How similar is shotokan karate to hapkido?
They are very different. Several of my past instructors have studied Hapkido. Ron Cherry, for one has an extensive Hapkido background in the traditional Hapkido, not the commercialized one seen most of the time. He has stated that the 7th dans in Korea will run from a 5th dan in Hapkido. That is the only time I ever heard him talk about one martial arts as if it was superior to another. It shocked me when I first heard it. But now, 26 years later, I have seen some of his Hapkido. What he does is dangerous !!! In our Kempo system, we have some Hapkido and Tang Soo do. not the commercialized Tang Soo Do. Cherry Soke spoke many times about how they became part of our style. Some time back in History the techniques of Tang Soo do and Hapkido were very hard to tell apart. They were pure combat arts. When Cherry Soke mentions our style and those arts he often uses the term Hapkido/Tang Soo Do. When I asked him why he used the two terms together that is the answer he gave me. Not to be long w
