Jung Ki Kwan California
Official California Branch of the World Jung Ki Hapkido & Kuhapdo Association
Preserving Traditional Jung Ki Hapkido
Central Coast Hapkido exists to preserve and transmit the Jung Ki Hapkido curriculum developed within the Jung Ki Kwan under Grandmaster Lim Hyun Soo and rooted in the teachings of Hapkido founder Choi Yong Sul. We are seeking dedicated practitioners interested in the long-term study of a rare Korean martial tradition.
About Intructor Jay Champagne
Instructor Jay Champagne serves as the official charter holder for the Jung Ki Kwan in California and continues his martial study through guidance from Grandmaster Lim Hyun Soo and senior instructors throughout the international Jung Ki Kwan community. Through this ongoing study, Central Coast Hapkido remains connected to the traditions, training methods, and curriculum of the Jung Ki Kwan.
Why We Exist
Most people seek martial arts for fitness, self-defense, or recreation. These are worthwhile goals, but Central Coast Hapkido exists to preserve and transmit Jung Ki Hapkido. More than a collection of techniques, Jung Ki Hapkido is a complete martial study consisting of foundational exercises, technical practice, principles, partner training, and practical application.
What Makes Jung Ki Hapkido Different?
Jung Ki Hapkido preserves a comprehensive curriculum of techniques, but training is not simply about accumulating techniques. Students learn to refine the body mechanics and principles that connect the system together. The same movements are practiced throughout a lifetime of training, gradually evolving from rigid mechanical study into natural and adaptive fighting skill. In Jung Ki Hapkido, the path of training is not defined by leaving fundamentals behind, but by deepening one's understanding of them.
Who We're Looking For
We are not seeking students for a program. We are seeking future practitioners capable of carrying the art forward.
The survival of a traditional martial art depends on the dedication of each generation. Every generation inherits knowledge from those who came before and bears responsibility for passing it on.
We are not looking for hundreds of students. We are looking for the right students.
You may be a good fit if:
- You have a serious interest in traditional martial arts.
- You enjoy studying mechanics, principles, and refinement.
- You are willing to practice fundamentals repeatedly.
- You value long‐term development over quick results.
- You wish to help preserve a rare martial tradition.
Prior experience is not required. Dedication, consistency, and curiosity are far more important.
The Path of Training
Training begins with foundational exercises and the study of basic technique.
The beginner learns how to generate power, maintain structure, control balance, and coordinate movement. Over time, these same mechanics appear throughout the curriculum in throws, locks, controls, striking, and application.
As skill develops, practice becomes increasingly fluid and adaptive. The practitioner learns not only techniques, but the principles that unite them. Advanced practitioners learn to respond to pressure, position, and timing while maintaining the same foundational mechanics learned from the beginning. The art becomes softer, more efficient, and more responsive without abandoning its fundamentals. In Jung Ki Hapkido, advanced skill is achieved not by leaving the basics behind, but by returning to them again and again.
Sword Arts and Related Studies
Grandmaster Lim Hyun Soo's lifelong study included classical sword arts, culminating in the creation of Chung Suk Kuhapdo. Students interested in deeper exploration of martial principles may also have opportunities to study Chung Suk Kuhapdo and Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū Iaido through private instruction.
While our primary focus remains the preservation and study of Jung Ki Hapkido, related sword arts are available to serious students whose interests extend beyond empty-hand practice.
Foundational Principles
True Hapkido uses positioning, timing, and circular movement to disrupt balance, control structure, and create opportunities for effective technique. We train strictly according to the foundational principles:
Grandmaster Lim often introduces these principles to foreign students as "Push, Pull, Circle." While simple in appearance, these ideas guide all Jung Ki Hapkido practice, from foundational exercises and basic techniques to advanced application.
- Hwa (Harmony), 화 in Korean, 和 in Chinese: Non‐resistance against force to break an attacker's balance.
- Won (Circle),원 in Korean, 圓 in Chinese: Circular motion to deflect attacks and redirect energy.
- Lyu (Flow), 유 in Korean, 流 in Chinese: Slicing through an opponent's timing at the optimal moment.
Learn More
For those interested in the history, curriculum, and ongoing development of Jung Ki Hapkido, the following resources provide additional information directly from the World Jung Ki Hapkido & Chung Suk Kuhapdo Association and Jung Ki Kwan headquarters.
Official Jung Ki Kwan Resources
- World Jung Ki Hapkido & Kuhapdo Association — International headquarters and instructor directory.
- Grandmaster Lim Hyun Soo — Biography of the founder of Jung Ki Kwan.
- Jung Ki Kwan Headquarters Blog — Historical articles, seminars, demonstrations, promotions, and current activities from headquarters in Daegu, Korea.
History and Curriculum
- What is Hapkido? — Overview of traditional Hapkido and its core principles.
- History of Jung Ki Kwan — Background of the organization and its relationship to Hapkido founder Choi Yong Sul.
Related Studies
- Chung Suk Kuhapdo — Grandmaster Lim's Korean sword art.
Open To Collaboration
Central Coast Hapkido welcomes discussion with established martial arts schools interested in offering authentic Jung Ki Hapkido training as a complementary program for their students.
Our goal is to preserve and share a traditional Korean martial art while supporting, not competing with, existing martial arts communities.
Interested in Training?
To learn more about traditional Hapkido study and private practice, call or email today:
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