Scott Shaw Straight to the Heart of Hapkido

Scott Shaw: Straight to the Heart of Hapkido

This article originally appeared in Taekwondo Times Magazine, November 1998

Hapkido Master Scott Shaw grew up on the mean streets of Los Angeles. This environment led him to begin the study of the Hapkido as a young boy. Through his over three decades of training, both in the United States and Asia, he has emerged as one of the most prolific writers on the subject of the Korean martial arts. Articles he authors are continually seen in national and international martial art publications and two of his books on the martial arts have recently been published by major international publishers: Hapkido: The Korean Art of Self Defense and The Ki Process: Korean Secrets for Cultivating Dynamic Energy.

Master Shaw, a Korea Hapkido Federation 7th Dan, is a uniquely humble man, possessing an unassuming laughing manner. He views the Korean martial arts not only as a precise method of self-defense but as a pathway for the unification of the body, mind, and spirit.

Taekwondo Times The book you wrote on Hapkido was recently published.
Scott Shaw Yes. It was a great honor for me to have Charles E. Tuttle Publication publish the book. They have been one of the preeminent publishers of books on the martial arts since the early 1960’s. I believe the book provides a good overview of Hapkido as it focuses on the basic history and self-defense techniques of the art.

TKDT In your book you make a controversial statement about Yong Shul Choi and his association with his martial arts instructor Sokaku Takeda. In it you state that the commonly accepted story among the Korean Hapkido community, that Choi was treated like an adopted son by Takeda, is untrue. Instead, he was, in fact, his servant.
SS Servant, has a lot of negative connotation to it and I don’t know if that is the best word to use. But, yes, that is my belief.

TKDT What do you base your facts on?
SS I have spent a lot of time and have done a lot of research in Asia. Any historian who knows anything about the relationship between Korea and the invasive Japanese, at that historic period of time, the early to mid 1900’s, immediately would question the belief that a Japanese man of high standing, such as the patriarch of Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu, would ever adopt a Korean child. But what initially prompted my research into this subject is that an early student of Yong Shul Choi told me the story of Grand Master Choi’s childhood; how he was taken from his parents and was sent to Japan as a laborer. This was a sad fact of Korean history which was far too common at that period of time. Anyway, from that story I began to research Grand Master Choi’s life in Japan.

TKDT What did you find out?
SS The first thing I did was to establish Grand Master Choi’s identity in Japan. The Japanese family name he was assigned was Yoshida. The first name he says he was his given name was Tatujustu. This, however, is not an actual Japanese name. So, it may have been a Korean interpretation of a nick name or something. I have not been able to find an answer to that question. The given name associated with him on Japanese documents was Asao. In any case, from this fact, I established that he was never recorded as a formal student of Takeda’s Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu.

TKDT So, you don’t believe that Choi was an actual student of Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu?
SS I didn’t say that. Over the years in Japan, I have found several, now very old, associates of Takeda who did remember Takeda having two or three very close man-servants of Korean heritage. And more than that, if you look at the original form of Hapkido or study with any of the early students of Grand Master Choi, you will see that original Hapkido is Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu, with virtually no difference in style or application.

TKDT Why do you think that no one has documented the correlation between these two arts before?
SS To some degree they have. No one ever denies that Hapkido was born from Daito Ryu. But, the reason that the exacting similarities between Hapkido and Daito Ryu is not immediately noticed is that so few Korean masters have ever viewed or studied Daito Ryu.

TKDT So, Yong Shul Choi was a unrecorded student of Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu?
SS For lack of a better explanation, yes. Grand Master Choi obviously got his advanced knowledge of the art from the source—even if he is not recorded as a formal student. You have to realize he was in the employ of Takeda for over thirty years until Takeda’s death. So, whether he was a formal student or not, he obviously had a lot of exposure to the art. Unfortunately, I believe the absolute facts of Grand Master Choi’s early life died with him in 1986. Most of all it must be understood, in relation to the history of Hapkido, that it took a truly remarkable man to return to Korea, which had experienced years of Japanese persecution, after having spent almost forty years in Japan, and formalize a martial art system which is still revered and practiced today.

TKDT You’ve also written a book on Ki. Do you believe that Ki is a true science or is it just an ancient myth?
SS The science of Ki has been handed down for thousands of years. It is the basis for acupuncture, acupressure, many forms of natural healing, and the advanced levels of martial art self-defense. So, to answer your question, yes, through personal experience, I believe that Ki is an elemental part of life and should be taught in association with all forms of martial arts.

TKDT Why then is Ki so rarely taught to the modern martial artists?
SS I believe that the reason Ki knowledge is not commonly taught is that most instructors have never been exposed to it, thus, they do not possess the knowledge of how to teach it.

TKDT What do you believe is the reason for is?
SS Well, first of all, Ki science is not taught until one reaches the advanced levels of Hapkido and other martial arts which embrace Ki understanding. The reason for this is that one must first come to master the physical elements of their body before they can comprehend an area of physical science so refined as Ki. It is the sad truth that many modern instructors did not remain a student long enough to be taught Ki science. And then, they just make excuses for why they don’t teach it.

