“My name is Kai Sedlacek, I am physiotherapist born in 1978 in Wittenberg, Germany. Since I was a kid I was interested in oriental culture, inspired by martial art movies I started learning karate at the age of 14. Later I studied Tai Chi , Wing Chun in Germany and Xingyiquan in china.

While doing this I felt something was missing, I began looking for an original inner martial art. In 2010 I came across Hapkiyusul , my cousin’s trained in a club in Wittenberg and they were talking about. So I took a look at the club. The first training session caught me, the exercises looked very easy to me but surprisingly I felt totally exhausted. I never expected that.  Due to my profession I practiced yoga and other forms of cultivation exercises but none of this was so intense and let me feel good afterwards.

So I started studying it. 2012 Jarrod Taylor came to Europe for a seminar and I was impressed what he could do with this art. And about the way he taught us ore showed us. Without talking too much, he just showed how it should look like and how it felt getting it done to one self. He gave room and time to grasp the essence yourself.

In 2014 I went to Korea to train at the headquarters. This experience felt like I went through metamorphosis. I knew this is it. This is what I was looking for.

The practice helped me in various ways.

I use this as a physical therapy in my practice for patients with a wide range of problems . Like postural depression, rehab after surgery, breathing problems, lack of flexibility , hyper mobility etc.

It is good for myself, the work is quite straining in body and mind, and it doesn’t feel that hard anymore when I’m training it regularly (minimum 3times/ week)

Now after 14 years of practice I can feel the difference, compared to before I started the flexibility and strength have increased, my ability to focus on something got better. My mind is calmer. Dealing with all kinds of people became less difficult. Over all I feel more resilient.

For anyone who is interested in this art I would say: just do it, experience it yourself. You will discover many aspects of being human and life in it.

As long as one is studying the art as long one can discover new things on many levels.”

“Before starting Hapkiyusul, I often felt fatigued and weak after years of not being regularly active. Now, I feel so much stronger, with greater endurance and improved mobility.

If you’re seeking a transformative practice that nurtures growth not only in your physical body but also in your mind and heart, I wholeheartedly recommend trying Hapkiyusul. It is one of the greatest gifts in my life!

I love that Hapkiyusul keeps me active and it also gives me a space to regularly connect with my community and build friendships. How wonderful that I can combine taking care of my health and staying fit with nurturing my social connections!

The patience that I’ve developed through Hapkiyusul has helped me so much in my personal life, with my family, and in my work life too.

I have much better endurance now and notice this even when doing other intense physical activities. My joint mobility is so much better now too. I used to have lots of issues with my knees from playing sports in high school, but through practicing Hapkiyusul they have become much stronger.

All the different practices (the breathing and meditation, individual exercises, and partner exercises) have helped me train my focus.

The most profound change I’ve noticed in myself since starting Hapkiyusul is how much more patient I’ve become. In the beginning, I found it incredibly frustrating—especially when learning the partner exercises. I felt like I wasn’t ‘good enough’ or that I was ‘failing.’ But the practice emphasizes one thing above all: just keep going. Just practice. Just continue.

At first, the simplicity of this approach was almost mind-boggling. I thought it would take so much more to grasp the depth of Hapkiyusul. But now, three years later, I can confidently say it’s true—it’s all about showing up, doing the movements, and trusting the process. Growth comes through persistence. This philosophy has rippled into other parts of my life, I’ve let go of perfectionism and embraced the patience to try new things, even when I know it will take time to practice and improve.

The confidence and trust I’ve developed in my body through Hapkiyusul is something I never expected. When I started, my goal was to feel confident in defending myself and protecting my life, especially as a young, petite woman. Over time, however, I experienced something even more transformative. Hapkiyusul didn’t just make me feel physically stronger—it shifted how I approach life.

I now feel deeply connected to my body’s abilities and, more importantly, to my authentic self. This practice has helped me uncover the energy and potential that exists within all of us—a discovery I might not have made so soon without Hapkiyusul. I feel very lucky to have Hapkiyusul in my life and so grateful to the people who have dedicated their lives to sharing this powerful practice with others.

