Lineage of Hapkido

Uniforms
Rank Structure
Principles of Hiltz Hapkido
Stances
White Belt Foundations
Self-defence Techniques
Break-fall Drills
Testing

Hapkido means, the way of harmonizing

energy. It is a Korean style that descended from
Daito Ryu Aiki Ju Jitsu. It is known for its vast
array of different strikes, kicks, joint manipulation,
pressure points and its signature weapon, the
cane. Hapkido does not traditionally practice
patterns/hyung/kata, but at Hiltz Hapkido we do
practice eight open hand patterns and one cane
pattern.

HAPKIDO

The style practiced at Hiltz Hapkido is a variation of Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido.

Gregory
Hiltz-Truskoski

Gregory Hiltz-Truskoski founded Hiltz Hapkido in 2013. He started training in

Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido under Art Mason in 2002 at The Peacefull Warriors
Martial Arts Institute. He was introduced to Kyusho Jitsu, the CANEMASTERS
system and Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo as Art Mason was exploring them and
incorporating them into his system. Having attending classes and seminars
from Mark Shuey, George Dillman, Steve Stewart and Buchan, Greg put a
stronger emphasise on training for combat effectiveness over sport. After
being exposed to Okinawan forms, Greg decided to drop the International
Taekwondo Federation (ITF) forms and practice the five Pinan Kata along with
Sanchin, Tensho and Suparinpei for the more practical applications. He joined
the Canadian Armed Forces in 2008 as an infantry man and was injured in
Afghanistan in 2010 resulting in a partial amputation of his left foot. He is still a
dedicated martial artist and a strong proponent of Qigong and hard body
conditioning.

The founder of Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido. Art Mason began his martial arts
training in 1984 under Chung Oh. He studied multiple styles including
Hapkido, Tae Kwon Do, Kyusho Jitsu and Kosho Ryu Kempo and combined
the similar principles to expand his system which he founded in 2002.
Gregory Hiltz-Truskoski is one of Arts senior students.

Art Mason

Chung Oh

Grand Master Chung Won Oh was born on July 8, 1942 in Hwang Hae Do
Province (now North Korea), and is a descendant of the Hae Ju Oh family.
He immigrated to South Korea during the Korean War (1950 1953).
Having studied the Martial Arts of Tae Kwon-Do and Hap Ki-Do at an early
age, at the age of seventeen he joined the Korean Marine Corps as a
member of the 118th Mortar Division, and taught the Martial Arts to the
Marines.
After an honorary discharge, Grand Master Oh decided to move to
Germany to fulfill his dream of traveling overseas. While working in the
coal mines, he taught the German police forces and had a school of his
own. While in Germany, Grand Master Oh met his wife and had his first
son Inn-Seong, in 1971.
In 1972, he finally moved his young family to Canada and started Chung
Ohs School of Tae Kwon-Do in April of 1973 in Kitchener, Ontario. While
there was other Korean Masters teaching Martial Arts, referring to their
Schools as Korean Karate, Grand Master Oh was the First Korean
Master confident and brave enough to inscribe Tae Kwon Do on his
school signage.

Hapkido is a Korean martial art with Japanese origins. The founder of

Hapkido, Choi Young Sool, was taken to Japan during the Japanese
occupation of Korea when he was eight years old. According to Choi he was
abducted from his home village of Yong Dong in Chungcheongbuk-do in
1912 by a Japanese merchant named Morimoto who had lost his own sons
and wished to adopt Choi. Choi resisted and proved so troublesome that he
was abandoned in the streets of Moji, Japan. He became a student of
Takeda Skaku, and studied a form of jujutsu known as Dait-ry Aikijjutsu. He was adopted by Takeda Sokaku when he was 11 years old and
was taken to Takeda's home and dojo in Akita on Shin Shu mountain where
he lived and trained with the master for 30 years. Choi returned to Korea
after the end of the World War II and in 1948 began teaching his art at a
brewery.

Takeda Sokaku

Choi Young Sool

Dait-ry Aiki-jjutsu originated with Shinra Sabur Minamoto no Yoshimitsu

(10451127), who was a Minamoto clan samurai and member of the Seiwa
Genji (the branch of the Minamoto family descended from the 56th imperial
ruler of Japan, Emperor Seiwa). Dait-ry takes its name from the mansion
that Yoshimitsu lived in as a child, called "Dait", in mi Province. According
to legend, Yoshimitsu dissected the corpses of men killed in battle, studying
their anatomy for the purpose of learning techniques for joint-locking and
pressure point striking (Kyusho-Jitsu). Yoshimitsu's great-grandson Nobuyoshi
adopted the surname "Takeda," which has been the name of the family to the
present day. It was Takeda Sokaku who began teaching to non-members of
the family in the late 19th century. Among his famous students was the
founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba.

