After the assassination of South Korean President Chung-Hee Park, most of the Presidential Security Guards resigned, including Han-Jae Ji. Ji's governmental rank was 2nd Gup (Lt. Colonel). Ji, the founder of modern Hapkido, left Korea, went to Germany, and arrived in the United States in 1984. Upon his arrival in the United States, Grandmaster Ji founded Sin (pronounced "Shin") Moo Hapkido. Grandmaster's translation of Sin Moo Hapkido is "Harmony and Coordination between Mind and Body." Sin Moo, when derived separately means mind or spirit and warrior, respectively. Grandmaster Ji considers Sin Moo Hapkido to be simply a higher technology within martial arts, one that emphasizes more internal training and strengths than external. As one might expect and as was stated earlier, Hap Ki Do places great importance on the development of Ki.

True Hapkido does not have hyung or forms. Hapkido is a very relaxed, smooth and flowing style, using the principles or theories of Yoo, Won, and Hwa. There are not a lot of rigid stances and movements that must be strictly adhered to. The memorization of many movements in a pre-arranged, pre-set order makes no sense for self-defense. Spontaneous, reflexive action, and the ability to adapt to the situation and the surrounding environment are necessary in a fight.

In a personal conversation I had with Grandmaster Ji, he related to me that Sin Moo Hapkido was his gift to the U.S. and to the people of the free world for helping South Korea during the Korean Conflict.