Haidong Gumdo, also spelled Haedong Kumdo (Hanja 海東劍道/Hangul 해동검도), is a name coined around 1982 and used for some Korean martial art organizations that use swords. They are hostile to the Korea Kumdo Association and other organizations, and cause chaos by internal divisions.
Series of trials involving Haidong Gumdo organizations has exposed the real history of Haidong Gumdo.
These organizations claim that Haidong Gumdo is rooted in Samurang of Goguryeo, which they claim were elite warriors originally trained by a master called Seolbong. However, Samurang, Seolbong and other terms can never be found in historical sources, and they do not try to explain what happened to Samurang after Goguryeo. Actually trials revealed that these stories were all fabrications.
The World Haidong Gumdo Federation, but not other organizations, claims that Kim Jeong-Ho, president of the federation, learned Haidong Gumdo from a master called Jangbaeksan (meaning Mount Baitou) in Kwanak Mountain. But it also turned out to be forged by him. Trials revealed that Haidong Gumdo was created by Kim Jeong-Ho and Na Hanil, both of whom learned Gicheonmun from Bak Daeyang and Simgeomdo from Gim Changsik. Around 1984 Na Hanil changed the name of his martial art from Simgeomdo to Haidong Gumdo. Haidong Gumdo remained unpopular 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 ceaseless internal strifes.
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).
Sparrring practice begins with chukdo (bamboo sword) and progresses to mokgum and chingum. Pumsae within Haedong Kumdo is gleaned from various sword patterns found within the Muye Dobo T’ongshi (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 taken from 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
http://www.haidong-gumdouk.com/
Official Contact: masterewanb@aol.com
French Haidong Gumdo Association (Site Coming ?) Interim Contact: jeffcapozzi@clubinternet.fr
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
American Haidong Gumdo Association
http://www.ushaidong.com/
Official Contact: Chief Master Park – ushaidong@hotmail.com