Richard Buchan started studying martial arts at the age of eight in 1970 with
Judo, then on to Shorin-ryu Karate. At the age of 19, Buchan enlisted in the
Canadian Military as an infantry solider where he studied with many
instructors discovering close quarter combat techniques. After completing his
time in the military he discovered the art of American Kenpo Karate studying
under an instructor who was ranked to a 4th dan under the late Grandmaster
Ed Parker. During this time he was introduced to Kosho Shorei Ryu from a few
masters that had been studying the art form for most of their lives. Richard
Buchan continued to grow and progress in the art of Kosho Ryu developing his
knowledge combined with other styles to create a one of a kind combat style
combining ancient combat principles with modern military applications.

James Mitose

Richard Buchan

James Mitose (1916-1981) brought the art of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo to the
U.S. in the early 1940s. Mitose was born in Kailua-Kona, North Kona District,
Hawaii on December 30, 1916. On October 22, 1920, at the age of four, he
and his two sisters were taken by their mother back to Japan to be given
formal education and upbringing with family living there. While there, in
addition to their schoolwork and university studies, they trained in the art of
Kenpo. James returned to the United States in 1935 at the age of 21.
Mitose began teaching Kenpo in Hawaii in 1936, and in 1941 set up a martial
arts school. He gave the style he taught a number of different names during
his lifetime, including Shorinji Kenpo and Kenpo Jujutsu, but over time,
settled on the name Kosho Shorei-ryu Kenpo, which can be translated as "Old
Pine Tree School Kung-Fu".
In 1953, James Mitose ceased teaching Kenpo regularly and moved to
Southern California. He privately taught a few students in that time, including
Terry Lee for about a year. In 1974 Mitose was arrested in Los Angeles and
convicted of murder and extortion stemming from a conflict over a loan and a
murder committed by Terry Lee. During the trial there was conflicting
testimony and the court acknowledged that Japanese testimony had not
been accurately translated.
According to trial transcripts, James Mitose denied inciting Lee to commit
murder but took responsibility as his martial arts instructor. Lee claimed
Mitose had suggested on numerous occasions that Lee should commit the
murder. Lee also testified that Mitose and his wife Dorothy, had given him a
rope, a knife, a screwdriver and an air pistol in order to carry out his actions.
As a result of Lee's testimony, Mitose was sentenced to life in prison.

Steve Stewart started training in the martial arts in 1973. He is currently

the highest ranked American Kenpo (8th Dan) and Kyusho Jitsu (9th Dan)
in Canada. He is the founder of Kyusho Jitsu Canada and is renowned for
teaching seminars internationally. He is a doctor of holistic medicine and
acupuncture who runs his clinic and martial arts school in London, Ontario
Canada. Steve Stewart is also the Canadian Director of Dillman Karate
International.

Steve Stewart

George Dillman is a famous Ryukyu Kempo practitioner. He started training

in 1961 and is known for training with Bruce Lee and instructing with
Muhammad Ali at fight camps. He is widely known for spreading Kyusho
Jitsu, pressure point fighting through the interpretation of patterns
(kata/hyung).

George Dillman

Mark Shuey started studying Tang Soo DO in 1970. He studied multiple styles
also including Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido. Mark Shuey is famous for his cane
system Canemasters, which he founded in 2000. Along with spreading his selfdefence system with the cane, he also supports the Warrior Cane Project,
which aims to teach cane exercises and self-defence to disabled U.S. Marine
and Army Veterans.

Mark Sheuy

Anko Itosu (1831-1915) is considered by many to be the father of modern

Karate. Itosu began his training under Nagahama Chikudun Pechin. His study
of the art led him to Sokon Matsumura. He is also famous for his extensive
body conditioning, it is said that he had hands as hard as iron.
Itosu served as a secretary to the last king of the Ryukyu Kingdom until
Japan abolished the Okinawa-based native monarchy in 1879. In 1901, he
was instrumental in getting karate introduced into Okinawa's schools. In
1905, Itosu was a part-time martial arts teacher at Okinawa's First Junior
Prefectural High School. It was here that he developed the systematic
method of teaching karate techniques that are still in practice today. He
created and introduced the Pinan forms (Heian in Japanese) as learning
steps for students, because he felt the older forms (kata) were too difficult
for schoolchildren to learn. In 1908, Itosu wrote the influential "Ten
Precepts (Tode Jukun) of Karate," reaching beyond Okinawa to Japan. Itosu's
style of karate, Shorin-ryu, came to be known as Itosu-ryu in recognition of
his skill, mastery, and role as teacher to many.
While Itosu did not invent karate himself, he modified the kata (forms) he
learned from his master, Matsumura, and taught many karate masters.

