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JIU JITSU VS HAPKIDO

By Benjamin Strusnik, June 06, 2022

There is some considerable resemblance between the art of Hapkido and the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Both Martial Arts utilise a series of joint locks and throwing techniques. This matchup is quite similar to luta livre vs bjj as Luta Livre and Hapkido have even more similarities. BJJ has a more extensive series of submissions, while Hapkido is an all round game that uses striking prowess.

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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a highly complicated Martial Art that involves a large number of systematic techniques. They have a unique skill set for closing the distance in the stand up game, and finding a way to get the fight to the ground. On the ground they use weight distribution to transition from control positions into submission attacks. Hapkido is a Martial Art that incorporates a range of striking techniques and grappling maneuvers. A practitioner will be quite savage as they know how to utilise their attacking tools. Hapkido practitioners will also become trained in a variety of weapons, so they can be quite dangerous.

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THE ORIGIN OF HAPKIDO

The birth of modern Hapkido can be traced back to a group of Korean nationals in the post Japanese colonial period of Korea. Choi Yong Sool and six of his most loyal students became the most prominent figures in the modern Hapkido evolution. Chinil Chang was his personally chosen successor, and Seo Bok Seob was the first student to train in Hapkido. Ji Han Jae was one of the earliest promoters of Hapkido and Kim Moo Hong became a major innovator sharing his ideology of Hapkido. Myung Jae Nam was a connector between the art forms of hapkido and aikido and Myung Kwang Sik kept a host of records as the historian and ambassador.

Choi Yong Soo was sent to Japan as a young boy, and upon returning to Korea he had brought back techniques that coincided with Daito ryu and Aiki jujutsu, both were disciplines within the Aikido Martial Arts. The history books show significant controversy surrounding Daito ryu lineage, as the art is claimed by many contemporary Hapkido practitioners and is attributed directly to Choi. An interview took place during a trip that Choi made to the United States in 1980, as he went to visit his direct lineage successor Chin il Chang in New York City. In the interview Choi spoke about being adopted by Takeda Sokaku when he was only 11 years of age. Choi was given the Japanese name, Yoshida Asao. He also claims to have been taken to Takeda's home and academy in Akita on Shin Shu mountain where he lived and trained with the master for 30 years.

THE ORIGIN OF BJJ

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has a strong tie between Jigoro Kano's style of Judo and his Japanese Jujitsu. In the early part of the 1900’s Jigoro Kano's top student Mitsuyo Maeda travelled to Brazil in order to help many Japanese settlers fight their way out of conflict situations. Mitsuyo was also spreading the artform across Brazil, before catching the eye of a young Carlos Gracie. After becoming one of Mitsuyo Maeda's top students, Carlos passed on all the knowledge to his younger brother Helio Gracie.

Helio was a smaller and lighter framed fighter, and he struggled to utilise many of Maeda's Judo throws. Helio decided to reinvent his own system of self defense techniques that included joint locks, choke holds and modified takedowns. Helio would master his own craft before teaching all of the Gracie Clan his new systems of fighting. Many of his family weighed up which art was better grappling vs jiu jitsu, as the more traditional Gi style of Jiu Jitsu was a favourite amongst his clan.

As a result of the fame the Gracie family began to receive in Brazil, many challenges came from Euclydes Hatem, the leader of the Luta Livre art. There was a well known hatred between both camps as Rixon Gracie and Marco Ruas nearly squared off several times. There were many famous fights and wins for both sides, but the majority of wins were boasted by the Gracie clan. Rixon Gracie defeated Hugo Duarte, and Royler Gracie battled Eugenio Tadeu in a drawn fight which kept the rivalry going. It wasn't until the riots began during a fight between Renzo Gracie and Eugenio Tadeu, that the feud was growing out of hand. Through many of their losses Luta Livre was effectively promoting BJJ as the premier Martial Art in Brazil.

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HOW DOES BJJ STACK UP TO HAPKIDO

The similarities that Hapkido shares with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is just like the ones shared between jiu jitsu vs mma. Both arts have some significant submission experience, and ties to Judo throws. Hapkido has relations to Aikido which is a defensive Martial Art, and BJJ also has a stringent defensive system. BJJ is an outstanding ground fighting system that uses a sequence of high paced and intelligent movements. The dominance it shows while controlling an opponent is second to no Martial Art, not even Hapkido. BJJ also uses techniques from the art of Judo and Wrestling, which gives BJJ a ferocious nature to attack with.

Hapkido has a really strong grappling and takedown base, but the main difference between Hapkido and BJJ is the same between bjj and muay thai, which is that Hapkido has an astonishing series of strikes. Hapkido has a large arsenal of jumping attacks among other ferocious striking capabilities. Hapkido also teaches students the use of traditional weapons, including knife, sword, rope, nunchaku, cane, short stick, middle length staff, gun and the bow. Many of these weapons will be taught depending on which particular traditional form is practised.

