How to Use a Hapkido Dagger to Immobilize and Throw an Attacker

A Hapkido Dagger only passingly resembles a typical knife

Hapkido is a term used to describe a large group of various Korean martial arts which evolved from constant internecine combat and lawlessness throughout the country’s history. It includes a very eclectic combination of kicks, joint locks, pressure points and various weapon techniques. In Hapkido, the majority of the joint locks and grappling attacks begin with the attacker grabbing the defender by the wrist. Here we will explain how to use a Hapkido Dagger to immobilize and throw an attacker who has locked onto your wrist prior to attempting further attack.

Things You'll Need

• Hapkido or practice dagger
• Sparring partner

Instructions

1. Begin with the dagger in your right hand, with the blade jutting from the bottom of your fist. Allow your attacker to grab you by the wrist. To do this safely without catching himself on your knife, the attacker will have to grab the top or outside of the wrist. Either of these holds is acceptable.

2. Roll the arm up from hip level to neck level while extending out to your right. This will force your attacker to turn slightly away from you in order to hold onto your wrist, and his right shoulder will be turned toward you. Step forward and behind your attacker, wrapping your arm around his throat as you do so. When you finish, you should be standing behind your attacker’s left shoulder with your knife arm wrapped completely around his throat, locked shut by placing the flat of the dagger, still jutting downward, over his left shoulder and against the flesh of the shoulder blade. You’re using the flat of the dagger like a pin to hold a hinge together.

3. Force your attacker to spin around 360 degrees by sidestepping slightly to the left while pulling your arm and making him unravel around it as it straightens. You will finish standing to your attacker’s left with his arm still holding your wrist and the flat of your knife against the back of his neck.

4. Throw your opponent by leaning and driving forward and downward with your knife hand in a forward-rolling motion. As the knife is firmly behind the attacker’s head, he will be forced to move his body with the motion of your knife hand. Once you have begun to throw your attacker forward, draw the knife down and back toward you to complete the rolling motion, which is sure to place your attacker in a forward roll, ending with him landing flat on his back.

Tips & Warnings

• A Hapkido dagger was often short and easily concealed. Typically, they were small enough to be concealed in the palm of the hand. Though they had edges, they were often not very sharp. For this reason, the only offensive use of the Hapkido dagger involved the use of the point. Marlin or throwing spikes were used for the same purpose. Someone who could not afford a good Hapkido dagger could do just as well carrying a long, sharpened nail.

Resources

• Video Demonstration of the Immobilization and Throw