Anko Itosu

Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953) was an Okinawan martial artist who founded

the Goju-ryu Karate by blending Okinawan and Chinese influences. In 1915
he travelled to Fuzhou china where he learned and adapted some forms
(Kata) from White Crane Kung Fu. From this he developed Tensho and
taught the forms Sanchin and Suparinpei. However, it was not until 1929
that Chojun Miyagi named the system Goju-ryu, meaning "hard soft
school".

Chojun Miyagi

The coloured belt ranks break down the basic curriculum of the fighting style. In our style there are six
ranks that lead up to first degree black belt (1st Dan). Each rank has its own focus on a particular set of
principles, these are learned individually in order to fully understand the principle before moving on to
more complex training.

White Belt

Introduction to basics

Yellow Belt

Introduction to circular motion

Green Belt

Introduction to the Octagon

Blue Belt

Introduction to pressure points

Red Belt

Introduction to weapons

Assistant Black Belt

Introduction to meditation

There are nine black belt ranks ranging from first to 9th degree (also called Dan). The rank of 10th Dan is
reserved for the styles founder. The first 3 degrees focuses on advanced application of Hapkido principles
and an expanded curriculum. Ranks 4th Dan and beyond focus on development as a instructor,
structuring programs and contributing back to the martial arts. Holders of the 4th Dan rank and up are
typically granted the title of Master.

Uniforms are a major component of the school's identity, as such they should be cleaned regularly and
kept in good condition. All uniforms will have the Hiltz Hapkido crest worn on the left breast. It is
optional to have the Canadian flag on the shoulders of the uniform. Students may wear crests from other
martial art schools on their sleeves, so long as they start from the top and remain relatively balanced on
both sides.
** DO NOT WASH YOUR BELTS!!! THEY ARE NOT MEANT TO BE WASHED AND WILL FALL APART!

Beginners

Intermediate Students
&
Advanced Students

1st Dan Black Belts

2nd Dan Black Belts

3rd Dan Black Belts

4th Dan and up

8 Principles of Hiltz Hapkido

Keep in your Centre
Power through rotation and gravity
Work up the body
Maximize body contact
Maintain and overthrow balance
Defend and attack using the principles of the Octagon
Apply Kyusho Jitsu
Health and Fitness

The 8 Principles of Hiltz Hapkido are the core of the style. They are the body mechanics that
we take advantage of to make our techniques effective. The principles are divided up and
taught at different points of the curriculum. Once you have become proficient with one set,
the next set is added until you can apply all of them into your techniques.

White Belts will come to understand the first three principles:

Keep in your Centre
Power through rotation and gravity
Work up the body
If you have questions, talk with your instructor.

The Octagon
(as drawn by Ed Parker)

Stances are a set of positions and weight distributions for our feet
and legs. They all have a defined purpose and their own time and
place where they are used. In Hapkido you will encounter the
following stances:
Walking Stance
Neutral Stance
Cat Stance
Sitting stance
L-Stance
X-Stance
Crane Stance
Mantis Stance
Three Battles Stance

The names of techniques also differ depending on the stance

employed. When the first word in the techniques name is reverse it
implies that you are doing the technique with the hand opposite of
the foot with the most weight on it. For example, a middle punch is
same hand and foot forward in a walking stance where a reverse
middle punch would be opposite hand and foot forward in a walking
stance.