I remember so vividly the turning point after I passed my one-year mark practicing Hapkiyusul—everything about my approach shifted. In the beginning, I had so many questions and felt the need to understand everything through logic. I had never done anything like this before and was putting immense pressure on myself to be ‘good’ at it right away. Every time I felt like I ‘messed up,’ I would get frustrated, muttering a comment or sighing under my breath, to show my dissatisfaction with myself.

But after that first year, something changed. I no longer felt the need to judge my movements or critique myself constantly. There was a feeling of acceptance—a lightness—that replaced all the self-imposed pressure. That’s when I began to feel the immense joy in practicing Hapkiyusul. Along with this newfound joy came subtle yet profound changes in both my physical and energetic body.”

“In my personal experience of training the Hapkiyusul System over the last few years I have found Hapkiyusul to be a complete training system.

Jarrod is the real deal and a true Master stepping me through the system.

Hapkiyusul has allowed me to re-build my core strength and balance while increasing my life force energy (chi).

I have noticed an increase in my somatic awareness through these well-structured practices.

I would highly recommend Jerrod’s unique training system to anyone looking for a safe non-combative internal development path.”

“My strength and posture have noticeably improved.  Specifically my wrists are stronger.  Upper body strength has been an issue and is now becoming more balanced with my lower body strength.

The focus needed to learn and continue to keep up in the class has definitely improved my concentration.  This draws me back more than the physical improvements.

My history is full of violence of different kinds.  My ability to be around groups of people and men particularly was limited before I began classes.  The safe exposure to be in contact with strangers and men is exactly the training ground I need to return my nervous system to self possession. 

Primarily it is a focuser.  I love being in class and looking forward to class.  My week is organised around it.

I feel a sense of belonging in the classes.  The atmosphere is welcoming and focused.  It is exactly the salve I have needed to sooth the tension in my system. 

Before I started I felt sore and stiff in my body and afraid.  Now I feel stronger and much more safe.”

“I am nearly 74 years old and have never done anything to do with a martial arts-type activity.. I have had a fairly significant issue with my back and had visited chiropractors, osteopaths and occasionally a physiotherapist over the last 30 years or so after incurring an injury doing Gym weight lifting..I still have issues today. I started attending Jarrods Hapkiyusul sessions 3 times a week for 12 months on a trial basis..The people who attend his sessions are of all ages, men and women of varying abilities..The programme caters for all levels from beginners to some advanced levels. The people are very friendly and supportive and generate a happy comfortable environment. I certainly don’t feel out of place in this non-competitive environment and am very happy to be part of this historical martial arts activity which is based on respect and love and has a primary objective on self-defence, inner and outer strength.  My life is now much more focused on my personal and physical health. The premeditation part of the sessions is a wonderful way to get in touch with the inner spiritual self in me in this very chaotic world we are currently living in..Jarrod’s abilities are quite extraordinary physically and his teaching style is full of respect and compassion. I would recommend this activity to anyone who wants to generally build their overall mental, physical, health and overall confidence in any task they may face in life.. You can see these qualities in everyone I have met in this group.”

“I started martial arts training aged 40 and progressed through Aikido and Hapkido before discovering Hapkiyusul 18 years ago and realising it was the true form of what I’d been doing for 23 years. In fact, the founders of both Aikido and Hapkido trained in Hapkiyusul before going on to reinvent their own wheels.

Hapkiyusul differs from everything else I’ve tried in that it’s so much more than a martial art or style of self defence.

The stretching, body strengthening and relaxation techniques, practiced both individually and with a partner, progress seamlessly into the self defence techniques. These are based on the natural movements of the human body and require neither strength nor the infliction of stress or pain to one’s training partner.

This means that whatever your gender, fitness level, body strength, or most importantly age, you can train without fear of pain or injury and both increase and prolong your flexibility and fitness.

