Korean Hapkido ("the way of harmonious energy" or "the way of coordinated power") is a contemporary martial art with ancient roots. Hapkido shares with other Korean fighting systems a lineage which dates back roughly to the time of Christ. Along the way, the art now known as Hapkido has been influenced by Japanese and Chinese martial arts and thought. Hapkido today is a multi-faceted martial art, blending hard and soft techniques. Like traditional styles of Karate-do ("the way of the empty hand"), Hapkido employs strong linear (ie hard) techniques such as strikes and kicks. Like Aikido or Aiki-JiuJitsu, it also uses circular (ie soft) techniques, such as off-balancing or throwing, which re-direct an attacker's energy to his or her disadvantage.