Front leg bent, toes slightly pointing inwards

Back leg straight, toes pointing forwards

Feet shoulder width apart, toes on a 45 degree angle, toes on

front foot should be in line with heel on back foot

Back foot should be facing outside, front foot should be facing

forward, heels should line up in straight line, front foot heel
off the ground

Feet should point outwards on a 45 degree angle, thighs

parallel with the ground

Back foot should face the side, front foot should face
forwards, heels are in line with each other, 70 per cent of your
weight should be on the back leg

Front foot toes forward, back foot toes to the side and heel off
the ground, both knees bent, legs touch

Back leg should be slightly bent, front leg should be off

the floor and tucked behind your other knee

Feet should be parallel facing a 45 degree angle, front leg

straight, back knee bent

Toes should be pointing inwards, heel with front foot in line

with toes of back foot, feet shoulder width apart, both knees
slightly bent, pelvis should be pushing forward, tension in legs
as if digging feet in ground and trying to twist toes outwards

Foundations are the main movements used in striking and

joint manipulations. As you increase in rank, the motions will
become more complex. By the time you reach green belt, you
will have learned over 40 hand techniques and 70 kicks.
The foundations at white belt should be practiced from a
walking stance both moving forwards and backwards.
Each session, aim to practice each technique 12 times as a
rule of thumb.

There are 40 unarmed self-defence techniques and 20

techniques with weapons that must be learned and
performed with both hands before the black belt ranks.
White belts are required to learn the first 10 (less students
who are children).
When practicing these it is important to go slow at first and
gradually increase resistance and pressure with your partner.
If your partner taps, that means do not add any more
pressure to the technique.
Do not get into the bad habit of letting go when your partner
taps! Just stop there, hold it without hurting them, then
release. Releasing in a fight because the bad guy tapped out
is not a smart thing to do!

From Same Hand Grab bring hand to centre, roll against

thumb, hammer-fist outward front strike

From Same Hand Grab It's on!, step to the outside, grab
wrist, hammer-fist outward front strike

From Cross Hand Grab Whatever!, step to the outside,

hammer-fist outward front strike

From Double Wrist Grab Stepping to the outside, knife-hand

guarding block, hammer-fist outward front strike

From Single wrist double grab Roll against thumbs, double

punch

From a punch Right hand parry, left hand grab, middle

punch

From a punch Step to the outside, knife-hand outward

middle block, forearm inward strike block (arm break),
reverse elbow front strike

From a punch Step back, knife-hand outward middle block,

reverse flat fingertip high straight thrust (to the throat)

From a punch Step to the inside, forearm inward strike block

(in bend of elbow), elbow side strike, hammer-fist, middle
punch

From a punch Step to the outside, knife-hand outward

middle block, low block (striking ribs), reverse elbow
front strike (to the face)

Break-falls are just as they sound, they are ways to break a

fall so you do not get hurt. There are many throws in Hapkido
so it is very important to learn these and be proficient with
them before your partners starts whipping you across the
floor. The following is a reference only, please learn them
with an instructor before you attempt them. It is no good
breaking yourself before you get to train.

Head faces the side, tighten the abdomen, fall forward landing
on palms and forearms simultaneously and balls of feet
BREATH OUT BEFORE IMPACT

Chin to chest, sit on heels, roll up back, slap ground with

palms to stop momentum
BREATH OUT BEFORE IMPACT

Chin to chest, sit on heel while kicking one leg out, roll up
back, slap ground with palm to stop momentum
BREATH OUT BEFORE IMPACT

Ear to shoulder, roll up arm between shoulder and head,

straight down back, back arm slaps the ground, rear leg slaps
the ground to stop momentum
BREATH OUT BEFORE IMPACT

Sit on heels, ear to shoulder, roll up back and in between head

and shoulder
BREATH OUT BEFORE IMPACT

When your instructor has found that you are proficient enough with the
curriculum at your rank level, you may attend a grading and test for the next
rank. Gradings are usually long events that run for a few to several hours. All
students who are testing will be present throughout the entire grading. Results
and recommendations will be given at the end of the grading along with any
new belts and certificates.
Breaking is a requirement for all adult students who are testing for Green Belt
and higher. Talk with your instructor to make sure you have the necessary
materials before you test.
In addition to the practical tests, all ranks after blue belt also require to pass a
written test.
Time between gradings vary depending on the practitioners motivation, how
often they practice and their skill. Most students who train twice to three
times a week are ready to test for their yellow belt after two months. The
average time between the each other colour belt rank is a year. Multiple years
of training and giving back to the martial arts community and sports is required
in between Dan (black belt) degrees.
Note: The curriculum presented in this and its accompanying documents are
for ADULT STUDENTS. Children are not required to know all of this material, in
fact they will not be shown the majority of the curriculum for safety reasons.
Children under the age of seven will NOT test.
Children under the age of ten may not test for any rank higher than green belt.
Please ask your instructor if you have any questions.