Gongkwon Yusul is a martial art distinct from other styles, such as Hapkido. It emphasises the application of striking, locking, and throwing techniques in practical, free-flowing fighting situations, rather than the static applications more common in traditional styles of Hapkido. It also differs from Hapkido in that many of its hand techniques are strongly influenced by kickboxing styles (as mentioned above), and that a significant part of Gongkwon Yusul training is in grappling/ground fighting, applying techniques more akin to Judo than most Hapkido styles. Like many other modern hybrid martial arts and combat sports, Gongkwon Yusul combines the aspects and techniques often seen in combat sport styles such as Kickboxing and Judo, whilst still retaining many traditional martial art attributes, such as uniforms, terminology, and ranking structure.
Gongkwon Yusul was founded during the era prior to the popularization of Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Korea, and its hybrid nature and emphasis on real fighting brought backlash from the mainstream Korean martial arts community where they at the time believed that, while grappling and striking are both accepted forms of combat, they must be trained separately. Gongkwon Yusul was accepted by the mainstream in the country only after when Mixed Martial Arts, along with Brazilian jiu-jitsu, became well known in Korea and effectively changed the views of the country's mainstream and martial artists.[3]
Since its acceptance by the mainstream in South Korea, the art has grown rapidly in its home country of Korea with many dojangs around Seoul and also some regional areas of the country.[4] On the contrary, this martial art is not widely known outside of Korea. However, there have been dojangs opened in other countries. The first was established in Brazil in 2006, the second in Melbourne in 2007, the third in Launceston, Australia in 2008, the fourth in Gold Coast, Australia in 2008, the fifth in Spain in 2009,[5] the sixth in Brisbane, Australia in 2009,[6][citation needed] and the seventh in Austin, Texas in 2011, where country music singer/songwriter Willie Nelson earned his fifth degree black belt on April 28, 2014.[7]
