Ji Han Jae
Encyclopedia
Ji Han-Jae was born in Andong
, Gyeongsangbuk-do
, South Korea
in 1936. He is one of the highest ranking hapkido
instructors in the world and founder of Sin Moo Hapkido
.
training in 1949 under the direction of Choi Yong-Sool , and was Dan No 14 under Choi. Ji trained with Choi Yong-Sool until 1956 when he moved to Seoul
in order to open a school of self-defence in the nation's capital. Ji Han-Jae trained in the ancient methods of the Korean martial arts, known as Sam Rang Do Tek Gi by a man named Taoist Lee. Though this man's identity can never be confirmed, it is believed that he trained Ji in meditation
, the use of the Korean long staff "Jang-Bong (장봉; 長棒)", short staff "Dan-Bong (단봉; 短棒)", and the unique kicks of Sam Rang Do Tek Gi.
.
Many people consider Ji Han Jae to be the founder of hapkido, while others will credit his teacher, Choi Yong-Sool, who referred to his art as "Yawara " or "Yu Kwon Sul ". It is commonly believed that it was Ji who first started using the name hapkido for the techniques he was teaching at that time. Seo Bok-Seob, the first student of Choi, however states in a 1980 interview that it was Jung Moo Kwan who first used the term to refer to the art as well as the symbol of the eagle to represent the art. Regardless, much the curriculum and techniques that we associate with hapkido today is heavily marked by changes that were implemented by Ji Han-Jae and his senior students.
One of the most significant changes in the art which was the work of Ji Han-Jae occurred in conjunction with Kim Moo-Hong who was also a student under Choi Yong-Sool. After studying with Choi, Kim went to a Buddhist temple and learned a local kicking art there. Traveling to Seoul in 1961 he lived and trained with Ji for a period of 8 months and together, implementing the kick
ing methods they had both learned, they finalized the kicking curriculum for hapkido, significantly expanding it to include kicks to higher targets, spinning kicks and jumping kicks, none of which were originally part of the system taught by Choi Yong-Sool.
In addition to this Ji Han-Jae's original Sung Moo Kwan shared space with people who trained in other arts, including Western boxing
. Ji and his senior students developed tactics for dealing with techniques of boxing, tang soo do
, taekwondo
and judo
and implemented them into the curriculum.
for his hometown of Andong
, Ji Han-Jae opened up his first school, the An Moo Kwan in 1956, still calling his art Yu Kwon Sool at this time. His earliest students from this period were Kwon Tae-Man
' onMouseout='HidePop("96994")' href="/topics/California">California
today), Yoo Young-Woo , and Oh Se-Lim .
After less than a year he decided to relocate to Seoul, the nation's capital, in 1957. There he founded the Sung Moo Kwan , which would become the an influential kwan
, or school of hapkido, producing a great many of the important teachers of the art. His first student was Hwang Deok-Kyoo followed shortly after by Myung Kwang-Sik
, Lee Tae-Jun, Kang Jeong-soo In 1958 students Kim Yong-Jin , Jeong Won-Seon ' onMouseout='HidePop("93224")' href="/topics/Illinois">Illinois
) Han Bong-soo (of Billy Jack
movie fame and founder of the International Hapkido Federation), Choi Sea-Oh (First man to teach hapkido in the U.S.) and Myung Jae-Nam ' onMouseout='HidePop("40082")' href="/topics/International_H.K.D_Federation">the Korea based International Hapkido Federation
and Hankido
). It was around this time that Ji began to use the name hapkido to promote the art, shortened from the original "Hap Ki Yu Kwon Sool " name employed at the first school run by Choi Yong-Sool and Seo Bok-Seob in Daegu in 1951.
In 1961, Kim Moo-Hong came to visit Ji and they developed many of the kicking tactics the art is known for.
By 1965, Ji had received a position as hapkido instructor for the presidential guard at the Blue House and he thereby became acquainted with Park Jong-Kyoo , the Head of Security Forces for the country. Unhappy with his lack of input in the Daehan Kido Hwe, with political connections and an ever growing support from his Sung Moo Kwan students he decided to form his own organization the Korea Hapkido Association (Daehan Hapkido Hyub Hwe; ). Kim Woo-Joong , the president of the Daewoo
corporation, was elected the KHA's first president.
Later in 1973, seeking to consolidate three of the larger hapkido organizations which had grown up over the years, he united his organization with the Korean Hapkido Association, of his contemporary Kim Moo-Hong, and the Korea Hapki Association, of one of his former senior students, Myung Jae-Nam, to form the large and influential Republic of Korea Hapkido Association (Daehan Min Kuk Hapkido Hyub Hwe; ).
