Gong Kwon Yusul 공권유술

 

Korean martial arts are military practices and methods which have their place in the history of Korea but have been adapted for use by both military and non-military personnel as a method of personal growth or recreation.

Gongkwon Yusul is a modern Korean martial art system founded by Kang Jun in 1996. Its main influences include the martial arts of Hapkido, Hakko-ryu Jujutsu, Judo and Kyuk Too Ki (Korean style Thai Boxing). Gongkwon Yusul is a system which emphasises the application of striking, locking, and throwing techniques in practical, free-flowing fighting situations, rather than the static applications, more in common in traditional styles of Hapkido.

It also varies from Hapkido in that many of its hand techniques are strongly influenced by Western boxing, and that a significant part of Gongkwon Yusul training is in groundwork, applying techniques more akin to judo and Brazilian Jujitsu, than most Hapkido styles.

In a sense Gongkwon Yusul is an attempt to combine the practical, free-flowing technique application, often seen in mixed martial arts, whilst still retaining many traditional martial art attributes, such as uniforms, terminology, and ranking structure.

Since its foundation the art has grown rapidly in its home county of Korea with many dojangs around Seoul and also some regional areas of South Korea. This martial art is not widely known outside of Korea; however, there have been dojangs opened in other countries. The first was established in Brazil in 2006, the second in Melbourne in 2007, the third in Launceston, Australia in 2008, the fourth in Gold Coast, Australia in 2008, the fifth in Spain in 2009, the sixth in Brisbane, Australia in 2009, and the seventh in Austin, Texas in 2011, where country music singer/songwriter Willie Nelson earned his fifth degree black belt on April 28, 2014.

Ranks

1. White
2. Yellow (5th kup)
3. Green (4th kup)
4. Blue (3rd kup)
5. Red (2nd kup)
6. Brown (1st kup)
7. Black