Son Mok Soo or Wrist Techniques is some of the first techniques that one will learn as they begin their studies in Hapkido. Most traditional styles start with 'Break Aways' aka wrist break-aways. Modern Hapkido schools often skip this, and go straight into Son Mok Soo.

Son Mok means 'Wrist'. 

Son Mok can actually be broken down further with Son possibly meaning  and area of the 'hand', and 'Mok' literally means 'neck' which is referring to 'skinny or narrow' which also is reference to the 'wrist'.

The literal translation of Son Mok is 'hand neck' . Another way to look at it is that it means 'skinny part of the hand' or for short, the 'wrist'.

Soo is short for Sool which means "Technique".  Also worth mentioning is that Soo / Sool can also be spelled 'Sul'. Any use of the three is correct.

So all together, Son Mok Soo means Wrist Techniques.

The origins of wrist techniques goes back centuries. Not just in Asia, but around the world. But, because of my current area of expertise is more in Asian Martial Arts, we will keep the discussion in that area.

Wrist techniques were used primarly for two reasons: Weapon Retention and Defense against experienced fighters.

                                          Kuk Sool

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