PRESIDENT'S LETTER

President's Letter

Years have passed since the word "Hapkido" was spoken in Greece for the first time. Since then, there have been many attempts for its spreading throughout our country. Many self-proclaimed Hapkido "missionaries" made their appearance, and others tried to establish new fighting styles; most of these people retreated silently in the end. Alliances, feuds, personal ambitions and malevolent intentions often
blackened Hapkido's image.

My tolerance was badly impacted by disappointment. My eagerness to offer to the art was answered to and blocked by selfishness, hidden motives, and other people's insecurities. Needless to say,  at the same time I grew more and more stubborn.

There is no room for exploitation, modifications or "personal touch" in traditional Hapkido. It cannot be distorted through the lens of people who try to present things differently from what they really are. Traditional Hapkido consists of a whole philosophy that is not easily defeated or spoiled. Remaining pure in a few people's minds and souls, it survives and leans forward towards the future which is a universal society that has a lot to learn and adopt, consciously or not, from the eastern Asian culture.

After years of trying to maintain the teaching of Hapkido at the highest level, because it deserves so, trying to follow the steps of great Hapkido Masters, trying to ignore or even fight many distractions, I managed to approach traditional Hapkido and deliver it to my students as pure as I can. I walked away from petty situations, avoided many traps, made mistakes of my own but never let a day pass without trying to live up to what Hapkido represents: Knowing thyself. I managed to organize a core of respected colleagues and together we established a carrier, a protective shield for traditional Hapkido. All these situations led us to what we proudly represent today under the name "Greek Hapkido Association".

As the Greek Hapkido Association's president,  I wholly wish that my dreams would find supporters; people who believe in the same things I do and will be touched by my aspirations, and thus their students, and everyone in turn, to embrace the Greek Hapkido Association's vision.


Evangelos Thanos,                                                                              May 2006,

President of the Greek Hapkido Association