TKDT What does the knowledge of Ki give the martial arts practitioner? Is it a method to rapidly defeat an opponent?
SS Yes and no. Ki is not some mystical power which you can touch an opponent in one magical pressure point and he will fall over dead. That’s all in the movies. What the understanding of Ki does give the modern martial artist is a method to tap into superior energy in times of physical or mental need and to be able to unleash this power, if necessary, in a confrontational situation.

TKDT What about pressure points, aren’t they a part of Ki self-defense?
SS Of course. What pressure points are is exact locations which are much more refined than common strike points such as the groin, the throat, or the nose. A pressure point can be exactly hit to disrupt the flow of Ki in an opponent. Pressure point strikes are not going to instantly disable an opponent, say like a front kick to the groin would, but what they will do is cause an attackers energy to be dissipated. Ki self-defense is much more refined and less invasive than simply deflecting an opponent’s attack and then knocking him to the ground with the appropriate offensive strike.

TKDT How does one begin to harness Ki energy?
SS Ki energy is linked to the breath. The breath is the dominate factor of life. You can live a few days without water, a few more without food, but without breath you die almost immediately. For this reason, mastery of the breath or breath control is the main technique of harnessing Ki energy.

TKDT Can you give us an example of Ki breathing?
SS Ki science is very involved and impossible to just say, “Here this is what to do.” But, in a nutshell, the breath must be consciously directed to what is known in Korean as the Tan Jun for it to be utilized as Ki energy. The Tan Jun is located approximately four inches below the navel. The Tan Jun is the center point of the human body. So, what you must do is consciously bring breath in through your nose and visualize it traveling to the Tan Jun. Once it is in this location, it can then be utilized. The Ki Hap or martial arts yell actually signals Ki energy being released from the Tan Jun when a technique is unleashed. Though, sadly, most martial art practitioners do not understand or properly use this technique.

TKDT As a writer you often times delve into the spiritual realms of the martial arts. Why is that?
SS I believe as we progress through life and the path of martial arts, we all become more refined, more spiritual if you will. As our consciousness becomes more clear we come to realize that physical competition is not the basis for humanity and it does not matter how many bricks you can break. Instead, what is important is how we can help each other and make the world a better place. Certainly, martial arts provides us with the confidence that we can defend ourselves or others if we are unjustly attacked. But, what is more important is moving away from violence altogether and using martial arts as a method to refine our bodies and our minds.

TKDT Are you in favor of meditation used in association with martial arts?
SS Absolutely. You know, meditation is not a secular religious function. Anyone from any religion can utilize it to calm, clarify, and focalize their mind. Meditation allows us time to silence our minds and thereby come into communion with the divine. I believe that it should become an integral practice of every martial art curriculum.

TKDT As a Korean stylist how do you feel about the ongoing debate over the various martial art organizations.
SS I remember back maybe twenty years ago when I was studying with and teaching Taekwondo and Hapkido for Master Hee Hwan Yoon. Dr. Un Yong Kim came to town and we went to have dinner with him. It was just a small group, Masters Yong Kim, Pu Gil Gwon, Hee Ill Cho, Jun Chong and his assistant Philip Rhee. At this dinner it was so relaxed and informal, there was never any debate over the WTF verse the ITF, or anything. I think that is how we as Korean stylist should all interact, simply as a group of martial artists practicing varying styles which were formalized in one country, pursuing the same goal, the betterment of humanity.

TKDT Some may say, “That was a group of WTF masters.”
SS That’s not entirely true. For example, Grand Master Hee Ill Choi is a certified by both the WTF and the ITF. You ask him about the politics and he does not get involved. He simply teaches his martial arts. That is also true with the man who took me under his wing after my Hapkido master died, Grand Master Sung Soo Lee, he’s a Korea Hapkido Federation 9th Dan, as well as a WTF 9th Dan. And, he consciously teaches both of the arts. There doesn’t have to be argumentative politics in martial arts and the true masters, like these two, don’t engage in them.

TKDT What do you think about those who go off and start their own organization due to the bickering between the various Korean martial art organizations?
SS To be honest, I wish everyone the best, but I am really not for that.

TKDT Why?
SS It’s my feeling that there is already the necessary governing bodies in place for the Korean stylist to turn to: the WTF, the ITF, the Korea Hapkido Federation, Ki Do Hae, Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, and so on. I mean General Choi was the founder of Taekwondo, he has the right to head his own organization. The same is true with Grand Master Hwang Kee. The WTF elected Dr. Kim and he has the right to lead the organization, as does Se Lim Oh who was elected to head the KHF.

