According to this view, Choi studied under Takeda in Japan from 1913, when
he was age 9, until Takeda died in 1943. However, Daito Ryu records do
not reflect this, so hard confirmation is not available at this time. Some
claim that Choi's Daito Ryu training was limited to attending seminars and
watching classes from the sideline. The Daito Ryu/Hapkido lineage is as
follows:

Shinka Saburo Yoshimitsu, 12th Century, Daito Ryu
Saigo Chikamasa, 1829-1905, Oshikiuchi
Takeda Sokaku, 1858-1943, Aiki-Jujutsu
Choi Yong Sool, 1904-1986, Hapkido

Ueshiba, Morihei, the founder of Aikido, was also a student of Takeda (this
is not disputed). Hapkido and Aikido have significant similarities to
Daito Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, so it would seem that Hapkido's link to it is real,
regardless of how and where Choi was trained.

Choi returned to Korea after Takeda's death and began teaching Yu Sool or
Yawara (other names for Jujutsu), eventually calling his kwan (or school)
the Hapki Kwan. Ji, Han-Jae, began studying under Choi in 1949 and eventually
started his own school, where he taught an art that he named Hapkido.
(GM Ji now calls his system Sin Moo (pronounced 'Shin Moo') Hapkido. He
currently lives and teaches in Elkins Park, PA, near Philadelphia)

Several other of Choi's Hapkido students are still living. Chang, Chun Il
currently resides in New York state, and Im, Hyon Soo who lives and teaches
in Korea. Both of these men were promoted to 9th dan by GM Choi.

Description:

Hapkido combines joint locks, pressure points, throws, kicks, and strikes
for practical self-defense. Emphasizes circular motion, non-resistive
movements, and control of the opponent.
Although Hapkido contains both outfighting and infighting techniques, the
goal in most situations is to get inside for a close-in strike, lock, or
throw. When striking, deriving power from hip rotation is strongly emphasized.

Training:

Varies with organization and instructor. In some schools beginners
concentrate on basic strikes and kicks, along with a few joint locks and
throws. Some of the striking and kicking practice is form-like, that is,
with no partner, however, most is done with a partner who is holding heavy
pads that the student strikes and kicks full power.

Advanced students add a few more strikes and kicks as well as many more
throws, locks, and pressure points. There is also some weapons training
for advanced students - primarily rope/scarf, short stick, cane, boken,
and staff.

Some schools do forms, most do not. Some do sparring and some do not,
although at the advanced levels, most schools do at least some sparring.
Many Hapkido techniques are unsuitable for use in sparring as their use
would result in injury, even when protective gear is used. Thus sparring
typically uses only a limited subset of techniques.

There is generally an emphasis on physical conditioning and exercise,
including "ki" exercises.

URLs:
www.hapkido.com
www.hapkido.org