THEORY OF HWA (harmony or non-resistance):

The learning of Hapkido is accomplished through the continuous generation of harmony between mind, body, techniques, and environment. Harmony is the most important element one should strive to achieve through their training. How often in your training do you feel that your mind has "learned" a new technique, only to find that your body is not embracing this new knowledge as rapidly as you desire? Each time we perform a technique, connections are made between the brain and the muscles which control the movements of the technique. Every maneuver you learn through Hapkido training has it's own special 'control center' inside the brain. We practice what we are shown countless times so that our body and mind will eventually act as one unit in response to a confrontation.

After one achieves harmony within himself, the next requirement is to harmonize with one's opponent. Having accomplishing this, the Hapkido student will find it quite easy to control the movements and energy of an opponent. We seek to blend or harmonize with the attack to create the defense. The words "non-resistance" are often substituted for harmony in defining the theory of Hwa. Before an attack can be directed in a circular manner, it must first be received or intercepted with a non-direct block or maneuver, thus allowing a harmony to be created using the opponents oncoming force to fuel the defending motion.

Following this, learning to harmonize with one's environment is the next stage. The final task is blending the harmony that one has developed with himself, his opponent, and the environment, with that of the techniques.

Once the mind and body are unified, the techniques will feel "natural." It is not enough to merely know the technique; this knowledge must become reflexive, or "second nature."