Korean martial art 'hapkido' takes baby steps in India
New Delhi: As a martial art, it is not as well-known as its more famous counterparts like kung fu, karate and judo, yet the Korean hapkido is slowly but surely catching on in India -- with the fifth edition of a national-level championship having concluded last week.
And the man working to popularise this sport in India -- considered the birthplace of martial arts -- is Hapkido Association of India founder Tarsem Sharma.
The self-defence technique, which originated in Korea after World War II, was initially taught by Choi Yong-Sool, and is believed to have evolved from a Japanese martial art called daito-ryu jujutsu.
The art, which employs joint locks, grappling, and throwing techniques, was later combined with various kicking, striking and ground-fighting skills employed in judo.
Sharma, an expert in taekwondo -- another Korean martial art -- was introduced to hapkido when he came in contact with its world federation chief, Grand Master Bermas Kim of South Korea, and Asian federation president Mohammed Raza of Iran on the internet.
The duo invited him to the Asian Championships held in 2013 where Sharma became intrigued with the sport. On his return to India, Sharma roped in several taekwondo practitioners to set up a national body for hapkido.
"I represented India as a team leader at the Asian Hapkido Games in Iran in 2013. The idea of bringing this art to our country came from there.
"I was in talks with Korean Master Kim and Iranian Mohammed Raza about hapkido through the Internet, but after going to Iran I got to know the sport better. It has techniques related to acupressure and physiotherapy which made me take more interest in it," Sharma told IANS.
The sport has slowly achieved a level of recognition. "We have got an appreciation certificate from IOA (Indian Olympic Association) and are also in talks with the School Games Federation of India to include the discipline," Sharma informed.
Master Rajesh Prasad, chief instructor of the Jharkhand State Hapkido Association, feels that the sport is as modern as the latest mobile phones being launched in the country.
"I have been associated with the sport for the last five years. I give hapkido training in Jharkhand, where people are quite crazy about it. A lot of boxing, taekwondo and judo practitioners are veering towards this sport because it is new in India. It is a modern sport, much like the new mobiles being launched in the market.
Elaborating on the benefits of hapkido, Prasad said it can be used by women to defend themselves and should be included as a part of the curriculum in every school.
"I have been into different martial arts since my childhood. My experience says that if women are trained in hapkido, they can easily defend themselves because it requires minimal strength. In fact, it is the strength of the opponent that we turn around," Prasad explained.
"If people were aware about this sport, they would have implemented it for girls in every school, because keeping cameras everywhere to protect them is not possible," Prasad said.
Noting that most forms of martial arts had originated in this country, Prasad said that Indians need to reclaim their rich heritage in the genre.
"Most forms of martial arts were born in India. Kalaripayattu (the martial art form of Kerala) is the oldest such. From here it went to China as Shaolin and today our country is behind others (in the discipline)," Prasad rued.
"We are having to learn from other countries to develop this sport in our own country," he added.
Talking about the future of hapkido in India, Prasad said politicians should stay away from it.
"If politics stays away from hapkido, then in the world of martial arts in the country, it will become the most revolutionary discipline," Prasad concluded.
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Curbs imposed in parts of Kashmir; protests break out in Shia dominated areas
Srinagar (PTI): Protests broke out on Friday in some Shia-dominated areas of Kashmir, including Magam and Budgam, against the US-Israel strikes on Iran, officials said.
Apprehending the protests on the last Friday of Ramzan, restrictions were imposed this morning in Srinagar and other parts of the valley, especially the Shia-dominated areas.
The restrictions on the assembly of people were imposed in the morning as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in view of the likelihood of protests, the officials said.
The protesters shouted slogans against the US and Israel aggression in Iran, and in support of Palestine, they said.
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However, the officials added that the protests remained peaceful so far.
They situation is being monitored closely, they said.
Juma-tul-Vida (last Friday of Ramzan) is also being observed as Youm-ul-Quds to express solidarity with Palestine and there are apprehensions of anti-Israel protests after the congregational prayers, they said.
The authorities also shut the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta locality of the city here.
"On the last Friday of holy Ramzan, when tens of thousands gather from towns and villages for prayers and supplication at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, its gates have once again been locked from all sides," Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in a post on X.
He said it was the seventh consecutive year, "the rulers have denied permission to Muslims to pray here".
"As Israel has forcibly shut the gates of Masjid al-Aqsa during Ramzan, similar painful reality is witnessed here. Our hearts bleed. Shame on those who lock the houses of Allah against the faithful," the Mirwaiz added.
