In
1971 Fred Adams founded the Great Britain Hapkido Association,
the first of its kind in the British Isles to promote the
art of Hapkido. The Association was responsible for establishing
the art and the first to bring several senior instructors
from the Korean Hapkido Association Headquarters in Seoul.
This first school opened in Norwich and within a short time
attracted large numbers of students with several classes every
week. Previously unknown to the British public, Hapkido had
arrived on the scene when martial arts were just taking off,
superstars like Bruce Lee had captured the imagination of
many and an explosion of interest in the oriental arts occurred.
Gradually
the popularity of Hapkido spread across the country and
by the efforts of Fred Adams reached Scotland and Wales.
By 1981 several enquiries came for training and classes
overseas and so International Hapkido was born. Fred Adams
was also the first person to bring Hapkido to the shores
of Ireland, teaching in the North and the South where it
was well received.
Today,
International Hapkido continues its growth and receives
interest from around the globe. We have instructors and
representatives in America, Australia, Eastern Europe, including
Russia and Ukraine, and throughout the UK. International
Hapkido remains one of the very few organizations to promote
genuine and authentic Hapkido. Unfortunately there have
recently been several pundits appearing on the international
scene with watered-down systems they incorrectly claim to
be Hapkido. International Hapkido stands to protect the
integrity of this noble martial art and ensure that it remains
accessible to men and women across the world for future
generations.
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Grandmaster
Fred Adams – 8th Dan Hapkido
Born
in Lancashire in 1932 Fred Adams first learned the
basics of self-defence in 1939 as a young boy living
in a country at war. He then began a study of combat
skills when joining the British Army. His interest
and desire for learning turned to the Eastern styles
in the 1953.
Today
at the age of seventy-one, holding no less than seventeen
black belts, he is regarded internationally as a true
master of his art and pioneer for the fascinating,
but lesser-know system of Hapkido.
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Master Nial Adams – 4th Dan International Hapkido
Nial
began training under the tutelage of his father at just
seven years old (1976). As a young boy he was taught privately
and at the age of eleven he joined a formal Hapkido class.
With the continued guidance of his father as well as other
Hapkido instructors he continued his studies, gaining grades
and experience. Then at the age of just sixteen he began
to teach his own class (all adults).
In
1987 Grandmaster Fred Adams awarded him his 1st Dan Black
Belt. Around this time he commenced advanced training with
one of the UK’s leading specialists in the field of
Close Protection (Bodyguarding). This instructor, ex-SAS,
trained Nial in combat elements including the use of firearms,
close combat, and other advanced combat and security skills.
In
1989 Nial was asked to join his father in providing instructional
services to the British Armed Forces. As one of the instructors
on the course Nial became one of just three civilians to
be awarded ‘A’ grade Instructor status. In this
course Nial taught over eighty members of the Special Forces
including Special Air Service Regiment, Royal Marine Commandoes,
Parachute Regiment, Royal Air Force Regiment and Military
Intelligence.
Shortly
after this Nial started his own training company, Positive
Response, and taught the advanced combat elements of Hapkido
to members of the armed forces, security personnel and private
individuals seeking practical self-protection training.
Through this company he went on to run training services
across the UK, in several countries in Eastern Europe, where
he taught military, police and security services including
the Presidential Bodyguards.
Today,
with over 27 years of study, Nial holds the rank of 4th
Dan (Master), the position of Senior Coach and Assistant
Examiner for International Hapkido. He travels widely teaching
and demonstrating the art, and runs our Coach Development
Programme.
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