Combat Hapkido (known in Korea as Chon-Tu Kwan Hapkido 전투관 합기도) is an eclectic modern Hapkido system founded by Grandmaster John Pellegrini 10th Dan in 1990. Taking the next step in 1992 Pellegrini formed the International Combat Hapkido Federation (ICHF) as the official governing body of Combat Hapkido. In 1999, the ICHF was recognized by the Korea Kido Association and the World Kido Federation, collectively known as the Kido Hae, as the Hapkido style Chon Tu Kwan Hapkido. The World Kido Federation is recognized by the government of South Korea as an organization that serves as a link between the official Martial Arts governing body of Korea and the rest of the world Martial Arts community. 

The founder of Combat Hapkido was very clear in his statement that he did not invent a new martial art. He stated "I have merely structured a new Self-Defense system based upon sound scientific principles and modern concepts. For this reason Combat Hapkido is also referred to as the "Science of Self-Defense." Combat Hapkido is a new interpretation and application of a selected body of Hapkido techniques. The word "Combat" was added to Combat Hapkido to distinguish this system from Traditional Hapkido styles and to identify its focus as Self-Defense. The style employs joint locks, pressure points, throws, hand strikes, and low-lying kicks, and trains practitioners to either counter or preemptively strike an imminent attack to defend one's self.

In common with many Hapkido styles, it also emphasizes small circular motion, non-resisting movements, and control of an opponent through force redirection and varied movement and practitioners seek to gain advantage through footwork, distractive striking and body positioning to employ leverage.

Combat Hapkido does not incorporate certain traditional Hapkido techniques which it deemed impractical for modern self-defense scenarios. For example, acrobatic break falls, jump/spinning kicks, forms, and meditation have been omitted, along with the removal of weapons such as swords and other weapons which would be impractical and not-typically carried in modern society. Combat Hapkido's strategy differs from traditional Hapkido because it includes adopting features from styles like Jeet Kune Do, JuJutsu, Western Boxing, and Kuntao Silat to enhance its core curriculum. For instance, criticism has been raised asserting that traditional styles of Hapkido do not provide extensive ground self-defense curriculum; Combat Hapkido attempts to address this by researching and incorporating grappling techniques from varying styles. Another instance is the incorporation of derived versions of Jeet Kune Do trapping and entering techniques to enhance transitions into Combat Hapkido's core joint locking and throwing techniques.

Combat Hapkido's core techniques rely heavily on the traditional Hapkido techniques that the ICHF determined to have the most practical applications for their goal of modern self-defense. The core curriculum has been organized into seven levels or ranks. All training in Combat Hapkido is reinforced with extensive training seminars, with most months containing multiple seminars located throughout the United States and Internationally. In addition to the core curriculum, the ICHF researches and develops modules that are compatible with the core curriculum. Some examples of these such modules are "Trapping", "Cane", "Dan Bong", and "Weapons Disarming."

Mission Statement

The New York Combat Hapkido Club is dedicated to offering the highest quality martial arts instruction at an affordable price in a safe and friendly environment. We are passionate about what we do and consider it a moral mandate to pass down the art of Combat Hapkido to future generations. Our staff of instructors are all dedicated and highly trained professional with years of experience. We pride ourselves in giving our students individual attention while meeting their personal self-defense needs for a challenging world. The school is one of the oldest charter branches of the ICHF with over 30 years in business. 

Hapkido

Hapkido can be translated literally as "the way of coordinated power." Each character can be translated as follows:

- Hap: Unification, Coordination

- Ki: Energy of nature

- Do: Way, Path

Combat Hapkido, a Korean martial art, is founded upon three fundamental principles that guide its techniques and philosophy. Let’s delve into each of these principles:

1. Water (Yu): Like water, Hapkido practitioners aim for fluidity and adaptability. They learn to flow with their opponent’s energy, redirecting force rather than clashing head-on. This principle emphasizes yielding, evading, and using an opponent’s momentum against them.
2. Circle (Won): Circular motion is central to Hapkido. Techniques follow curved paths, allowing practitioners to smoothly transition from defense to offense. The circle symbolizes continuity, harmony, and the interconnectedness of movements.
3. Harmony (Hwa): Hapkido seeks balance and unity. Practitioners harmonize their actions with the situation, adapting to circumstances without resistance. This principle extends beyond physical combat to life itself, emphasizing cooperation, empathy, and understanding.

ICHF Ranks 

Combat Hapkido uses a seven belt rank system with the difficulty and the number of techniques gradually increasing with each belt. The content of each rank can vary from school to school; however, the core curriculum of Combat Hapkido must be taught to each rank before the promotion can be sent to the ICHF Headquarters for certifying. All rank certification is done directly through the ICHF Headquarters and is kept on file to insure that each student meets the proper time-in-grade requirements. For Master Dan ranking, black belts must test before Grandmaster John Pellegrini either at the Headquarters or at one of the many seminars held around the country.

Ranks/Belts:

White Belt 9th Gup

Yellow Belt 8th/7th Gup

Green Belt 6th/5th Gup

Blue Belt 4th/3rd Gup

Red Belt 2nd Gup

Deputy Black Belt 1st Gup

Black Belt 1st Dan 

Kido Ranks

For those seeking international Dan ranking the International Combat Hapkido Federation offers the option to have black belt ranks recognized through the Kido Hae Headquarters in Seoul Korea.

What we teach at the NY Combat Hapkido Club

Hapkido

Hapkido training takes place in a dojang. While training methods vary from school to school, a typical training session will contain self defense techniques from traditional hapkido. Techniques are striking, low line kicks, joint locks/manipulations as well as defensive throws, ground survival, and break falls. Weapons training include the cane, dan bong, middle stick, and knife.

Kickboxing

These kickboxing skills are derived from SanDa (Chinese kickboxing). While we are a school of self defense, basic boxing/kickboxing skills are necessary when dealing with multiple opponents. You will learn punches, low line kicks, elbow, and knee strikes, headbutts and throws. The drills practiced will enhance your speed, coordination, improve your cardio and flexibility as well as overall health.

Arnis

The Filipino martial arts are known by the different names: Kali, Escrima and Arnis. Most people think of it as "That Stick Fighting Art”, but it is much more. We have incorporated Arnis here at NY Combat Hapkido Club. The Filipino martial arts are a complete system encompassing hands, feet, weapons, and joint locking, which compliments all the techniques of combat hapkido. Many police and military around the world are now learning these arts are due to the effectiveness of the techniques.