Choi Yong-sool

Who was Choi Yong-sool?

Choi Yong-sool, alternative spelling Choi Yong-sul, was the founder of the martial art hapkido. He was born in today's Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, and was taken to Japan during the Japanese occupation of Korea when he was eight years old. Choi later claimed that he became a student of Takeda Sōkaku, and studied a form of jujutsu known as Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu while in Japan; this is disputed due to the historically tense relationship between the two sides and lack of clear documentary evidence.

Choi returned to Korea after the end of the World War II and in 1948 began teaching his art at a brewery owned by the father of his first student Seo Bok-Seob. He first called his art "Yu Sul" or "Yawara" later changing it to "Yu Kwon Sool" and "Hap Ki Yu Kwon Sool" and eventually Hapkido.

Choi Yong-Sool was honored with the titles doju, which can be translated as "Keeper of the way", and changsija, which simply means "founder". The arts of Hapkido, modern Hwa Rang Do, Kuk Sool Won, as well as lesser known arts such as Han Pul all show influence of the teachings of Master Choi.