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The World Taekwondo
& Hapkido Association

The World Taekwondo & Hapkido Association

Honoring The Past, Embracing The Future

WTHA Hapkido Lineage

WTHA Hapkido Lineage

The name Hapkido is believed to have been coined by Grand Master Ji Han Jae and given to a Martial Art with a long history believed to be reorganized and repopularized in Korea by GM Yong Sool Choi and GM Ji Han Jae after WWII and the liberation of Korea.

Tekeda Sokaku Sensei

Japanese Tekeda Sokaku Sensei known as the founder of Daito ryu Aiki Jujutsu is believed to have taught GM Yong Sool Choi in Japan during the Japanese occupation of Korea, period 1910-1945.

Grand Master Yong Sool Choi

Grand Master Yong Sool Choi is believed to have learned Daito ryu Aiki Jujutsu from Tekeda Sokaku Sensei in Japan during the Japanese-Korea occupation. Upon his return to Korea after the liberation of Korea, GM Choi is believed to have taught GM Ji Han Jae, among others.

Grand Master Ji Han Jae

GM Ji Han Jae is believed to have coined the name “Hapkido” and founded the Hapkido Sung Moo Kwan among other Hapkido organizations and taught many students world wide. Among GM Choi Yong Sool and GM Ji Han Jae students were GM Kwang Sik Myung, GM Myung Jae Nam, GM Hee Young Kim, GM Bong Soo Han, GM Kim Myuong Yong, GM Lee Chong Min, GM Oh Se Lim, and many others. Many of the prominent Hapkido students started their own organizations, i.e. the World Hapkido Federation, Korea Hapkido Association, International Hapkido Federation, Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido, American Hapkido Federation, American Hapkido Association, Hanmudo, Korean IHF and Hankido, and many more. GM Ji Han Jae himself also founded Korea Hapkido Federation, Sung Moo Kwan Hapkido, and Sin Moo Hapkido, etc.

Grand Master Jae Sun Do

Grand Master Jae Sun Do, as a direct student of GM Hwang Kee, GM Chong Soo Hong, the Korean Taekwondo Association, the ROK AirForce, and the World Taekwondo Federation since the 1950’s was equipped with an extensive arsenal of traditional “hoshinsool” prior to training directly with the aforementioned Korean Hapkido Jin Jung Kwan Association Founder GM Kim Myoung Yong since 1974.

GM J.S. Do incorporated traditional Hoshinsool and JJK Hapkido when creating the WTHA one step self defense techniques and Hapkido curriculum between 1986-1989. GM Jae Sun Do taught that WTHA Jin Jung style Hapkido to GM Nelson.

Grand Master Frank R. Nelson

GM Frank R. Nelson is a multi Kwan 7th Dan, Korea Hapkido Federation, Korea Hapkido Total Association, and Korean Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido Association officially ranked Hapkido Master.

In 1977-1991 while stationed overseas Master Nelson began his Hapkido training in “Founder” GM Ji Han Jae’s original Hapkido style “Hapkido Sung Moo Kwan.” At that time the art was referred to as “Eagle Claw Hapkido.” In fact the patch emblem was adorned with an eagle displaying its outstretched claws.

Master Nelsons experience and reputation led him to teaching refugees during the Serbian/Yugoslavian conflict and elements of the US Army First Infantry Division during the Persian Gulf War (ODS/ODS) 1990/91.

Upon returning from the Gulf War in 1991, Master Nelson continued his training with GM Jae Sun Do, the Korean Hapkido Total Association, the Korea Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido Association , the Korean Hapkido Federation, the American Hapkido Association, Korean exchange students from Kwangju City Chunnam Techno College, and several other prominent Hapkido Masters and organizations from 1991-2007.

Korean Hapkido Federation/Korea Hapkido Total Association

Kwanju City, Chunnam Techno College

GM Nelson was President of the International Advanced Martial Arts Association from 2000-2007.

GM Nelson’s experience again led to teaching in Combat Theater: While deployed to the Iraq War (GWOT/OIF) 2008 to 2009 Master Nelson taught WTHA Taekwondo and Hapkido to U.S. and British Special Forces, Iraqi translators, Ugandan Republic Military Guards, and Soldiers at Combat Operation Base Speicher, Tikrit Iraq, and other US Soldiers during (GWOT/OEF) 2010-13.

Korea Hapkido Federation

Since 1977 GM Frank R. Nelson with a foundation in original Sung Moo Kwan Hapkido has had extensive training in the Korea Hapkido Federation, Korea Hapkido Total Association, and Korea Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido, periodic personal and distant training with real Sung Moo Kwan Hapkido, Sin Moo Hapkido, Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido, World Hapkido, International Hapkido, American Hapkido Association, and several others, i.e. HMD, IHF, WHF, etc., as well as periodic training with some of today’s greatest Hapkido GM’s.

Korea Hapkido Jin Jung Kwan Association

Korea Hapkido Total Association

GM Nelson also trains with some of the worlds top Hapkido Masters

With over 50 years of combined training and experience GM Nelson integrates the technical skills of multiple Kwans and the WTHA creating a World Class curriculum with World Class credentials.

GM Nelson is Vice President of the World Taekwondo & Hapkido Association and appointed President of the Central Florida Association of Korea Hapkido Total Association.

Now for a limited time you can begin your training in the world’s most elite advanced Taekwondo & Hapkido training curriculum for

*ONLY $10 PER MONTH*

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The World Taekwondo & Hapkido Association – WTHA offers progressive beginner to advanced Korean Martial Arts Taekwondo & Hapkido training elevating and uniting practitioners across the globe with World Class Curriculum and World Class Credentials, honoring the past and setting a new bar for the future!

WTHA is above and beyond, you should be too!

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