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Mission Statement
The East Coast Hapkido Karate association (East Coast Hapkido LLC) mission is to provide low cost martial arts instruction so that every man, woman, and child can learn how to defend themselves. Our mission consist of being the worlds foremost Hapkido organization by promoting and instructing its members in the philosophy and techniques of Hapkido as its been handed down from Master to student throughout the centuries.
The East Coast Hapkido Karate association has been established to teach its students a “way of life” based upon Hapkido philosophies and training methods. Our instructors will insure that our students receive the highest level of training and education based upon the traditional methods of Hapkido. Our Black Belts and students must represent the highest levels of integrity and shall represent East Coast Hapkido LLC at all times. Our doors will always remain open for those who have the inner strength, courage and perseverance to learn and contribute in the continuation of the Hapkido tradition.
What is Hapkido
Hapkido is a very sophisticated form of Korean self defense. Hapkido combines joint locks, pressure points, holds, takedowns, and throws with hand strikes and powerful kicking, with orientation towards practical self defense. Hapkido includes the use of everyday items including such items as coins, pens, magazines and bags as defensive weapons.
The emphasis is not on hurting other people but on being able to protect yourself and others around you. Hapkido’s techniques are based on an opponents attack, meeting the attack, turning it back on the attacker and following through with an offensive finishing technique if required. Self control is emphasized throughout training with multiple techniques available for any one attack – the severity of the response depending on the nature of the attack.
History
Hapkido is a powerful Korean martial art. Literally translated, the word Hap means coordination of harmony, Ki denotes the essence of power and Do means the art or the way. “The Way to Coordinated Power”.
In 1910 the Japanese Army invaded and ruled Korea until the end of World War II. During the Japanese occupation a young Korean boy , Yong Sul Choi was sent to Japan at age 9 and lived with Buddhist monks. The monks knew that Yong Sul Choi was not suited for their life style and pleaded with a passing warrior who was on pilgrimage to improve his martial art skills to take Yong Sul Choi as his disciple. Master Shokaku Takeda was a swordsman who was trained in the art of Daito-Ryu Aiki Jujitsu as was his father and grandfather before him. This art emphasized the use of joint locks, strikes, and nerve attacks to neutralize an opponent. The young Choi as Master Takeda’s assistant and student remained in Japan for 35 years training under Master Takeda. Near the end of World War II Grand Master Yong Sul Choi returned to Korea and opened a small school in Taegu the 3rd largest city in Korea. Yong Sul Choi trained a small group of students and informally Yong Sul Choi is credited with the founding of modern day Hapkido.
Master James Bond Lee began training under Yong Sul Choi as a young man (believed to be age 16) In ensuing years, Master Lee established a close and devoted association with Yong Sul Choi founder of Hapkido and ultimately earned the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt.
Master James Bond Lee
Master J.B Lee is a veteran of over 50 years in the martial arts. He holds a 9th degree black belt in Hapkido. In addition he holds black belt ranks in Judo, Kendo, Kung Fu and has studied American style boxing for 5 years. As an instructor he has supplied self defense techniques to the FBI in California, United States Army, Ecuador’s Presidential Security Force and several United States Police Departments. He served as an assistant coach with the Republic of Korea Olympic Karate Team. Master Lee is the founder of the International Hapkido Karate Association and has schools located in Korea, Canada, Australia, and the United States in Virginia, Nevada, and New Jersey. It was at the New Jersey school where Thomas (Master T) DaRoja was first introduced to Master Lee’s Hapkido.
Thomas (Master “T”) DaRoja
Tom DaRoja was first introduced to Hapkido when he was 12 years old. His older brother was one of Master Lee’s students and spent time training with Tom. Although his father trained him in the art of boxing, Tom loved to use the strong kicks associated with Hapkido combined with his boxing techniques. He left New Jersey and moved to Virginia where Master T got involved with Tae Kwon Do, studying under 4th Degree Brad Tennon ( Brad was a student of Grand Master Ko ) before locating Master Lee’s martial arts studio in Poquoson Virginia. With over 18 years experience in Hapkido Master T holds a 4th degree black belt . Master T holds ranking belts in Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Shotokan, and has studied Tai Chi. He has also studied the Japanese art of Aikido under the guidance of 9th Degree Black Belt Bill Witt from California. Master T is the founder of East Coast Hapkido LLC and he continues to teach the same honor, courage, courtesy, perseverance and integrity formally taught by Yong Sul Choi to only an elite few.