A Hankando seminar was organized by the Sports Club operating under the Department of Health, Culture, and Sports at Üsküdar University. During the seminar, the philosophy of Hankando, its place within defensive martial arts, and its unique techniques were presented by expert instructors. As part of the event, participants were provided with comprehensive information on the fundamental principles of the Hankando martial art and combat psychology.
The seminar was held at the Ayhan Songar Hall on the Main Campus of Üsküdar University, with Master Özcan Keskin, Master Engin Hakverdi, and Master Fatma Betül Aycan attending as guest instructors.
Participants were informed about the basic principles, distinctive techniques, and combat psychology of the Hankando martial art. Throughout the seminar, discussions focused on the contributions of the Hankando system to building strong character and solid personal integrity, the importance of combat psychology, the system’s unique philosophy, and its technical richness.
Özcan Keskin: “Hankando is a local and national defensive martial art”
Master Özcan Keskin spoke about the origins and philosophy of Hankando. Keskin stated, “Hankando is a defensive and combat art founded and developed by our founder, Grandmaster Şenel İlhan, with its own distinctive techniques and philosophy. It is one of our local and national defensive martial arts. The word Hankando literally means ‘The Path of Noble Khagans.’”
Emphasizing that Hankando does not force everyone into a single mold, Keskin noted that the system can be applied to all ages and body types through personalized training programs. He also stated that Hankando teaches strategic thinking and warrior psychology, adding that this approach enhances individuals’ ability to cope with challenging situations.
As part of the event, a scene from the feature film titled “Adanış: Kutsal Kavga” was also screened.
Fatma Betül Aycan: “Defense is a journey of self discovery”
Master Fatma Betül Aycan shared her evaluations on the role of women in martial arts and self defense disciplines. Emphasizing that defensive sports represent not only physical but also mental empowerment for women, Aycan said, “Our primary goal is to help women discover themselves and develop a personalized style. For women, defense is a journey of self discovery.”
Stating that physical disadvantages can be turned into advantages with proper training and strategy, Aycan highlighted that muscle strength is not the sole determining factor in combat and demonstrated several Hankando techniques for women through practical applications.
Engin Hakverdi: “Maximum impact in the shortest time with street logic”
Master Engin Hakverdi addressed the combat logic of Hankando, noting that the realities of the tatami and the street are different. Emphasizing that confrontations in street settings are very brief, Hakverdi stated, “The fundamental logic of Hankando is to achieve the most effective result in the shortest possible time,” and presented various techniques to the participants.
The Hankando Seminar, which was the first event of the Üsküdar University Sports Club, continued with hands on demonstrations.
The program concluded with a group photo session.