Korean swordsmanship
There are historical sources on which such reconstructions are based, dating to the 17th and 18th centuries, notably the Muyejebo (“Martial Arts Illustrations”) of 1610, its 1759 revision Muyeshinbo, supplemented with 12 additional fighting methods by Prince Sado who originated the term Sip Pal Ki (“Eighteen Fighting Methods”), and the renewed revision of 1790, Muyedobotongji.
Archaeological evidence suggests that straight double-edged and single-edged swords remained prominent during the North South States Period.
But with the beginning of the Goryeo era (10th century), advances in metallurgy led to the abandonment of the straight sword in favor of the curved blade.
An organized approach to Korean sword was documented in the Army Account of Military Arts and Science (Chinese: 武備志; pinyin: Wǔ Bèi Zhì), a Ming dynasty strategy book written in 1629 by Mao Yuanyi.
In his work, Mao identifies Korean fencing (Chinese: 朝鮮勢法; pinyin: Cháoxiǎn shìfǎ) as a series of sword methods originating from the area of Korea.
The soldiers wear suits of armor and helmets, have muskets, swords and short pikes and carry 50 shots... Each city appoints a number of monks from the monasteries in its surroundings to maintain the fortresses and strongholds in the mountains.
During the reign of King Youngjo (1724–1776), the Muyejebo was revised and supplemented with 12 additional fighting methods by Crown Prince Sado, as the Muyesinbo (1759).
[3] Traditional Korean swordsmanship fell into decline with the modernization of the army, beginning as King Kojong hired Japanese Lt. Horimoto Reizo to train the Pyolgigm, or "Special Skills Force" to march and shoot in European fashion in 1881.
Distracted by events in other parts of the World, Western influences on the development of Korean Military Science lost out to Japanese designs.
In each case, an activity is meant to instill in the swordsman a near-reflexive ability to assess a circumstance and execute the appropriate meld of these elements to produce the intended outcome.
[4] Noticeably absent in the Korean sword methods are tactics and strategies associated with individualized engagements such as dueling as found in European and Japanese traditions.
Therefore, Korean swordwork can be said to have been shaped primarily by Military practice and utilized most often in a melee environment requiring awareness of a variety of vectors and angles apart from directly to the front.
In his work Mao, identifies Korean fencing (Chinese: 朝鮮勢法; pinyin: Cháoxiǎn shìfǎ) as a series of sword methods originating from the area of Korea.
With the revisions of the Muyedobotongji (1790) the authors sought to overcome perceived short-comings in earlier materials by including a "Complete Illustrations addendum to certain chapters, most notably those concerning sword-work.
Meant originally as a sequential drill of sword techniques intended to catalog the contents of the chapter, these addendums have become stylized exercises for modern Martial Arts practitioners.
[6] The Muyedobotongji generally, and the Bon Kuk Geom Beop chapter in particular, may be cataloged as military manuals, meaning that they provide only an overview of the information necessary for personnel to perform their duties.
Modern sword practices have compounded this by including all twelve cuts, and three thrusts at this point, so obviating the need for a number of the subsequent methods.
The Sib Pal Gi Association was founded in 1981 based on a system of martial arts taught by Kim Kwang-Seok since 1969, and supposedly directly derived from the techniques of 1790 (including, but not limited to sword disciplines).
