Gongkwon Yusul is a modern
Korean martial art system founded by Kang Jun in 1996. Its main influences include the
martial art
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preserv ...
s of
Hapkido
Hapkido ( , , also spelled ''hap ki do'' or ''hapki-do''; from Korean 합기도 ''hapgido'' ) is a hybrid Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, grappling, throwing techniques, kicks, punches, and other s ...
,
Hakko-ryu Jujutsu
Jujutsu ( ; ja, link=no, 柔術 , ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu, is a family of Japanese martial arts and a system of close combat (unarmed or with a minor weapon) that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subd ...
,
Judo
is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo") ...
and Kyuk Too Ki (
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic ...
n style
Thai Boxing
Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...
/
Shoot Boxing).
[Also known as Kyeok Too Ki, Kun Gek Do, Gyeok Tu Gi, Gweon Gyeok Do or Gwon-gyokdo] Gongkwon Yusul is a system which emphasises the application of striking, locking, and throwing techniques in practical, free-flowing fighting situations, rather than the static applications more common in traditional styles of Hapkido.
It also varies from Hapkido in that many of its hand techniques are strongly influenced by Western boxing, and that a significant part of Gongkwon Yusul training is in groundwork, applying techniques more akin to judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu than most Hapkido styles.
In a sense Gongkwon Yusul is an attempt to combine the practical, free-flowing techniques often seen in
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incor ...
, whilst still retaining many traditional martial art attributes, such as uniforms, terminology, and ranking structure.
Since its foundation the art has grown rapidly in its home country of Korea with many
dojang
''Dojang'' is a term used in Korean martial arts, such as Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Kuk Sool Won, and hapkido, that refers to a formal training hall. It is typically considered the formal gathering place for students of a martial art to cond ...
s around Seoul and also some regional areas of South Korea. This martial art is not widely known outside of Korea, however there have been dojangs opened in other countries. The first was established in
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
in 2006, the second in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metro ...
in 2007, the third in
Launceston,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...
in 2008, the fourth in
Gold Coast, Australia in 2008, the fifth in
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
in 2009, the sixth in
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
, Australia in 2009, and the seventh in Austin, Texas in 2011, where country music singer/songwriter
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album ''Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of ''Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and ''Stardust'' (1978 ...
earned his fifth degree black belt on April 28, 2014.
Ranks
GongKwon Yusul belt ranks are:
# White
# Yellow (5th gup)
# Green (4th gup)
# Blue (3rd gup)
# Red (2nd gup)
# Brown (1st gup)
# Black
References
Footnotes
Citations
•http://www.tangsoodo.co.kr / 우리 武藝唐手道敎本
•http://www.kkhf.net / 指導資敎本
•http://www.hosinsool.net / 國際護身術敎本
External links
www.gongkwon.com (Korean)www.gongkwonyusul.com.au (English)
www.gongkwonspain.com (Spanish)www.swedengk.com (Swedish)www.gongkwonyusulusa.com (English)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gongkwon Yusul
South Korean martial arts