 I should know; I’m now 80 and probably fitter, more flexible and relaxed for my age than I’ve ever been. In fact, the only time I’m completely free of the aches and niggles of advancing age is when I’m on the mat with my HKY colleagues. It’s not often that Australian self defence practitioners have the chance to learn from and train with the world head and highest-qualified teacher of their discipline on a permanent basis. But in Jarrod Taylor we have that rare privilege, as do international students on Jarrods regular overseas trips.

It’s impossible to adequately describe any self defence or martial arts discipline. You need to watch in person or join to really appreciate the benefits. In my experience, Hapkiyusul is as much a ridiculously easy way of preserving and developing health, flexibility and peace of mind, as it is an effective and practical means of self defence.

I highly recommend that you check this website for training venues and times in Australia and for news of Jarrod’s overseas training seminars. To quote that old cliche; You’ll never know If you don’t have a Go.”

“I initially started Hapkiyusul aiming to get fit and improve mobility because of inherited chronic arthritis and joint pain.

My joint mobility has improved, with pain levels reducing, and overall strength and fitness improving. At times when I have experienced episodes of depression my commitment to maintaining my regular practice has enabled me to move through these difficult times.

By continuing practicing Hapkiyusul I have been able to improve my health and fitness and also gain new friendships and experiences with other like-minded members.

Before I was slowly losing mobility and experiencing increasing pain in my joints, particularly my ankles. Since starting training this has greatly improved.

I strongly recommend anyone come and try, and discover for themselves the benefits.”

“I have been practicing Hapkiyusul for just nine months. I decided to try it after it was described to me by a participant. I had a stroke a few months earlier (from which I had made a good recovery) and was about to undergo radiation treatment for cancer. Maintaining good physical health and fitness was essential for the best outcome of the treatment so I decided to give it a go.

I have been motivated to do the training three times a week and have found my flexibility has improved together with my core strength. My energy level has also increased.

At first, I found the training very challenging but over the months it has become easier. For example, a long stretch pose that we were doing was agony. After a couple of months it became manageable, even enjoyable!

I feel very safe doing the exercises as the instruction by Jarrod is clear and I am not pushed to do anything that I don’t feel comfortable with. It seems to me that others within the group I train with have similar goals as me. It is not competitive but mainly focused on individual health and fitness.

At my age I don’t consider that I could take up a martial art that involved hard falls or competing with others. The non-competitive nature of Hapkiyusul and the tempered nature of the one-on-one exercises is very enjoyable. There is also a strong mental element to the exercises which require remembering the order in which the moves come and the specific elements of each move. This is also very beneficial.

I definitely feel much more physically agile and fitter in the nine months that I have been doing Hapkiyusul.”

“I was initially attracted to the idea of improved flexibility and mobility.

Since starting, I have noticed improvements in a range of areas including strength, flexibility, mental focus and overall mental wellness. It has also helped my memory.

It has helped my everyday activities by implementing regular training sessions. It has helped my fitness and the meditation has helped calm the mind.

When I began doing the classes I found the stretches and moves a little awkward and my balance was not good.  After a while they became much more achievable and I’m glad that I persisted.

After training for 2.5 years I have noticed the difference in my physical health especially in the flexibility and joint health areas. I believe long term Hapkiyusul training will be conditioning my body in a beneficial way and provide healthy benefits in the ageing process.

For anyone considering joining I would say do it. Don’t just train once or twice and give up. There is so much to gain and you need to keep turning up time after time to achieve these gains.”

“I started Hapkiyusul because I worked in a sedentary role and was becoming concerned about my overall body strength, endurance and mobility.

After starting training my overall body strength started to improve immediately and now I’m 72 it’s the best its ever been.  Doing the practice each day has also alerted me to a better knowledge of my body. It saved my life 7 years ago when I noticed strain on my left side. I had it checked out and received treatment for breast cancer.

Training each morning has developed into morning ritual that grounds me in the day.  

