How to Fight Using Hapkido Techniques for Mixed Martial Arts

Hapkido is the Korean martial arts system that transforms the weight and force of an opponent's attack into debilitating kicks, punches and joint locks. Hapkido takes techniques from similar martial arts and adds its own style and uses to them. Follow these steps to use hapkido in a mixed martial arts situation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Make an opponent's attack into your own attack by turning blocks into counterattacks. In response to punching attacks, parry the punch and then use the opponent's extended arm to direct his body to the ground where you can seize control of the fight. If your opponent kicks, use the timing of the kick to close distance so you can apply further hapkido techniques.
2. Use hapkido's powerful, committed kicks to take an opponent out quickly. Choose from force-heavy kicks (as opposed to speed kicks) such as the flying side kick, crescent kick, high spinning kick and the roundhouse. Pair kicks to deliver double blows or to use the first kick to distract and the second to make contact.
3. Close distance and go for a joint lock such as the elbow lock (arm bar) or wristlock to get your opponent to submit, in formal martial arts fights, or to disable him.
4. Advance to dealing with and using weapons such as the knife, nunchaku, long staff and midstaff. In all cases, it's just as important to master defending yourself from a weapon attack as it is to learn how to use a weapon.
5. Employ hapkido's principle of roundness to guide both attacks and blocks. As you fight, imagine that you're inside of a sphere so you can counter all attacks at the sphere's surface or, in other words, before they can make contact with your body.