After the assassination of President Park most of those that were close to Park resigned. Included were the presidential bodyguards and the martial arts instructors of the bodyguards. Ji was one of the many that resigned.
In the ensuing struggle for power, many of those that had been in positions of power during the reign of President Park now found themselves without position, power or influence. In many cases those that held positions under President Park were now singled out as targets for legal action, whether justified or not.
In one such case wealthy businessmen had made financial contributions to martial arts organizations, as was the norm. Unfortunately, in several instances the contributions were not properly accounted for. In one case in particular, Ji and his organization were brought up on charges of tax fraud. Even though Ji was generally viewed as not guilty, he was given a prison term of one year. The judge in the case later explained that it was really beyond his control and that if Ji did not go to jail on this minor tax fraud charge, he would no doubt continue to be charged with other offenses until he was sent to prison on something else, perhaps something more serious.
Ji's philosophical view on the matter is that it was worthwhile to experience a year in prison and learn about a side of life very few people experience. He also stated that he was able to further develop the spiritual side of his Sin Moo, 'higher mind', hapkido concept while meditating in the prison environment.
Oh Se-Lim, one of the earliest students of the art under Ji, was elected the new president of the Republic of Korea Hapkido Association. He re-christened the organization the "Daehan Hapkido Hyub Hwe ", a name used in one of hapkido's former organizations over which Ji presided and Oh had been a founding member. The Korea Hapkido Federation (KHF) became the preferred rendering in English. The Korea Hapkido Federation remains one of the most influential of the many hapkido organizations existing in Korea today. To this day the KHF is still run mostly by students of Ji's original Sung Moo Kwan.
and founded Sin Moo Hapkido
. Before he left Korea a former student, Myung Jae-Nam, the head of the International H.K.D Federation, awarded Ji Han-Jae a 10th Dan.
The proper title for master Ji now is DoJu Ji. Doju implies founder as Ji is the founder of Sin Moo hapkido, if not hapkido itself.
with Bruce Lee
. (Ji did not opt to appear in the additional footage shot for the 1978 version of the film.) Before that he had already made his appearance in a movie called Hapkido (aka Lady Kungfu) together with Angela Mao
.
Andong
Andong is a city in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, South Korea. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 in October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city...
, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Gyeongsangbuk-do or shortly Gyeongbuk is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea.The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office is...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
in 1936. He is one of the highest ranking hapkido
Hapkido
Hapkido is a dynamic and also eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, techniques of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks...
instructors in the world and founder of Sin Moo Hapkido
Sin Moo Hapkido
Sin Moo Hapkido is a martial art that combines "hard" and "soft" techniques. It is closely related to its parent art, Hapkido, though it places more emphasis on meditative, philosophical, and Ki development training. Hapkido is often translated as “the way of coordinating power,” which places...
.
Trainee
He began his martial artsMartial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
training in 1949 under the direction of Choi Yong-Sool , and was Dan No 14 under Choi. Ji trained with Choi Yong-Sool until 1956 when he moved to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
in order to open a school of self-defence in the nation's capital. Ji Han-Jae trained in the ancient methods of the Korean martial arts, known as Sam Rang Do Tek Gi by a man named Taoist Lee. Though this man's identity can never be confirmed, it is believed that he trained Ji in meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
, the use of the Korean long staff "Jang-Bong (장봉; 長棒)", short staff "Dan-Bong (단봉; 短棒)", and the unique kicks of Sam Rang Do Tek Gi.
Hapkido master
In 1959 Ji Han-Jae combined all of his martial arts knowledge together and began to teach hapkidoHapkido
Hapkido is a dynamic and also eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, techniques of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks...
.
Many people consider Ji Han Jae to be the founder of hapkido, while others will credit his teacher, Choi Yong-Sool, who referred to his art as "Yawara " or "Yu Kwon Sul ". It is commonly believed that it was Ji who first started using the name hapkido for the techniques he was teaching at that time. Seo Bok-Seob, the first student of Choi, however states in a 1980 interview that it was Jung Moo Kwan who first used the term to refer to the art as well as the symbol of the eagle to represent the art. Regardless, much the curriculum and techniques that we associate with hapkido today is heavily marked by changes that were implemented by Ji Han-Jae and his senior students.
One of the most significant changes in the art which was the work of Ji Han-Jae occurred in conjunction with Kim Moo-Hong who was also a student under Choi Yong-Sool. After studying with Choi, Kim went to a Buddhist temple and learned a local kicking art there. Traveling to Seoul in 1961 he lived and trained with Ji for a period of 8 months and together, implementing the kick
Kick
In combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
ing methods they had both learned, they finalized the kicking curriculum for hapkido, significantly expanding it to include kicks to higher targets, spinning kicks and jumping kicks, none of which were originally part of the system taught by Choi Yong-Sool.
