Symbols and Flags

Many things you will see in our Hapkido dojangs (training schools) are symbolic. Here is the meaning of our logo and flags.

This logo is a registered trademark and is not allowed to be used in any way without permission from Jin Joong Kwan Hapkido-USA, Inc.

All Jin Joong Kwan schools throughout the world aim to set the example with the high standards of traditional Hapkido. The official patch is a badge of honor—to be worn by all Jin Joong Kwan members.

	BLACK CIRCLE: The background signifies our black belt as we wear around our waist. It also demonstrates continuous or never-ending personal growth, knowledge, and development.
	KOREAN SYMBOLS: The four small symbols located to the left of the UHM/YUNG translate to mean Original/Authentic!
	GOLD LETTERS: The English letters are the translation of the Korean characters as embroidered on our belts. The color gold represents high class and high standards. When Jin Joong Kwan was established, South Korea as we know it was recovering from the Japanese occupancy of 1910 to 1945. At that time, any person with gold was considered to be elevated, or high class. To carry forth the significance, the logo represents energy so bright it casts an intense golden reflection onto the eagle.
	CIRCLED R: Signifies to the world that this prestigious logo is a registered trademark with ALL rights reserved and trade secrets protected.
	SINCE 1967: This is the year in which Jin Joong Kwan was established by our founder, Grandmaster Kim Myung Yong. The specific location of 1967 is to the left of the globe to demonstrate natural progression and growth of our Hapkido family, as the legacy of Grandmaster Kim continues.
	WHITE GLOBE: The color white of the globe represents purity or a clean martial arts system that is not mixed with other styles. BLACK MERIDIAN LINES: Signifies the growth of Jin Joong Kwan as an international organization. The lines are also represented in the instructors’ uniforms with black diamond stitching.
	UHM/YUNG: The red and blue colors and the Uhm/Yung (Yin/Yang) are from the South Korean flag, which represents the origins of Hapkido.
	The EAGLE: is the original logo of Hapkido and shares this historic significance. The eagle’s open mouth signifies power and passion in which we use in the form of a Ki hap. The eagle is America’s mascot, chosen to be of prestige and honor. It is a very proud bird that flies above storms and rises above challenges or threats. The eagle grasping the lightning bolt represents strength through intensity, as well as leadership and vision.
	LIGHTNING BOLT: Demonstrates the intensity and energy, extreme power and explosiveness in which Jin Joong Kwan techniques are delivered. As a former Ranger, Grandmaster Michael Rhoades included the lightning bolt from the United States Army Ranger’s crest.

JIN JOONG KWAN: Loosely translated is “The Family of True Teaching”.

THEREFORE: We are the Original, Authentic Hapkido family of “True Teaching”.

We are JIN JOONG KWAN!!!

Prior to the year 2020, this was the organization’s logo and Registered Trademark. It featured the King Deva statue in a traditional Kumgang Jase stance. He is known as the Guardian of Traditional Hapkido.

The Jin Joong Kwan Hapkido headquarters location features two flags. The colors in our logo come from the colors and ideas in these two flags.

Flag of the United States of America The blue rectangle bears 50 white stars, representing the 50 states. The 13 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white represent the 13 British colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and became the first states in the Union. Although meanings of the colors in the American flag were not originally specified, it is believed that they came from the seal of the United States. Red stands for valor plus hardiness. White stands for purity Blue stands for perseverance, justice and vigilance.

Flag of South Korea The three black unbroken bars (upper left) symbolize heaven. The trigram (lower left) symbolizes fire. The trigram (upper right) symbolizes water. The three broken bars (lower right) symbolize earth. The white field represents the traditional color of the Korean people, symbolizing cleanliness of the people. The centered dual forces of Uhn Yung symbol signify unity plus balance. The red is said to represent the earth and the blue heaven, linking in harmony.