The Principle of YU (flowing water)

In HapKiDo, water symbolizes many things. Among these are adaptability and softness. Water never struggles with any object that it encounters. If water cannot win the contact, it will not conflict. Instead it will join with its adversary, producing no friction. Although this is a demonstration of its ability to adapt, it is important to realize that water never changes itself. We must learn to adapt in the same way if we are to survive the challenges and adversities that we will face during our lifetime. Softness is another characteristic of water that relates to the understanding of HapKiDo. We must accept the fact that softness has the capacity to win against hardness. A tempered steel bar will eventually break under enough stress. Water, however, though it may be made to break up, will invariably join together again. This will have much deeper meaning once you learn the higher level of techniques.

In HapKiDo, one does not stop an attacker's force directly with the force, but redirects it. If one imagines a stream flowing rapidly down a mountain, and decided to change the direction of the water flow, the problems to overcome becomes apparent. Constructing a dam perpendicular to the flow is obviously not the solution. However, if one would simply divert its flow, success would be realized. This principle of HapKiDo follows the same approach. One does not stop an attacker's punch, strike, or kick by applying force in direct opposition to the attack. By applying force to the side, tangentially, the attack can be diverted and less energy expended.

A HapKiDo principle that concerns maximum use of strength at one time can be easily explained when compared to the flow of water. One person can remove a fire hose from a truck. In this instance, it is light and flexible. However, when connected to a fire hydrant it now demands three people to handle it due to the concentration of water at one point, the end of the hose. HapKiDo compares a person's Ki power to water in a fire hose. A person should be able to concentrate all one's power in one direction to one spot. In this way one can have maximum proficiency with minimum effort.

Nothing in the world is as soft as water
yet it can wear away the hardest of things.
The supple overcomes the hard.
And the so-called weak, the strong.
-Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching, Chapter 78

Softness triumphs over hardness, feebleness over strength.
What is more malleable is always superior over that which is immovable. This is the principle of controlling things by going along with them, of mastery through adaptation.
-Lao Tzu

We are born gentle and weak. At our death we are hard and stiff. Green plants are tender and filled with sap. At their death, they are withered and dry. Therefore, the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death. The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life. Thus, an army without flexibility never wins a battle. A tree that is unbending is easily broken.
-Lao Tzu

In Hapkido, one does not stop an attacker's force directly with force, but redirects it. If one will imagine a stream flowing rapidly down a mountain, the problems to overcome if one decided to change the direction of the water flow becomes apparent. Constructing a dam perpendicular to the flow is obviously not the solution. However, if one would simply divert its flow, success would be realized. Hapkido's theory follows the same approach. One does not stop an attacker's punch by applying force in direct opposition to the attack. By applying force to the side, tangentially, the attack can be diverted and less energy expended.

A Hapkido principle that concerns maximum use of strength at one time can be easily explained when compared to the flow of water. One man can remove a fire hose from a truck. In this instance, it is light and flexible. However, when connected to a fire now demands three men to handle it due the concentration of water at one point, the end of the hose. Hapkido compares man's ki power to water in a fire hose. Man should be able to concentrate all his power in one direction to one spot.Nothing in the world is as soft as water yet it can wear away the hardest of things.

The supple overcomes the hard.
And the so-called weak, the strong.
-Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching, Chapter 78

Softness triumphs over hardness, feebleness over strength. What is more malleable is always superior over that which is immovable. This is the principle of controlling things by going along with them, of mastery through adaptation.
-Lao Tzu

We are born gentle and weak. At our death we are hard and stiff. Green plants are tender and filled with sap. At their death, they are withered and dry. Therefore, the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death. The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life. Thus, an army without flexibility never wins a battle. A tree that is unbending is easily broken.
Lao Tzu

The Principle of WON (circle)

The principle of the circle is greatly emphasized in HapKiDo. The circle symbolizes such concepts as totality, wholeness, original perfections, self-containment, the self, infinity, eternity, space, timelessness, endless movements, flow, perfect unity, oneness, fulfillment, the cycle of nature and the universe, totality of existence, enlightenment, and the Do. Circular techniques and movements are effective because they harmonize one with one's opponent, one's self with the universe.

Every person has his or her own circle. Inside the circle is their private territory or space. If someone were to enter this private domain without approval or proper warning, each person has a right to defend against this invasion or violation. In actual practice, when an opponent punches, if this punch does not trespass into one's circle, there is no need to block. If one chooses to block, it is considered a waste of time and energy.

When an opponent's attack does penetrate one's circle, it should be received indirectly. Leading this force in a circle minimizes its effect. Utilizing a circle or winding block not only disrupts the opponent's force, but also sets the position for a counterattack. Furthermore, adhering to the circle principle allows one to continuously counter and maintain power and balance. Countering with techniques that are directed at an opponent along a straight line and then returning along the same line will prove to be less effective.

Once flow is mastered, the martial artist can be as soft as the still air, able to elude anyone's grasp, or as devastating as a whirlwind raining countless blows against an opponent.
-Grandmaster and Professor Jhong Uhk Kim

You and your opponent are one. There is a co-existing relationship between you. You co-exist with your opponent and become his complement, absorbing his attack and using his force to overcome him.
-Bruce Lee

The Principle of WHA (harmony)

In HapKiDo training there must exist a simultaneous harmonizing of mind, body, and spirit within one's environment. When all these elements act in harmony, techniques become fluid, continuous and instinctive. Every action becomes purposeful, perfectly linked to the moment of its existence. If you are truly in harmony with yourself and the world you may never need to fight physically or mentally.

Harmony is the most important element one should achieve in one's training. After one achieves harmony with oneself, the next requirement is to harmonize with one's opponent. Accomplishing this, one will find it quite easy to read the minds of others. Following this, learning to harmonize with the development of oneself and harmonizing with one's opponent, and the environment will help you to achieve great balance and greater ease in developing your techniques.

In HapKiDo training, harmony does not only apply to self-defense but also to one's whole life. This includes harmony of the body, harmony of the mind, harmony of the spirit and soul, harmony with one's work, harmony with one's life goals, harmony with one's personal relationships, family, etc. It takes constant practice, insight, and farsight to develop harmony in every area of one's life.

A canny warrior never provokes anyone,
and is never made to lose his/her temper.

A good fighter never confronts his enemy head-on
and those who know how to handle people do it humbly.

This comes from the virtue of not striving
and from knowing how to link with other people's energy.

Since time gone in the mists,
this has been the way to "pair up" with Heaven.

-Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching, Chapter 68