Haidong Gumdo

Haidong Gumdo, also spelled Haedong Kumdo (Hanja 海東劍道/Hangul 해동검도), is a name coined around 1982 and used for several Korean martial art organizations that use swords. Spelling varies between certain organizations. Most notable are Haidong Gumdo by the original organization (Daehan Haidong Gumdo Federation) under Kim Jeong-Ho, and Haedong Kumdo by the largest offshoot (Hanguk Haedong Gumdo Federation) under Na Han-Il.

A series of legal actions between the primary Haidong Gumdo organizations has exposed the real history of Haidong Gumdo. These organizations claim that Haidong Gumdo is rooted in the martial traditions of a group called Samurang from Goguryeo, which they claim were elite warriors originally trained by a master called Seolbong. However, written sources for Samurang, Seolbong and other terms have not been shared, and they do not try to explain what happened to the Samurang after Goguryeo. The trials concluded that these stories were fabrications, while reaffirming the legitimate skill and training history of the leaders.

The World Haidong Gumdo Federation, claims that Kim Jeong-Ho, president of the Daehan Haidong Gumdo Federation, learned Haidong Gumdo from a master called Jangbaeksan (meaning Mount Baekdu) at Kwanak Mountain. The trials concluded that Haidong Gumdo was created by Kim Jeong-Ho and Na Hanil, both of whom learned Gicheonmun from Bak Daeyang and Simgeomdo from Kim Changsik and that the story of Jangbaeksan was a metaphor for this. The pair worked together under the name of the more widely known of their two arts, Simgeomdo. Around 1984 they changed the name of their martial art from Simgeomdo to Haidong Gumdo. Haidong Gumdo remained a relatively minor art until 1989 when Na Hanil played the leading character of a Korean TV drama. It considerably helped to promote Haidong Gumdo, but the rapid growth of the organization led to internal strife.

While Haedong Kumdo is not immune from the factionous strife that characterizes much of the Korean martial arts, dedicated practitioners engage in the practice of kibun (basics), pumsae (forms), yaksuk daeryun (step sparring), sparring hada (free sparring), chingum kyukgum (sparring with live blades), kigong (energy building exercises) and begi (cutting practice). Basic practice is with the mokgum (wooden sword).

Sparring practice begins with chukdo (bamboo sword) and progresses to mokgum and chingum. Pumsae within Haedong Kumdo were derived from the mechanics of Gicheon, and various sword patterns found within the Muye Dobo T'ongji (Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts), a text which the Koreans obtained from the Chinese in the early 18th Century. Paldo/Ch'akgum forms (drawing/sheathing the sword) were inspired by Japanese iaido.

While indigenous Korean sword forms are contained in the Bonkuk Kumbup (Korean sword method), other kumbup are taught within Haedong Kumdo curricula, including Ssangsu Kumbup (method of using the double handed sword), Shimsang Kumbup (method of using strategy and tactics with the sword), Yedo Kumbup (method of the heart of swordsmanship), Chedok Kumbup (Admiral's sword method), Jangbaek Kumbup (the Jangbaek method), Wae Kumbup (Japanese method), Wuisu Kumbup (method of using the sword with one hand) and Ssang Kumbup (The method of using two swords).

Korean swordsmanship may be generally characterized as exchanging multiple strikes of the sword for one strike of the sword. The one strike concept characterizes the Japanese method. The Japanese ideal of "one strike, one kill" is prevalent in Japanese kendo (kumdo), even today. The merits and limitations of each of the philosophies may be debated. In international competition, the Japanese tend to excell in sport kumdo (kendo) and the Koreans excell in begi (cutting).

The essence of Haedong Kumdo is in "shimgum," a concept similar to the that of the Spanish "duende", as coined by the Spanish poet, Federico Garcia Lorca. Shimgum is the unification of the mind, body and spirit expressing itself through the use of the sword. It implies a technical mastery of the sword but transcends technical limitations. One can be "technically perfect" but still not achieve shimgum. Shimgum is what makes Haedong Kumdo not only a martial science but also a martial art.

Despite the imperfect nature of the organizations which promote and the individuals who practice Haedong Kumdo, the art is gaining a wide and dedicated following throughout the world.

Here is a listing of some of the organizations and their websites:

World Haidong Gumdo Federation Headquarters
211-1, Neugpyumg-ri, Opo-up, Gwangju City, Gyunggi-do, Korea †464-892
Tel:031-714-4471~2 Fax:031-715-5433

http://www.hdgd.org/

CANADA

Canadian Haidong Gumdo Association

http://www.hdgumdo.ca/

EUROPE

European Haidong Gumdo Association

http://www.hdgumdo.com/

German Haidong Gumdo Association

http://www.haidong-gumdo.de/

UK Haidong Gumdo Association