As an adult with ADD the practice has helped me focus and not only learn the patterns with a partner but deepen that learning. Also I couldn’t really focus on floor based exercises. I preferred the mainly standing exercises of Hapkiyusul.

Jarrods guidance has been exceptional and re invigorated my practice.  His instruction has refined every move into a series of steps that reposition the body.

What would I say to someone considering?  Go nuts and give it a go! After all  you’ve got to lose is your body if you don’t. After practicing for the past 17 years my maneuverability and strength is so much better than friends my age and younger.  I can fly my 3 year old grandson around and catch him at a running jump!”

“I have been practising Hapkiyusul for about 15 years. Hapkiyusul has helped me to maintain and improve my fitness level. As I get older, I do realise how important it is to look after my body, maintaining muscle strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. The regular practice also helps me to maintain mental focus and clarity.

Jarrod’s presence on the mats helps me to improve and refine the practice, he is picking up on things where necessary and ready to provide advice when needed. He experiences the art in its completeness and is very keen to pass on his knowledge.

For me, Hapkiyusul is a lifelong practice, that keeps me fit on different levels as I get older.”

“I first started hapkiyusul because I could see that it is an entire system for strengthening and creating capacity in the body, mind, breathe and spirit, that is truly holistic in nature.

Training has increased the strength of my entire body, especially my arms and the exercises are balanced to create more harmony between both sides. My core strength and breathing has also improved. My work is often physically demanding so the extra flexibility and joint mobility I have gained from Hapkiyusul has resulted in less injuries and increased my capacity and stamina.

The way the breathing, meditation, exercises and training improve mental function and focus is remarkable. I find that I have a clearer head and am more aware of the body mind connection and how energy moves through the whole body affecting everything from stress reduction, improved sleep and uncluttering the mind.

Hapkiyusul has given me the confidence to practice training with a variety of different people and that has increased my confidence and ability to relate well to others in a non-competitive and friendly supportive training group. There is a gained sense of achievement progressing through the training and it’s always exciting to learn a new technique or understand better the elements of the art and how it connects to an improved sense of wellbeing.

Hapkiyusul has positively impacted on my life in many ways including an increased capacity in my work especially physically and mentally. But also generally the way it strengthens my confidence and the way I hold myself with more energy and improved posture in the body. It allows any blockages in the body to free up and so I feel it’s a very important thing to do regularly as a self-healing discipline to keep the body in a good state of health.

Jarrod is an excellent teacher and guide for the art which he has dedicated a huge part of his life to. He has ensured that Hapkiyusul continues to be practiced in the most authentic form from an ancient lineage that goes back many centuries. It may not be so obvious to those unfamiliar with a traditional martial art or for those who seek for a style that is showy and ego-boosting. This isn’t Kung Fu and we don’t spar with each other or show how strong we are. It’s the real deal and Jarrod openly shares his knowledge with tremendous humility considering how much skill and power he has in demonstrating the art in the most simple and careful way. Coming back to Hapkiyusul after a few years with Jarrod leading the training has been incredible for me and I feel very supported and encouraged. I’ve noticed that all participants are likewise treated with alot of kindness and positive encouragement.

Come along and sit in on a training session and see what it’s like. It’s always really great to have new people on the mats and I enjoy training with people who are just beginning. Even those with years of experience that have progressed through several levels always start with the first set of techniques that are learnt at the beginning and constantly return to those techniques. Learning anything new can have mental and physical challenges however I believe that Hapkiyusul is worth committing your time and effort because of how it can improve your whole being and you may not even notice exactly how much, but it will change your life truly.

I thought I was quite strong before I started training, and I was, but it wasn’t a very deep or balanced strength. What I have gained from years of training has been to understand my body more and that true strength comes from a much deeper place. There is a big difference in my body awareness and control I think especially because  working with all different types of bodies and personalities. It is something that I didn’t get with Yoga just working with my own body. Doing these exercises or techniques with a training partner is more like a dance and there’s so much in that to help understand how my own body and even mind works. I feel Hapkiyusul has encouraged me to move forward in life generally. As it is a martial art and the techniques are also self defensive, it has generally improved my interactions with people and in situations which may require some level of assertiveness. It’s like Hapkiyusul has given me this sort of force field that other people identify on some level that I’m not a soft target so it does seem that I have gained some street smarts as well.”

