ceremony, but function.

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THE FIVE FUNDAMENTAL POINTS OF JUNSAKWON

1. Striking: Learning to clinch and utilize all your limbs (and sometimes head) as striking tools by perfecting your attacks and properly targeting the weak & vulnerable spots of the human body. 

 

2. Joint, Arm & Body Locks: Restraining the opponent's movements, clinching and seizing control of the body utilizing various types of joint & arm locks.

 

3. Throws: The takedowns and throws used in JSK are similar to the ones found in Aiki-Jūjutsu, but with a strong emphasis on  your surroundings & terrain. 

 

4. Weapons Training: Learn to utilize standard weapons (both blunt & bladed) and to turn mundane objects into effective impact & control tools. 

 

5. Grappling: Grabbing, holding and controlling your opponent is the core of the JSK system and required whether you're standing or on the ground. Our ground combatives does not focus on the submission only but on obtaining a superior position to strike and fight your way back to dominant control or escape. See Combat Grappling for further information.  

 

Skill Training Formula

• Indicator

• Response 

• Opponents Counter 

• Counter Defense

• Drill

• Pressure Test 

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Does your training account for? 

• Environment 

• Clothing (Gi/NoGi) 

• Weapons

• Striking 

Are you pressure testing your skills?