Berkeley, California—19 January 2007—Hapkido West, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the martial art of Hapkido, today announced that it was formally incorporated in California as a “nonprofit public benefit corporation.” Established in January 2007 under the leadership of Marc Tedeschi, an internationally respected martial arts master, Hapkido West's core mission is to promote the practice and instruction of Hapkido, both locally and internationally. Hapkido West will offer affordable high-quality martial arts training to a broad segment of the general public and will seek to improve educational standards, build goodwill and fellowship, and increase public awareness of the beneficial role of martial arts practice in one’s life.

During the coming months, Hapkido West's Board of Directors will be defining goals and objectives, and developing an implementation plan, to guide the organization in accomplishing its core mission. The organization expects to introduce itself to key publics in May.

What is Hapkido?
Practiced in over 100 countries, Hapkido possesses one of the most complex, unique, and varied arsenals of self‑defense techniques to be found in any martial art. Its skills encompass all major martial categories: strikes, kicks, blocks, avoiding movements, holds, joint locks, chokes, throws, breakfalls, tumbling, ground fighting, weapons, meditation, and healing. Although combatives are an important aspect of training, Hapkido’s ultimate objective is the harmonization of body, mind, and spirit; the perfection of human character; the cultivation of social responsibility; and the empowerment of self.

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Press Contact:
Philip Atkins
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