The Australian Hwa Rang Do Academy.


Hwa Rang Do works at: strikes, kicks, safe falling & throwing, trapping/catching, locks and escapes, weapons, evasion, Ki Gong, flexibility, self-control, self defence, restraining methods, mental preparedness, openness and good will.

I was graded 4th Dan Black Belt in Hwa Rang Do in October 1995, by Master Instructor Kim Myung-man.

Training Times and Venue for MY class and ALL Australian HRD Academy classes.

The Australian Hwa Rang Do Academy now has its own web site here.

Some Notes by Tom Osborn on the Technical Side of Hwa Rang Do

The power and control used in Hwa Rang Do depends on specific ways of using the body. Structurally the skeleton can support large loads and transmit great force if properly aligned and conditioned. Extending this strength capability for use in split second evasion, opponent control, smashing kicks and strikes, and maintaining long term health is the major goal of training.

Likewise, the mind has a strong role in effective martial arts - not just for perception and awareness, but as the source of intention and the partner of spirit (resolve). In a sense, consciousness discards the petty and distracting elements of "the moment" and unites with the "essence of now". "Heart" maintains the purity and compassion of that unity.

The main indicators of progress are smoothness, easy strength, relaxation/confidence, quickness, use of the whole body, and ability to release power suddenly.

The following points delineate the technical use (ie, expression) of this strength:

  • Technical ways - seven different focusses. And seven abstract counterparts to developing those ways...
  • Beyond Technique Who said anything about rules? Who said anything about intending to hurt people?
  • Progress is by stages. Don't skip an achievement to seek glamour.
  • Links

    The Australian Hwa Rang Do Academy's website is here.

    Instructor Lionel Graham has set up a good web page for Queensland HRD here.

    The"Society of Hwa Rang" presents a web page including input from people trained in a variety of Korean martial arts related to Hwa Rang Do.

    Master Michael De Alba has just launched a new page for De Alba System Modern Hwa Rang Do.

    The World Hwa Rang Do Association page (WHRDA is under the leadership of GM Joo Bang Lee - HQ in USA). There are links to other WHRDA pages on this site. [Note, no formal link exists between the AHRDA and the WHRDA].

    Link to Entertainment-resources.com/Martial_arts, here includes many informative martial arts links.

    Many web pages exist on the related Korean martial arts of Hap Ki Do and Tae Kwon Do. Tae Kwon Do tends to be "kick and punch" oriented with a sports focus, although emphasis varies a lot depending on the chief instructors and affiliations. Hap Ki Do styles and approaches vary even more widely, with some quite close to Hwa Rang Do, others more like Tae Kwon Do with Judo (Yudo) added, others like Jui Jutsu with some kicks. The history of Hap Ki Do lineages usually relates to Choi Yong Sul, but tends to include other emphasis. In military training, Hap Ki Do training was more likely to be found in body guards, while Hwa Rang Do was more involved in covert operations and elite squads.

    One Reasonable History of Australian Hwa Rang Do

  • History Preliminaries including some contentious points and scholarly concerns.
  • More detailed Hwa Rang Do History: Early History; Middle History; Later History.
  • About Teachers and Students:

  • Assessing a Martial Art and the teacher - making a long journey worthwhile.

  • Return to Tom Osborn's Home Page

    Email osborn@it.uts.edu.au


    HWA RANG DO HWA RANG DO