TKDT So, you don’t think people should start their own organizations?
SS There are some very advanced Korean masters who have reached the pinnacle of knowledge in their systems and they start organizations for the betterment of their art. And, there are some individuals, myself included, who form an organization with the hopes of bringing people together and giving those without a home, a home. Most people who start organizations, however, are not doing it to better the traditional Korean martial arts. What they are doing is establishing a method to promote themselves and to line their own pockets. The big problem I see with all of the fledgling organizations is that, particular among Western martial artists, is that they take it upon themselves to change the system. I mean they call it Taekwondo or Hapkido but they add a little bit of Escrima, a touch Jeet Kune Do, some Kickboxing, or some Brazilian Jujitsu, which is very popular right now. That is not Taekwondo. That is not Hapkido. Taekwondo was founder by General Choi, Hapkido was founder by Yong Shul Choi. These masters set the standards for the system. Certainly, martial arts evolve over time but these modern teachers are simply creating an eclectic mess. Which is fine, but don’t call it Hapkido, Taekwondo, or Tang Soo Do. Like, Chuck Norris. He was a Tang Soo Do stylists for decades but when he realized that the system he was teaching was no longer Tang Soo Do, he changed the name. That is the honorable thing to do. Don’t attempt to ride on the previously gained publicity of an art and not teach it in its truest form. This is why the established organizations such as the KHF, the WTF, and ITF have established and maintained standards.

TKDT In this modern age of technology do you believe that the way of teaching martial arts has changed somewhat though video tapes, CD Roms, and so on?
SS Certainly, it has changed. But change is not always good. If you look at my video tape series for example, when Unique Publications asked me to do it, they desired a combination of the self-defense applications of Hapkido linked with the elaborate throwing techniques. They did not want to create the maybe thirty or forty tapes it would take to truly document the entire system. So, in my tapes you see very specific elements of Hapkido. This is the case with all video instruction, you see a very particular and sometimes limited part of the system. No matter how in depth any video tape series is or how clearly you show the techniques, it is not personal contact. So, something is lost.

TKDT So, you are not in favor of video instruction?
SS No, I want people to buy my tapes. (Laughing). But seriously, video tapes are very good for a person who already possesses a basis of knowledge in the martial arts and wants to explore various styles or see how a particular instructor teaches a given system. With an already established basis in martial arts you can more clearly understand what is taking place on a video tape and then integrate that knowledge into your own system of self-defense.

TKDT As you mentioned you have spent a lot of time in Asia. What do you feel is the difference between martial art training there in comparison to here in the United States?
SS There is much more discipline in Asia, Korea in particular, and the students have much more respect for their instructors. But, in fact, it is much more than that. The various cultures of Asian are very different from our Western culture. I was speaking with Goju Karate Master Chuck Merriman a few years ago and he said something very profound. He said, “We as American martial artists, in attempting to take on Asian culture, which we know nothing about, lose something.” This is so true. Even in my case where I have spent a lot of time in various locations of Asia, my culture is based in American understanding. So, no matter how long I live in a country or come to understanding their culture, I am still an outsider. In the case of martial arts, myself or other people can master the physical techniques, but there is a cultural essence which we will never truly comprehend; we can observe and categorize it, but we can never live it.

TKDT Do you feel this is true of Korean and other Asians who come to America, as well?
SS Absolutely. They way Koreans interact with their family and other people is based in their own cultural understanding. Most Korean master tell the story that when they first came to American, they taught martial arts as they we taught in Korean, but then they had to change because Americans are not accustomed to that level of discipline.

TKDT Was it martial arts which got you involved in the film industry?
SS Yes and no. In the roles I’ve had in A-films and on T.V., they’ve had nothing to do with martial arts. In the straight to video or cable films I’ve starred in, they’ve all have been, at least partially, martial arts films.

TKDT What have you worked on lately.
SS Well, I’ve just completed filming a very John Woo, Robert Rodriguez style action thriller which I co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in called Guns of El Chupacabra. And, last year I starred in two films back-to-back, one was an action adventure called Shotgun Boulevard and right before that I did a Ninja Turtle type film called Toad Warrior. They both sold pretty much worldwide at the recent American Film Market and Toad Warrior will be on cable and out on video here in the States.

TKDT Aside from acting you’ve also Produced and Directed films, what is the difference?
SS Well, acting is a lot easier. You know, with Producing a film you have to make it all happen: every location, every crew person, every actor. Even though you have people working with you, it is you who has to keep it all moving. If the Producer drops the ball, the film collapses. It’s a lot of responsibility. As far as Directing, you are in artistic control of the film. So, if you truly have a vision for the film and the way the audience will see it, you really have to learn how to get that vision upon the film: through the techniques of the camera, the lighting, and helping the actors portray a very specific character, and you must do all of this within the confines of whatever your budget is.

TKDT As a lot of martial artists want to be in films do you have any advice for them?
SS As I’ve been on both sides of the camera, what I see so often is that accomplished martial artists come to auditions or sometimes get small roles in films and they really come with a bad attitude. They think because of their martial art abilities they should be the star, the next Bruce Lee. But hey, Bruce Lee struggled a lot of years with his acting career. Rising to the top is a step-by-step process, just like the martial arts. You have to work your way up. There is a lot of talented actors out there. What martial artists who desire to be actors must do, is to put as much study into the craft of acting as they have placed into their martial arts.