DOES HAPKIDO TRAINING OUTWEIGH BJJ TRAINING

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be an exhilarating Martial Art to learn, as the complexity of the art has a sense of accomplishment attached. Learning the fundamentals in BJJ is extremely important, as they are the building blocks to.a comprehensive game style. The first step is to master the warm up drills, as they all have a direct link to certain technical movements. Skills in BJJ will be accumulated through continuity and dedication and just pure mat time. Students will increase their attributes in mobility, dexterity, agility, intelligence, strength, fitness and flexibility. A BJJ class will usually start with a series of warm up drills, followed by some drilling games like passing the guard or sweeping an opponent. Instructors will then teach at least two techniques, where students will partner up and practise the technique. The class will always end with an open mat for students to battle test their game in real situational rolling rounds.

Hapkido training takes place in a dojang, and different dojangs will have different methods of training. A normal training session will consist of technique practice, which will usually be striking techniques, defensive throws and grappling. They also will work extensively on break falling, sparring, meditation and exercises that help to develop internal energy. Hapkido is predominantly a subtle Martial Art, meaning that it can be easier on the opponent, but that does not mean it isn't hard, as Hapkido training is physically and mentally draining and demanding. A Hapkido practitioner could benefit from being lean and muscular, However strength is not a necessity. Fitness is necessary to perform many of Hapkido's techniques. Hapkido has a real spiritual feel about it which resembles other Martial Arts like karate, wing chun, aikido jiu jitsu and luta livre.

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IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAPKIDO AND BJJ

There are some definitive differences between Hapkido and Jiu Jitsu. Hapkido has a very strong striking game which incorporates flying attacks and fast punches. BJJ does not allow striking within its parameters, as the pure grappling based art uses a deadly series of submission holds. Even though Hapkido uses certain submissions, its vault of techniques does not compare with the high number of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is world renowned for its competition popularity. Many students all over the world enter into tournament divisions, as they look to battle test their systems. A competition can be daunting but the experience a student gets out of it is worth its weight in gold. The points system is simple, as competitors can earn points for obtaining different control positions like 4 points for the mount, 2 points for knee on belly, 4 points for back control or back mount, 2 points for sweeps, 3 points for passing the guard and 2 points for takedowns.

Hapkido has no international competitions, as the self defense art is all about the training. Hapkido has its own set of principles that relate to the mindset of the individual. A practitioner must be centred with their energy to be in the best place possible to achieve Hapkido's ideology. The extensive weapons training is amazing as practitioners can learn a long list of traditional weapons attack and defense. Weapons in Hapkido include; swords, canes, knives, ropes, staff, guns and nunchucks. There is also significant weapons defense taught throughout the ranking system.

The belt ranking system in BJJ is awarded by instructors' watchful analysis, a student will earn 4 stripes on every belt by slowly acquiring the necessary skills. The criteria to move up in rank is graded through technical proficiency, their technical knowledge, their continuity, their dedication and their character inside the academy. A beginner starts off at the white belt level before moving through the coloured belt system. The first stop is the blue belt, then the purple belt, then the brown belt and finally the black belt. There are also two coral belts and a red belt, but those belts are practically impossible to achieve.

Hapkido practitioners can also go through a rigorous belt ranking system that leads them to a black belt. In order to achieve each degree on their belt they must master certain techniques like; 1st Degree Black Belt: Single Kicks, Wrist Seize Defense, Clothing Seize Defense, Punch Defense, Kick Defense, Combination Kicks, Jumping Kicks, Throw Defense, Knife Defense, Attacking Techniques / Taking the Initiative. 2nd Degree Black Belt: Advanced Wrist Grab Defense, Advanced Clothing Grab Defense, Advanced Punch Defense, Advanced Kick Defense, Choke Defense, Advanced Attacking Techniques / Taking the Initiative, Special Kicks, Defense From A Sitting Or Lying Posture. 3rd Degree Black Belt: Joint locking Counters, Short Stick Techniques, Staff Techniques. 4th Degree Black Belt: Cane Techniques, Sword Techniques, Defense Against Multiple Attackers. 5th Degree Black Belt: Techniques Using Opponent's Force, Rope Techniques, Knife Throwing Techniques, Revival Techniques.

Gi's are worn in BJJ and Hapkido as both Martial Arts have traditional elements. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi's date back to the Samurai, as they are now a modified version thanks to Helio and Reylson Gracie. BJJ fighters also compete in No Gi, as they wear compression pants under their shorts and rashguards. In Hapkido practitioners wear a more comfortable Gi like that similar to a Karate Gi, this is so striking is made much easier.

HAPKIDO VS BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU: THE WINNER

The battle between Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Hapkido would be a brutal one. Hapkido fighters are spiritually in tune and are poised to attack with deadly force. They have an ability through their training to defend against multiple opponents or weapon attacks. They have a broad range of strikes like kicks, punches and jumping attacks. If a Hapkido fighter was allowed to use weapons in this fight then it's definitely a brutal win.

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difference between hapkido and jiu jitsu

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has an amazing outlook on the fight game, as they know how to close the distance and take the fight to the ground. Once the fight hits the ground they will use a dominant force to smother their opponent. BJJ fighters are then able to use slick transitions to advance their position until they are able to set up a submission like an armbar, leglock or choke hold. Like most striking arts Hapkido may be slightly too defensive as the ferocious attack of BJJ would be too much for a Hapkido practitioner to handle.

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