The Development of Samrangdo under Ji Han Jae
The development of Sam Rang Do into its modern organizational state has its origins in the studies and training undergone by Ji, Han Jae, who primarily based his formation of Hapkido upon the Sam Rang Do art, as he has claimed multiple times, therefore asserting that Sam Rang Do is essentially the seed from which the art of Hapkido blossomed.
Born in 1936, in Andong, South Korea, Ji came of age at a time in which he was able to train under three significant teachers, who he claims had the most pivotal impact on his journey as a martial artist:
Studied under Choi Yung Sool from 1949-1956. Choi is believed to have studied Daito Ryu Aikijutsu under the famous Japanese martial artist Sokkaku Takeda, even though no official records exist to indicate Choi's attendance at the school. In light of this account, regardless of records, Choi is credited with having brought the Japanese art back to South Korea after World War II, where he taught the art along with Ji.
Studied with Lee Do-Sa, also known as “Taoist Lee”, at age 18. Besides being a respected martial artist, Lee was also an herbalist who reportedly helped Ji Han Jae's mother recover from an illness. It was under his tutelage that Ji learned the ancient kicking techniques of the Sam Rang Goon, which included the arsenal of kicks that are attributed to the traditional Korean art of Taekkyon. Interestingly enough, many of the drills he learned from Taoist Lee resemble multiple plyometric drills used to enhance athletes' jumping ability. Lee also taught him several weapon systems, including sword techniques, the jang bong (long staff), and the dan bong (short staff; usually 8-10 inches in length).
Studied spirituality and meditation under a woman name Har Moni, a.k.a “Grandma”, who honed Ji's mental and spiritual aspects of his martial arts practice.
Notable facts about Ji
Opened his first dojang in Andong at age 21
Worked as road worker and bridge engineer in Seoul
Appointed by Park Chung-Hee as a presidential body guard, and hired as an instructor at the Korean Military Academy.
Trained secret service and FBI agents in Hapkido techniques in the early 1970s
Appeared in several martial arts movies, most notably in Game of Death, starring Bruce Lee.
Was incarcerated in South Korea for one year on account of his political affiliation
Moved permanently to the United States in 1984, where he founded Sin Moo Hapkido
A critical differentiating factor at the core of Sam Rang Do is that Ji utilized his knowledge of the art to construct the curriculum and philosophy upon which Hapkido in its entirety was designed. Consistent with the necessary approach of the ancient Paekche warriors, Hapkido is intended to be an unlimited art, insofar as no aspect, or genre of martial arts training is excluded.
Incorporating standing and ground techniques, Sam Rang Do involves practicing with any given classical or modern weapon that could play a practical role in the types of threatening scenarios that could occur in combative, close-quarters, high-level security work, as well as in civilian society.
All conceivable joint-locks, throws, sweeps, blocks, kicks, essential ground techniques, as well as techniques spanning the myriad weapons' systems, comprises the Sam Rang Do regimen as a whole.
Key principles:
Na gong (externalized power, or the physical manifestation of a technique);
Wa gong (internal power brought about through breathing and meditative practices, which maximize the effect of outwardly expressed power);
Shin gong (mental power having to with discipline, fearlessness, concentration and awareness);
Muki gong (power related to proficiency with the multiple weapons' systems);
Ki gong (power elicited through breathing techniques rooted in the dan tien, or the body's core)
These are important, interdependent elements of the art. For a practitioner to be well-rounded and to perform optimally, they must constantly strive to enhance their power related to each of the above principles.
It wasn't until the late 1990's that Ji met an individual with a proven capacity to embody those principles, as well as the spirit and physical expression of the art.
Possessing an enigmatic and deeply accomplished background in the martial arts world, as well as in the sphere of high-risk security and military work, Ronald Christopher Garland became the man who Ji would groom to be the successor of the specialized Sam Rang Do training methods and philosophy in its complete form.