THEORY OF WON (circle):

A circle represents the perfect geometric figure. Every person has his or her own circle that is their "private space." It is this circle that we seek to protect. An opponent's attack should be met with a graceful, circular defensive motion. We choose not to meet an opponent's force with direct force. Instead, we choose to lead this oncoming force in a circle, deflecting it, so as to minimize its effect. Therefore, we end up redirecting an opponents force against himself. We should think of this circle as a form of least resistance; always moving (active), and therefore difficult to hold or grasp.

Because the student of Hapkido chooses to deflect an attack in a circular manner, he/she gains an immediate advantage in several ways. First, injuries are less likely to the defender when the attack is not met squarely. Second, the defender sets up the opponent for a powerful, nearly unavoidable, counter-attack. Third, the opponents balance, the very thing he needs most, is destroyed. And lastly, the opponents body position is controlled so as to afford the defender the option of a much more devastating, continuous, circular combination of counter-techniques. During joint manipulations, the circle theory is applied by bluffing the attacker into a motion that is overcome by the defenders counter-circular force.