International H.K.D Games
Encyclopedia
The International H.K.D Games are an event organized by the International H.K.D Federation
in South Korea
to promote the martial arts of hapkido
, hankido
and hankumdo
. The name of the event has been changed a few times since the first edition in 1990. Internationally the event is however known as the International HKD Games. The games were the idea of Myung Jae Nam
, who was also the founder of the I.H.F.
. These games were mainly used to draw attention the newly founded art of hankido. The games did get some media attention and the Korean Broadcasting System(KBS) showed a reportage of the games on TV. These first games weren't exactly an international event. Only Brazil had joined the games with a full team. A registration of the event was later put on video.
The second edition of the games took place in the summer of 1994 in the city of Incheon
on August 12 and 13. This time a lot more international teams had joined.
. During the opening festivities a newly developed sword art, called hankumdo, was demonstrated to the public. It was also from these games on that hankumdo was one of the competitions players could participate in.
The third games saw a name change to International H.K.D Martial Arts Competition (국제 H.K.D 무술대회), placing more emphasis on the fact that there were multiple martial arts being competed in. These games were the last games Myung Jae Nam attended himself, he died in 1999.
The I.H.F made a video available of these games as well.
. The games saw a very strong international players field. During the opening ceremony it became clear that the I.H.F was heading in a new technical direction.
Later a video with a registration of the event was made available.
on August 6,7, and 8.
Korean schools compete each other in the team demonstrations. The winning Korean teams enters the international pool where they have to compete against the international teams.
International H.K.D Federation
The International H.K.D. Federation was founded in 1974 by hapkido grandmaster Myung Jae Nam. Its original name was the International Hapkido Federation — it was changed when hankido and hankumdo were added to the I.H.F.'s curriculum.-Goal:...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
to promote the martial arts of hapkido
Hapkido
Hapkido is a dynamic and also eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, techniques of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks...
, hankido
Hankido
Hankido is a new hapkido style developed by the late Myung Jae Nam using even more circular flowing movements owing to Nam's background in traditional Korean dance.-Etymology:...
and hankumdo
Hankumdo
Hankumdo is a Korean sword-art where the basic techniques are based on the letters of the Korean alphabet, Hangul.-Goal:The goal of hankumdo is to teach people how to defend themselves and at the same time offer them exercises to stay healthy. It also is meant to give practitioners the means to...
. The name of the event has been changed a few times since the first edition in 1990. Internationally the event is however known as the International HKD Games. The games were the idea of Myung Jae Nam
Myung Jae Nam
Myung Jae Nam or Jae-Nam Myong was a Korean Hapkido practitioner who founded two martial art styles; Hankido and Hankumdo.-Life:Myung Jae Nam was born in Jeollanam-do province but lived in Incheon for most of his life....
, who was also the founder of the I.H.F.
Goal
The goal of the games is to bring hapkido practitioners, mainly those who are a member of the IHF, together in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual love for the HKD-arts and thus promote the IHF-styles of hankido, hapkido and hankumdo. This international event is a place where IHF members from all over the world gather to train together and discus their arts. Usually in the days before and after the event special seminars take place at the IHF headquarters to educate the international members.First games
On April 1, 1990 the games were first held at the Jang Chung Stadium in SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. These games were mainly used to draw attention the newly founded art of hankido. The games did get some media attention and the Korean Broadcasting System(KBS) showed a reportage of the games on TV. These first games weren't exactly an international event. Only Brazil had joined the games with a full team. A registration of the event was later put on video.
Second games
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
on August 12 and 13. This time a lot more international teams had joined.
Third games
In 1997, on August 16 and 17, the games were held for the first time at the I.H.F headquarters near the city of YonginYongin
Yongin is a major city in the Seoul National Capital Area, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. With a population of nearly 1 million, the city has developed abrutly since the 21st century, recording the highest population growth of any city in the country. Yongin is home to Everland and...
. During the opening festivities a newly developed sword art, called hankumdo, was demonstrated to the public. It was also from these games on that hankumdo was one of the competitions players could participate in.
The third games saw a name change to International H.K.D Martial Arts Competition (국제 H.K.D 무술대회), placing more emphasis on the fact that there were multiple martial arts being competed in. These games were the last games Myung Jae Nam attended himself, he died in 1999.
The I.H.F made a video available of these games as well.
Fourth games
After Myung Jae Nam's death in 1999 the fourth edition of the games the summer of 2000 were used to commemorate him. Ceremonies were held near Myung Jae Nam's tomb which is located at the I.H.F headquarters compound where the games took place. The games lasted two days, namely August 12 and 13.Fifth games
The fifth games were held on August 10 and 11 of 2002 in the city of SeongnamSeongnam
Seongnam is the second largest city in South Korea's Gyeonggi province after Suwon and the 9th largest city in the country, with a population of nearly 1 million...
. The games saw a very strong international players field. During the opening ceremony it became clear that the I.H.F was heading in a new technical direction.
Later a video with a registration of the event was made available.
Sixth games
On August 15, 2004 hapkido practitioners gathered at the stadium in Yongin to join the sixth edition of the games. The games only lasted one day this time and only a few international delegations had joined, most notably the teams from Chile and the Netherlands. Other international competitors joined on personal title.Seventh games
On July 22 of 2007 the games again took place in the city of Yong-In. People from fifteen different nations joined the games. A total of around 1500 people attended these games. It was also during the preparation for these games that the IHF started training international referees.Eighth games
The first time the international games took place outside South-Korea was in 2010. The competition was held in Battle Creek, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
on August 6,7, and 8.
Ninth games
When and where the 9th International H.K.D Games will take place, hasn't been announced yet.Competitions
Competitors joining the game can compete in several different disciplines, both individually and as a team. Which disciplines are available can differ from event to event. Here a few examples of disciplines that took place during previous games:- Hapkido team and duo demonstrations
- Hankido team and duo demonstrations
- Hankumdo team and duo demonstrations
- Falling, individual, distance jump
- Falling, individual, high jump
- Falling, individual, technical
- Kicking techniques, individual, technical
- Sparring, individual
Korean schools compete each other in the team demonstrations. The winning Korean teams enters the international pool where they have to compete against the international teams.