“I have been practicing Hapkiyusul since 2009, after having attended a public demonstration by Dojunim Kim Yun Sang, when he visited Australia for a seminar.

I have been benefiting from training Hapkiyusul on multiple levels:

On a physical level it has thoroughly improved my general strength and fitness, my flexibility and joint mobility. Regularly picking myself up from the floor during partner work is highly beneficial for my general agility. The training gives the entire body a thorough workout. I always feel much better after training.

On a mental level, Hapkiyusul greatly improves my focus (especially remembering the order of techniques during partner work 😉). I also cherish the interaction with other people during the partner work of the training.

On an emotional level I have found that training greatly increased my confidence of being able to defend myself if ever there was a need for it. It brings with it a general sense of empowerment and greatly improves my overall well-being.

Hapkiyusul’s motto of “Truth, Love and Perseverance” is reflected throughout the training. Everyone is mindful of maintaining a beneficial training environment and achieving best possible outcomes for all involved. Injuries at training are just about non-existent.

Ever since I started Hapkiyusul, we had Jarrod Taylor over in Australia (from South Korea) twice a year to tweak the accuracy of our techniques. Having him here fulltime now adds a whole other level.

As I have got older I have come to realise the importance of keeping myself fit and flexible. Hapkiyusul is a generally beneficial whole body workout on all levels (physical, mental & emotional). Only when I haven’t been training for a few weeks I appreciate the benefits of regular training, benefits that I just take for granted while training regularly.”

“In 2003 I first meet and trained with Do Jo Nim Kim Yun Sang, Jarrod and We Dok.

Training with Do Jo Nim was a spark moment for me. He was elderly and had a slight build, I was approaching 40 and I managed a vegetable market garden, this is a very strong age for anyone and the farming and other martial arts that I built on my strength. Do Jo Nim asked me to hold him strongly and then he completed his technique as if I was a under his control. I vainly thought I a powerful force and to be handled that way showed me I didn’t know anything. Spark. I am going to do this training.

Also, very appealing to me was that they system was based on love and was designed not to hurt the people training in it or anyone else.

During my working life I have been very physical, and I have received several injuries that have turned into chronic conditions. Regular training helps me manage these issues better than any medical intervention has.

My last twenty years have been turbulent, and the Hap Ki Yu Sul has been a rock to me, allowing me to be true to myself and work though issues of regret and sadness. The training and meditation helped me not to be swallowed by my own emotions.

Training self defence for me is about avoiding illness and dysfunction. My earlier martial arts training helped me stay fit; Hap Ki Yu Sul has done so much more. Building and enlarging my consciousness, constitution and resilience.

I have never been particularly flexible; training has built on my limited flexibility. Now at sixty, without training I feel I would be physically impaired due to several bone issues, I dreed to think where I would be without my years of training. I feel I can move as freely as possible, and I take this freedom into all aspects of my life.

Recently I spent a year away from my usual life and lived and worked in a remote community. It was very hard to maintain any regular training. My health (physical & mental) and movement declined radically only to improve again when I moved back and recommenced regular training.

I’ve been to many training sessions across the Northern Rivers and overseas. There is one constant point, this system is fascinating. Always providing mental stimuli for all who practice.

Jarrod’s knowledge and instruction is deep and compassionate, he inspires and motivates us toward our own full potential. Hapkiyusul Global community are a collection of individuals who it is a pleasure to interact with.

From the beginning I know this system has improved me to be more confident, fitter, happier and more content with my life. Staying with me though the highs and lows of twenty years this is a powerful system I could not recommend it more strongly for all people of all types. Age, physique, fitness levels and personalities Hapkiyusul Global community offers you a path to your own goals and much more.”