LEARN SWORD MOVEMENTS WITH GRAND MASTER KIM ON HAIDONG GUMDO LYNDHURST NEW JERSEY
Haidong Gumdo (Haedong Gumdo, 海東劍道 "Korean way of the sword") arose in April of 1983 as the Hai Dong Gumdo Association with its main office in Seocho-gu, Seoul and, in November, 1996 was incorporated as the World Hai Dong Gumdo Federation (WHDGF). In promoting his art, KIM Jeong-ho reported that in 1962 he began training with his master, a monk called Jang Paek-san, and opened the first "Way of the Eastern Sea" ("Hai Dong Kumdo") training hall in Anyang, Kyungki province, in July of 1982. To the degree that Hae Dong Kumdo draws on material gleaned from Bon Kuk Geom Beop, it could qualify as a type of historical martial arts reconstruction. While the purist may take exception to the selection of sword architecture to execute a given method, the theatrical or gymnastic qualities of practice and the inconsistent representation of provenance for this practice, its growing popularity has made it a staple of the Korean Martial Art community. Since 1996, branches of the WHDGDA have opened in a variety of countries including the United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Mexico and Japan. Currently there are more than 300 dojangs and 2000 schools and companies teaching Hai Dong Gumdo in Korea. 500 dojangs have spread internationally.
The curriculum for this art reflects a broad range of influences. Generally based on the standard Japanese arts of Kenjutsu, Iaido, and Battodo, the standard item used is a Ssangsoodo (lit. "2-handed sabre") after the fashion of the Japanese Katana. Similarly, methods and techniques reflect standard Iaido sword drawing and sheathing, most Kenjutsu techniques and similar training attire: a keikogi and a hakama, with belt color-ranks as in most other Japanese/Korean martial arts. Curriculum content also includes the practice of kinds of Breathing Discipline and material garnered from earlier Korean swordsmanship and Chinese sword traditions.
Hae Dong Kumdo extols the practice of basic techniques (Kibon), forms (Hyung, Beop, or Pumsae)), step sparring (Yakseok Daeryon or Bon), sparring (Hada), energy building exercises (Gi Cheon) and cutting practice (Begi). In this way, Haidong Gumdo is a significantly different style from Kumdo, emphasizing the nature of Korean combatives over competition as in sport applications.
Basic practice is done with the mokgum (wooden sword), while sparring practice which formerly used a bamboo sword (chukdo) now uses a plastic/rubber sword in competitions per the Haidong Gumdo Federation regulations. In addition a school may also employ the use of weighted training weapons with protective padding or armor.
Hae Dong Kumdo extols the practice of basic techniques (Kibon), forms (Hyung, Beop, or Pumsae)), step sparring (Yakseok Daeryon or Bon), sparring (Hada), energy building exercises (Gi Cheon) and cutting practice (Begi). In this way, Haidong Gumdo is a significantly different style from Kumdo, emphasizing the nature of Korean combatives over competition as in sport applications.
Basic practice is done with the mokgum (wooden sword), while sparring practice which formerly used a bamboo sword (chukdo) now uses a plastic/rubber sword in competitions per the Haidong Gumdo Federation regulations. In addition a school may also employ the use of weighted training weapons with protective padding or armor.