Which is closer to Hapkido, Taekwondo or Tang Soo Do?

Typically Tang Soo Do styles will have more Hapkido than Taekwondo. It depends often more on the instructor than the style. My husband loves Hapkido and has sought additional training in this area rather than a strict Tang Soo Do style. In particular our PKSA Karate schools, which teach Tang Soo Do (www.pksa.com), incorporate joint locks and ground fighting. I think it varies from school to school. Try both schools and talk to the instructor!

Tang Taekwondo

Much depends on the manner in which one is taught.

The way both Taekwondo and Hapkido are commonly taught today is very much sport and competition-oriented, and therefore, they can be very similar. The big difference is that in sport Hapkido, takedowns are allowed, but otherwise the fighters use the same techniques between TKD and HKD.

They way they were originally designed, however, is another matter. Taekwondo and Tangsoodo hail from Japanese Karate, various styles depending on which Kwan you ask about and that kwan's founder's history and lineage (which was almost always Karate, Judo, or Jujitsu). Hapkido, on the other hand, hails from the same style that Aikido hails from, and share very similar principles of off-balancing, using opponent's momentum, and circular techniques. Taekwondo does not overtly embrace these concepts (see: Taekwondo Encyclopedia, Gen Choi (International Taekwondo Federation); or Taekwondo Textbook, Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Federation)).

As a result, Hapkido and Taekwondo/Tangsoodo are very different from each other, and I would say neither Taekwondo nor Tangsoodo share any resemblance to Hapkido.

If you have taken up sport Hapkido, then you get least amount of culture shock from taking up WTF Taekwondo.

If you have taken up traditional Hapkido, then you won't find any similarities in Tangsoodo or Taekwondo.

Having said that, these are guidelines; what really makes the difference is the instructor. Therefore, it is best to visit the schools and ask your questions there, and see what kind of response you get.

Well firstly there is no such thing as a non contact martial art. Otherwise it isn't a martial art.

Second, both are similar, and all share similar techniques, the similarities don't matter.

What matters is finding a good teacher. The name of the style is only so people can remember what to call it. Martial arts aren't about styles. Hap Ki Do and Tang Soo Do and Taekwondo are all Korean, and involve grappling and striking. You need to choose based on teacher, not technique.

I am currently studying Hapkido but we are not limited on classes per week. I love it. But honestly if places are limiting how much you can train they sound like they are in it for the money. I would suggest talking to the different schools with the instructors and students and see what feeling you get from them. Find the right instructors , almost all martial arts have their strengths and weaknesses. Don't feel like you are limited in what you are not able to do, find what you are capable to do. A good instructor will guide you through and not hold you back. Good Luck in your training.

Tang Soo Do as I have heard is non contact. Hapkido is one of the most complete arts with equal striking techniques as joint manipulation (I've just studied about it, never practiced). I guess you should go for Taekwondo if you have no choice. Aikido can be a good option too as it has joint manipunations and some strikes.

Old style Tang soo do.