Ji Han-jae

Ji Han-jae (; August 1936 – January 28, 2026) was a South Korean hapkido grandmaster known as the founder of Sin Moo Hapkido. He appeared in the 1972 film Game of Death starring Bruce Lee.

Training Born in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Korea, Japan in August 1936, he began his martial arts training in 1949 under Choi Yong-sool and reached the rank of eighth dan. Ji trained with Choi until 1956, when he moved to Seoul to open a school of self-defense. Ji trained in the ancient methods of Korean martial arts known as Sam Rang Do Tek Gi by a man named Taoist Lee. Though this man's identity cannot be confirmed, he is believed to have trained Ji in meditation, the Korean long staff jangbong (장봉; 長棒)", short staff danbong (단봉; 短棒)" and the unique kicks of Sam Rang Do Tek Gi.

Hapkido master In 1959, Ji combined all of his martial arts knowledge and began to teach hapkido.

Many people consider Ji the founder of hapkido, while others credit his teacher Choi, who referred to his art as yawara (; 柔) or yukwonsul (; 柔拳術)". It is commonly claimed by his students that Ji was the first to use the name hapkido for the techniques he was teaching at that time. Choi's first student Seo Bok-seop, however, said in a 1980 interview that Jung Moo Kwan was the first to use the term to refer to the art as well as the symbol of the eagle to represent hapkido. Regardless, part of the kicking techniques used in many styles of hapkido is marked by changes implemented by Ji and Kim Moo-hong (; aka Kim Moo-woong or Kim Moo-hyun), also a student of Choi. After studying with Choi, Kim went to a Buddhist temple and learned a kicking art there. Traveling to Seoul in 1961, he lived and trained with Ji for eight months and, by implementing the kicking methods they had both learned, they finalized the kicking curriculum for hapkido, significantly expanding it to include kicks to higher targets and spinning and jumping kicks, none of which were originally part of Choi's system.

In addition, Ji's original Sung Moo Kwan shared space with people who trained in other arts including Western boxing. Ji and his senior students developed tactics for dealing with boxing, tang soo do, taekwondo and judo and incorporated them into Ji's curriculum.

Promoter of hapkido Leaving Daegu for his hometown of Andong, Ji opened his first school, Anmoogwan , in 1956, still calling his art yukwonsul at this time. His earliest students from this period were Kwon Tae-man (; who teaches in California today), Yoo Young-woo and Oh Se-lim (, former president of the Korea Hapkido Federation).

Ji's philosophical view on the matter was that he found it worthwhile to experience a year in prison and learn about a side of life few experience. He added that he further developed the spiritual side of his sinmoo (higher mind) hapkido concept while meditating in prison.

Oh Se-lim, one of the earliest students of the art under Ji, was elected president of the Republic of Korea Hapkido Association. He renamed the organization Daehan Hapkido Hyub Hwe , a name used in one of hapkido's former organizations that Ji had headed and Oh had been a founding member of. The Korea Hapkido Federation (KHF) became the preferred rendering in English and remains one of the most influential of the many hapkido organizations in Korea.

Films On his first trip to America, Ji appeared in the film Game of Death with Bruce Lee. Ji opted not to appear in the additional footage shot for the 1978 version of the film. He also appeared in Hapkido (aka Lady Kung Fu) with Angela Mao.

Death Ji died on January 28, 2026, at the age of 89.

Filmography Year Title Link 1972 Hap Ki Do (a.k.a. Lady Kung Fu) (合氣道) Cast Photos 1973 Fist of Unicorn (The Unicorn Palm; 麒麟掌) Cast Photos 1975 The Dragon Tamers (女子跆拳群英會) Cast Photos 1978 Game of Death (死亡遊戲) IMDB entry