About Hapkido

Hapkido is a Korean grappling style that traces its lineage back to the Takegawa Samurai clan in feudal Japan. Similarities between Hapkido and Aikido or Jiu-Jitsu are due to the fact that all three systems share the same root style. Practitioners learn how to break and reverse close-quarters attacks through joint manipulation. Students at Alpha learn some basic Hapkido as Beginners, but really delve into the style beginning at Black Belt and can earn Dan rank in this challenging system.

Grand Master Bryan Lagimonaire, who supervises Hapkido training at Alpha, started his martial arts training in 1964. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1969 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion Mechanized 50th Infantry at LZ Betty in Phan Thiet Vietnam. Upon his return from Vietnam he continued with the Korean Martial Arts in the Moo Duk Kwan system under Mr. Jose Santamaria.

Grand Master Lagimonaire holds a 5th Dan in Hapkido in addition to an 8th Dan in Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do, a 6th Dan from the Kukkiwan and 2nd Dan in Kuhapdo (Korean sword).