«About Sabunim Jong-Hyung Schwaar»
About Us
Master Han Jong-Hyung was born in 1966 in Seoul, South Korea. In 1974 he came to Switzerland to live with a couple who gave him the name Bruno Schwaar.
After having a successful squad career with the Zurich Ski Association, he got in touch with Chinese Kung-Fu, Wing Chun at the age of eighteen at a school of Master Austin Goh in Oerlikon. He then moved to Master Chow in Zurich, where he learned Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu, and deepened Wing Chun.
Time later, in search of his Korean roots, he discovered the Hapkido school in Zurich-Wollishofen. At this school he obtained the 2nd Dan and was active for many years as a trainer, also with children and young people. Hapkido remained Master Bruno’s main style, even though he continuously and with great commitment continued his training in various martial arts, including Wing Chun, Kali Eskrima and Arnis, as well as Gracie – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (blue belt), where he also assists Master Franco Vacirca in Basel as an assistant.
During his HKD time, he also came to Haidong Gumdo, the Korean sword fighting, under Master Lee, where he also achieved the black belt. Today, this knowledge also flows into his GHF weapons courses, as part of the complete Korean martial arts.
To learn directly from the source of authentic Hapkido, he also traveled to Korea to study with Grandmaster Han. Grandmaster Han Jung Doo is one of the world’s most renowned experts in Hapkido and Hapki-Zen, which Master Bruno now represents in Switzerland. You can also learn more about the Global Hapkido Federation at the following link.
Call for Hapkido: +41 79 470 60 86 (WhatsApp)
Global Hapkido Federation Switzerland
Head Master Jong-Hyung Schwaar
About Han, Jung-doo
Founder Global Hapkido Federation:
“I was born in South-Korea in the village of Kan Jin in the Cholla Namdo prefect on the 5th of august 1954. I began my Hapkido training in 1965. My first instructor was Lee, Sung Kang (9th degree black belt). GM Lee lives now in Spain.
I received my first degree in hapkido from him in 1967. My grandmaster was Myong, Jae Nam. GM Myong was the founder of International Hapkido Federation (IHF). He is also my cousin, on my mother’s brother side.
After the military I moved to Incheon in Seoul, where I opened my first Hapkido school in 1978. You need to have a 4th degree black belt to open your own Dojang. In the beginning I had 50 – 60 students training in my Dojang. As a comparison, in 1978 there was around 100 Hapkido Dojangs in Seoul. Now there are over 1500 Dojangs. So you can say that Hapkido has grown a little bit since those days.
Before I left the IHF I already had thoughts about a new federation, one where politics was not that prominent and also had a more modern approach to training. You see, without progress and innovation any art will cease to evolve and eventually die out.
GHKDF Vision
My biggest wish is that all the Hapkido federations will come together into one federation. I am using the internet to bring out my ideas about this idea of mine. I was the first in Korea to use the internet to introduce the Hapkido.
If you ask me who the founder of modern Hapkido is I must say that according to me that this is Ji, Han Jae. Choi, Yong Sul is the father of Hapkido, but GM Ji made it what it is today. He started the fire, so to speak. I have met GM Ji several times and he is a great Hapkido person.
What will be the future for Hapkido? Ah, if I only knew. My wish for the future is to change the system so that it becomes universal. Now federations (present time) are kind of egoistic in their way of thinking. In this I mean how techniques and how the organization it selves are organized.
I wish, and hope that all the federations can start to talk with each other. When they start to do this, they will find out that they really can learn from each other. From this we can build relations further, and bring the cooperation to a higher level. First talk, the action…”
-Grandmaster Han
Testimonials
I love this place. Students and the teacher are welcoming and helpful. The teacher has also a great kids class. I am going to send my kids upcoming semester. You won’t be disappointed if you join or your children join. I just wish I would have started sooner!
Andeas K. (Private student)
Master Jong-Hyung conducts himself with charm and dignity, teaching from a true love of martial arts. His HKD style emphasizes “body power”, not muscle power, and are very effective against opponents of any size or strength.
His way of HKD also benefits health immeasurably. If you are over 50+ you should immediately try his lessons – you will feel and see great results in short time.
Franco Vacirca (6th degree Black belt Gracie Jiu-Jitsu)
GOLDEN LION HAPKIDO ZURICH 