In addition to this Ji Han-Jae's original Sung Moo Kwan shared space with people who trained in other arts, including Western boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. Ji and his senior students developed tactics for dealing with techniques of boxing, tang soo do
Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art promoted by Hwang Kee that has roots in various martial arts, including taekkyeon and Subak.-Etymology:...
, taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
and judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and implemented them into the curriculum.
The great promoter of the art
Leaving DaeguDaegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
for his hometown of Andong
Andong
Andong is a city in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, South Korea. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 in October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city...
, Ji Han-Jae opened up his first school, the An Moo Kwan in 1956, still calling his art Yu Kwon Sool at this time. His earliest students from this period were Kwon Tae-Man
Kwon Tae-Man
Kwon Tae-Man, born in 1941, in Andong in what is now South Korea. He was an early Korean hapkido practitioner and a pioneer of the art, first in Korea and then in the United States...
' onMouseout='HidePop("96994")' href="/topics/California">California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
today), Yoo Young-Woo , and Oh Se-Lim .
After less than a year he decided to relocate to Seoul, the nation's capital, in 1957. There he founded the Sung Moo Kwan , which would become the an influential kwan
Kwans
This article is about martial arts. For the Finnish music band see KwanKwan in Korean literally means building or hall, but when used in martial arts it can also refer to a school or clan of martial artists who follow the same style and/or leader...
, or school of hapkido, producing a great many of the important teachers of the art. His first student was Hwang Deok-Kyoo followed shortly after by Myung Kwang-Sik
Myung Kwang-Sik
Myung Kwang-Sik was an early Korean hapkido practitioner and a pioneer of the art, first in Korea and then in the United States...
, Lee Tae-Jun, Kang Jeong-soo In 1958 students Kim Yong-Jin , Jeong Won-Seon ' onMouseout='HidePop("93224")' href="/topics/Illinois">Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) Han Bong-soo (of Billy Jack
Billy Jack
Billy Jack is a 1971 action film. It is the second, and highest grossing, in a series of motion pictures centering on a character of the same name, played by Tom Laughlin who also directed and co-wrote the script. Filming began in Prescott, Arizona, in fall 1969, but the movie was not completed...
movie fame and founder of the International Hapkido Federation), Choi Sea-Oh (First man to teach hapkido in the U.S.) and Myung Jae-Nam ' onMouseout='HidePop("40082")' href="/topics/International_H.K.D_Federation">the Korea based International Hapkido Federation
International H.K.D Federation
The International H.K.D. Federation was founded in 1974 by hapkido grandmaster Myung Jae Nam. Its original name was the International Hapkido Federation — it was changed when hankido and hankumdo were added to the I.H.F.'s curriculum.-Goal:...
and Hankido
Hankido
Hankido is a new hapkido style developed by the late Myung Jae Nam using even more circular flowing movements owing to Nam's background in traditional Korean dance.-Etymology:...
). It was around this time that Ji began to use the name hapkido to promote the art, shortened from the original "Hap Ki Yu Kwon Sool " name employed at the first school run by Choi Yong-Sool and Seo Bok-Seob in Daegu in 1951.
In 1961, Kim Moo-Hong came to visit Ji and they developed many of the kicking tactics the art is known for.
Organizations
In 1963, Ji Han-Jae was a founding member of the first attempt to create a large organization which would include hapkido. Called the Korean Kido Association (Daehan Kido Hwe; ) Choi Yong-Sool was elected the first titular chairperson with the organizations first constitution authored by Ji, Choi and Kwon Jang. Its purpose was to promote martial arts to the public school system, police officers and government officials. Ji was very instrumental in organizing this group however Choi appointed another of his top students, Kim Jeong-Yoon , to a position above Master Ji greatly diminishing his influence.By 1965, Ji had received a position as hapkido instructor for the presidential guard at the Blue House and he thereby became acquainted with Park Jong-Kyoo , the Head of Security Forces for the country. Unhappy with his lack of input in the Daehan Kido Hwe, with political connections and an ever growing support from his Sung Moo Kwan students he decided to form his own organization the Korea Hapkido Association (Daehan Hapkido Hyub Hwe; ). Kim Woo-Joong , the president of the Daewoo
Daewoo
Daewoo or the Daewoo Group was a major South Korean chaebol . It was founded on 22 March 1967 as Daewoo Industrial and was dismantled by the Korean government in 1999...
corporation, was elected the KHA's first president.
