KOREAN MARTIAL ART Using Private Security Equipment-Hapkido Focus on Application of Baton Technique

Abstract

Private security in Korea has its legal basis on 「The Security Service Industry Act」, in which 'Security Service Industry' is defined as "business upon subcontract of whole or part of security service". Such security service in Korea is classified into Facility Security Service, Escort Security Service, Personal Guard Service, Machine Security Service, and Specialized Security Service. Private security guards in Korea are categorized as general guards and special guards. Both types of guards can carry and use batons and gas pistol while on duty, yet special guards can be equipped with pistol and rifle limitedly. Type of equipment private security guard can carry includes horns, batons, gas pistol, riot shield, radio, and others necessary for security services that are not designed to have offensive purpose; private security guards can equip safety helmet and stab-proof vest while on duty, and are to use them in minimal circumstances when necessary. Especially baton is crucial to client security and self-defense, guaranteeing mental stability and confidence of guards, while being also crime-preventive with its visual effect. Consists of strike, joint lock, throwing derived from 8 fundamental types of striking and blocking, baton technique in Korean Hapkido is highly eclectic defensive maneuvers in which self-defense technique with a single baton from hand strike, kicks, stabbing, and clubbing is employed. Although Korean Hapkido mainly trains self-defense with bare hands, use of baton is considerably powerful. While dealing with criminals with knife, even black belt holders can be threatened with one single mistake; however, with baton, certain distance can be maintained, offering several more options: hitting joint or knife to drop knife; thrusting neck or stomach for fatal attack. Also, when attacked by club, baton technique allows both blocking attack and counter-attacking assailant’s pressure points, or assailant’s attack chance can be minimized through strike, joint locking, and throwing, using principles of baton technique. The process of suppressing assailants is closely related to practicing ‘use of weapon’ and ‘defense against weapon’ in Korean Hapkido. Diversified practice of ‘defense against weapon’ is necessary for defense against various type of weapons. Private security guard can hold weapons(baton) while on duty, and are to use them in minimal circumstances when necessary. Baton technique in Korean Hapkido is basis of weapon practice, yet advanced technique that can only be used when highly practiced, hence the need for steady training. Therefore this can be useful in crime prevention and criminal counteract through offering mental stability and confidence to private security guard during on-the-job training or novice education.