HAP -	“unity” the harmony of body and spirit
	KI -	Power of mind, body and spirit, inner strength
	DO -	Way of life, way of learning, art

Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, who many believed to have been influenced by relocated Koreans to Japan, contributed basic battle proven techniques and principles, directness and a “win at all cost” mentality to the art.

Originally, Young Sul Choi acquired the techniques from Takeda, bringing them back to Korea after his master’s death. Ji Han Jae, who was a direct student of Choi, assisted him in the forming of an organization. Over time Ji Han Jae, adding many of Hapkido’s kicks and techniques, formed his own organization and system which would eventually come to be known as Hapkido. These facts are undisputed but the public views as to which man was the founder is divided.

Hapkido is believed by many to be Korea’s most deadly art. However, it does not share the long, rich heritage of some other martial arts - at least not since it acquired its identity. Arts that share some similarities with Hapkido do, however, have these heritages. Therefore, it is believed that all “like arts” have the right to claim the same heritage, providing they are true to their roots.

TaeKwonDo, which spawned from much older, native Korean kicking arts, shares many kick techniques with Hapkido. However, Hapkido's kicking repertoire being far more vast.

Aikido, on the other hand, shares the fluid harmonization with an opponent’s energy and momentum utilizing dynamic circular movement. Hapkido took this a step further by incorporating movements of an increased spiral nature, “trimming the fat” so to speak.

Judo lent it’s ranking system (or some form of it) to Hapkido and many other arts. Furthermore, Hapkido and Judo share some throwing philosophies and techniques. Yet being thrown by a learned Hapkido practitioner most likely inflicts a certain degree of bodily harm. Given it’s olympic sport status, Judo and many sport oriented arts are heavily governed by weight classes, age categories and safety rules. Self-defense based arts such as Hapkido have no such limitations/restrictions.

In addition, Kendo shares the basic sword techniques but most of Hapkido's sword techniques lie outside the confines of Kendo.

Despite the many techniques, philosophies and healing aspects, which are readily recognizable in Hapkido, the art itself has many attributes that are Hapkido specific. Hapkido is a very diverse art that requires time to understand and master.