Later in 1973, seeking to consolidate three of the larger hapkido organizations which had grown up over the years, he united his organization with the Korean Hapkido Association, of his contemporary Kim Moo-Hong, and the Korea Hapki Association, of one of his former senior students, Myung Jae-Nam, to form the large and influential Republic of Korea Hapkido Association (Daehan Min Kuk Hapkido Hyub Hwe; ).
Politics
Ji Han-Jae's star began to rise quickly when he started teaching hapkido to the president's bodyguards in the South Korean Blue House. In 1979 however, the Korean president, Park Chung Hee was assassinated by Kim Jae-gyu, head of the Korean CIA, and many things changed.After the assassination of President Park most of those that were close to Park resigned. Included were the presidential bodyguards and the martial arts instructors of the bodyguards. Ji was one of the many that resigned.
In the ensuing struggle for power, many of those that had been in positions of power during the reign of President Park now found themselves without position, power or influence. In many cases those that held positions under President Park were now singled out as targets for legal action, whether justified or not.
In one such case wealthy businessmen had made financial contributions to martial arts organizations, as was the norm. Unfortunately, in several instances the contributions were not properly accounted for. In one case in particular, Ji and his organization were brought up on charges of tax fraud. Even though Ji was generally viewed as not guilty, he was given a prison term of one year. The judge in the case later explained that it was really beyond his control and that if Ji did not go to jail on this minor tax fraud charge, he would no doubt continue to be charged with other offenses until he was sent to prison on something else, perhaps something more serious.
Ji's philosophical view on the matter is that it was worthwhile to experience a year in prison and learn about a side of life very few people experience. He also stated that he was able to further develop the spiritual side of his Sin Moo, 'higher mind', hapkido concept while meditating in the prison environment.
Oh Se-Lim, one of the earliest students of the art under Ji, was elected the new president of the Republic of Korea Hapkido Association. He re-christened the organization the "Daehan Hapkido Hyub Hwe ", a name used in one of hapkido's former organizations over which Ji presided and Oh had been a founding member. The Korea Hapkido Federation (KHF) became the preferred rendering in English. The Korea Hapkido Federation remains one of the most influential of the many hapkido organizations existing in Korea today. To this day the KHF is still run mostly by students of Ji's original Sung Moo Kwan.
Sin Moo Hapkido Founder
In 1984 Ji Han-Jae moved to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and founded Sin Moo Hapkido
Sin Moo Hapkido
Sin Moo Hapkido is a martial art that combines "hard" and "soft" techniques. It is closely related to its parent art, Hapkido, though it places more emphasis on meditative, philosophical, and Ki development training. Hapkido is often translated as “the way of coordinating power,” which places...
. Before he left Korea a former student, Myung Jae-Nam, the head of the International H.K.D Federation, awarded Ji Han-Jae a 10th Dan.
The proper title for master Ji now is DoJu Ji. Doju implies founder as Ji is the founder of Sin Moo hapkido, if not hapkido itself.
United States
After Ji moved to the United States, he soon managed to gather a large number of students interested in learning hapkido, especially Sin Moo hapkido. Until this day DoJu Ji teaches several seminars a year in North America, Latin America, and Europe.Films
On his first trip to the United States, Ji appeared in the film Game of DeathGame of Death
The Game of Death is a 1972 film starring Bruce Lee. It was almost the last film Bruce Lee had planned to be the demonstration piece of his martial art Jeet Kune Do. Over 100 minutes of footage was shot before his death, some of which was later misplaced in the Golden Harvest archives...
with Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
. (Ji did not opt to appear in the additional footage shot for the 1978 version of the film.) Before that he had already made his appearance in a movie called Hapkido (aka Lady Kungfu) together with Angela Mao
Angela Mao
Angela Mao is a martial arts film actress best known for the string of kung fu films in which she starred during the 1970s. She is also known as Mao Ying, Angela Mao Ying, and Mao Fu Ying...
.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Hap Ki Do (a.k.a. Lady Kung Fu) (合氣道) | Cast Photos |
| 1973 | Fist of Unicorn (The Unicorn Palm; 麒麟掌) | Cast Photos |
| 1975 | The Dragon Tamers (女子跆拳群英會) | Cast Photos |
| 1978 | Game of Death Game of Death The Game of Death is a 1972 film starring Bruce Lee. It was almost the last film Bruce Lee had planned to be the demonstration piece of his martial art Jeet Kune Do. Over 100 minutes of footage was shot before his death, some of which was later misplaced in the Golden Harvest archives... (死亡遊戲) |
IMDB entry |