Kumdo
Kumdo, commonly translated as ''the way of the sword'', encompasses a variety of sword-based martial arts rooted in both Korean and Japanese traditions.
Among these, Haidong Gumdo, a popular style in Korea, emphasizes broad, flowing sword movements designed to replicate ancient battlefield techniques.
According to Boye Lafayette De Mente in Korean Mind, kumdo's philosophy reflects Confucian principles of discipline and respect, embodying cultural values shared by both Korea and Japan.
Key differences include the use of native Korean terminology, blue flags for referees instead of red, and slight modifications to the uniform.
[2] In April 1895, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (DNBK) was established in Kyoto, Japan for the preservation of older Martial activities such as sword, archery and unarmed combat.
Swordsmen in Japan had established schools of kenjutsu (lit: "sword techniques") over centuries of military heritage and this material formed the basis for the DNBK swordwork.
The DNBK changed the name of this sporting form of swordsmanship, first called gekiken, (Kyūjitai: 擊劍; Shinjitai: 撃剣, "hitting sword") to kendo in 1920.
As with martial arts practices around the world, Korean kumdo is imbued with cultural and philosophical thoughts of both current society and the historic past.
Similarly, kumdo practitioners seek to develop a state termed "emptiness (K. Pyoungsangsim) wherein the natural execution of the method is not impacted by circumstances or environment.
Another condition, known as "Kiwi" --- the state of mental, physical and spiritual discipline--- seeks clarity and objectivity regarding the matter at hand.
Myŏn-soo-goon (면수건, "tenugui" in Japanese): cotton scarf worn under the helmet to absorb perspiration and prevent interference in the competitors' vision.
Howan (호완, "kote" in Japanese):(pair) formed mitts with cuffs used to protect the hand and wrist area.
Ko-dûng-i: (코등이, "tsuba" in Japanese) w/ rubber retaining washer: the hilt or guard of the sword is intended to offer some protection to the hands, but is more commonly used as a point of contact in close-quarters contest.
Though used historically for competition, the potential for injury including the likelihood of death has caused this item to be relegated to highly structured individual and paired form-work as a substitute for using steel swords.
The requirements for advancement may differ depending on the school or organizational affiliation, but generally, the goal of these levels is to imbue the practitioner with the fundamentals of conditioning, body motion, strategy and competition.
Training varies by school and organization, but some universal practices include: Neo-Confucian Sensitivity: Interactions emphasize respect and hierarchy and Bowing Rituals: Observed between students and teachers when entering and leaving the school or workout area, performed before and after competitions, drills, or instructions, and practiced at the beginning and end of each class.
Recently, A few kumdo dojang or schools also incorporate kuhapdo forms, the Korean variant for Japanese Iaido – an art focused on simultaneously drawing and cutting – in their curriculum.
Korean culture has shaped Kumdo and Haidong Gumdo into arts that blend Confucian values with warrior ethos.
De Mente highlights that these practices are seen as ways to cultivate virtue and personal honor, essential traits in both Korean and Japanese warrior culture.
Korea sends a team to the World Kendo Championships or WKC held every three years and have been strong competitors in the past WKCs.
Kumdo practitioners generally favor a dynamic style of play, focusing on using fast, aggressive, and effective small motion strikes to create openings for attacks more in line with battlefield use.
Kendo practitioners however, general focus on the perfect single strike, waiting patiently for an opening and the correct timing to land a decisive attack.
Judgments regarding the nature or quality of an attack, as well as general comportment of the competitors, are signaled by the referees and require a majority agreement to make a determination.
There are also a number of kumdo dojang, or "training halls" outside Korea, primarily where there are large Korean ethnic populations such as North America and Europe.
Kumdo, Haidong Gumdo, Kendo, and Taekwondo share similarities in emphasizing mental discipline, respect, and tradition.
Kendo, as practiced in Japan, is more uniform and sport-oriented, focusing on scoring points with quick strikes to defined targets, whereas Kumdo is broader, incorporating various styles and techniques.
Haidong Gumdo includes dynamic and aesthetic sword patterns (forms), which echo the fluidity of ancient battlefield maneuvers.
Training in Haidong Gumdo and Taekwondo involves a high degree of physical conditioning and mental discipline, creating strong parallels despite technical differences Kumdo uses Korean terminology though much of it is come from the same Chinese characters as the Japanese words in kendo.
