One inspiring aspect is that Hapkido doesn’t rely on just one principle, level, or mechanism to make a technique work. When we talked about how things worked, it was first using the Hapkido symbols and Oriental Medicine.
In the language of the three principles of Hapkido; Sky ki is yang and expressed through the circular motion principle and mind. Neither pushing nor pulling while maintaining a constant connection produces a circle. Ground ki is yin and expressed through the water principle and form. Water proceeds where possible and recedes when necessary. We call the ki of plants, animals and people Life ki. It is yin and yang working in balance and expressed through the harmony principle and energy.
Each of these principles is represented by its own circular symbol. Circular motion is represented by an open circle. The water principle is represented by a circle with the spiral of a cresting wave. In the harmony symbol, outside the circle represents Sky ki, inside the circle represents Ground ki and the triangles (open hands) represent Life ki balancing the sky and the earth.
These three circular symbols are called Energy Circles. The joy of Hapkido is that we can move from one principle to another or combine all three. Ki Won means energy circle, it is both open and complete. Ki Won Hapkido focuses on the shared philosophy and training methods of Korean, Japanese and Chinese martial arts with an emphasis on what they have in common.
