Korean swordsmanship
Encyclopedia
In Korean martial arts
, sword
disciplines are known as Gum Sool (검술, 劍術 kenjutsu
) or Gum Do (검도, 劍道 kendo
). The extant schools originate after the end of Japanese occupation (1945) and are heavily amalgamated with the modern Japanese schools of Kenjutsu
or Kendo
.
Gekiken, the predeceossor of modern Kendo, was introduced to Korea in 1896, giving rise to the Korean variant of Gumdo after 1947. Later Korean schools developed under the names of Shim Gum Do
(1965), Haidong Gumdo
(1982) and Hankumdo
(1997).
period, approximately 8th century BC. In Gojoseon, violin-shaped daggers
were widely used. Due to short length of these daggers, it is assumed that swordsmanship at this time was simplistic.
Korean swordsmanship during the Three Kingdoms of Korea
period can be witnessed on Goguryeo
tomb murals. Swordsmanship was an important component of Goguryeo martial arts, and it was also practiced as a form of art and dancing. From the wall murals, it is believed there were three styles of Korean swordsmanship. First style is where both opponents face each other on foot, and second style is where both opponents face each other on horse. The third style is where one opponent on foot is facing another opponent on horse.
The use of swordsmanship on the battlefield in Korea dates as early as the Three Kingdoms
period, where sword techniques using a two-handed sword are illustrated in a book named Bonguk Geombeop, believed to have been authored during the Silla
dynasty
, due to the heavy influence of neo-Confucianism, greatly valued scholastic achievement and refinement over martial prowess. Yangban
, Joseon-era noblemen who were typically the only males eligible for government positions through the Chinese-based examination systems, generally preferred to apply for the civil service as opposed to the military as the civil service was considered more prestigious and a better guarantor of wealth and honor compared to comparable positions in the military's officer corps, which were also generally restricted to yangban
and chungin
. In addition, the royal court, mindful that the Joseon dynasty founder, Yi Seonggye
, was a general who overthrew the last Goryeo
king, looked warily at its successful and popular military leaders and were reluctant to support a large military. Influenced by Confucian thought, the royal court generally deferred to imperial China out of respect in regards to their foreign, cultural, and defense policies, relying on the Ming
and Qing
dynasties for military aid and necessary foreign intervention.
According to the Army Account of Military Arts and Science (Hanzi: 武備志; Pinyin
: Wǔ Bèi Zhì), a Ming dynasty
strategy book written in 1629 by Mao Yuanyi, Korean fencing (朝鮮勢法; Cháoxiǎn shìfǎ) was a martial art that had reached Korea through Chinese martial artists. Much of this text was based on earlier works by Ming general Qi Jiguang
, who successfully fought off the prevalent threat from the Japanese wokou
or pirates. Joseon Saebeop, one of the few surviving techniques of historical Korean swordplay, is believed to be based on this work.
The tradition of Korean swordsmanship continuously evolved into the period of Joseon dynasty
. At this point, Korean swordsmanship has become more sophisticated and standardized. Swords were categorized to six specific types, Yaedo, Jedok geom
, Bonguk geom
, Ssang geom, Woldo
and Hyeopdo
. Yaedo was the largest of these swords by blade length, while Hyeopdo was the largest based on total length.
The Imjin War, the last large-scale pre-modern conflict between Japanese and Korean forces, is known more for the use of emerging weapons such as the Japanese use of the arquebus
and the Korean use of naval technologies such as the turtle ship
and panokseon
that were advanced for its time and context, as well as the use of gunpowder
-based artillery
, than for the use of traditional weapons such as swords and spears.
While swordsmanship continued to be practiced, it was eclipsed in popularity by archery and the use of cavalry, was generally not as systematized as Japanese sword schools, and was seldom practiced beyond members of the military and their associates. Consequently, the popularity of certain martial arts waned without many successors to carry on its traditions. Today, there are only two remaining documents that refer to ancient Korean martial arts.
The Muye Dobo Tongji, compiled during the reign of King Jeongjo
in the 1790s, cataloged various sword arts and applications known to Koreans during that time, as well as hand-to-hand techniques and the use of other weapons. This work was based on earlier Ming and Joseon texts including Qi Jiguang
's Ji Xiao Xin Shu
, the Muyejebo
, and the Muyesinbo
and incorporates known Chinese martial arts and weapon techniques. While noting the efficacy of the Japanese katana and its applications, the manual noted that Chinese influences on Korean swordsmanship and other martial arts were more prevalent.
These ancient arts are not popularly considered to be ancestors of kumdo, though some kumdo scholars, including those at the Korea Kumdo Association, believe ancient Korean fencing as outlined in a Silla
dynasty book known as Bonguk Geombeop (本國劍法; Korean Sword Method) was the basis of all modern two-handed sword techniques.
In the early 17th century, Mao Yuanyi, a Chinese military tactician, recorded Korean swordsmanship methods in the Wubei Zhi (Army Account of Military Arts and Science). Many of today's revival movements of Korean swordsmanship are based on Muyedobotongji
, which has detailed descriptions of Korean swordsmanship methods. The book was compiled in late 17th century by Joseon officials under the order of King Jeongjo.
period and beginning of the Chosun
period. Japan began a policy of eradication of Korean culture around 1900. In 1910 the Japanese began modifying Korean heritage and outlawing Korean martial arts which changed Gumdo and merged it with kendo
.
Japanese Kendo first came to Korea in 1896 through the Dai Nippon Butokukai (DNBK), Choson-bu (Korean Branch)under NAKAMURA Tokichi. In April, 1895 the Dai Nippon Butokukai, or “All Japan Martial Virtue Society” had been established by civilian enthusiasts of various traditional Japanese arts such as Archery, Ju-jutsu and Ken-jutsu. The establishment of the Korean branch of this organization was the inevitable result of political and cultural pressures of the time. With the occupation of Korea by Japan in 1910, Kendo increasingly merged and supplanted traditional Korean sword work. This development was strengthened by the acceptance of Kendo in the Korean educational system in 1931 as well as a series of high-profile competitions between Korean and Japanese players during the 1930s and 1940s.
The Korea Kumdo Association (KKA) is the de facto governing organization for kumdo in Korea. The art promoted by them, Daehan Kumdo , had become, after the Japanese occupation
and outlaw
of Korean martial arts, virtually identical to kendo
. Some noted changes were made to reflect Korean cultural influences and methodology, and is the kumdo which Koreans normally refer to. The KKA has established overseas branches in other countries and have set up kumdo dojangs or schools. Unlike most of the FIK affiliates, including Japan, they wish to see kumdo/kendo become an Olympic sport as with Judo
and Taekwondo
.
The World Kumdo Association (WKA) - founded around 2001 as a merger of thirteen smaller, rival kumdo organizations, they are critical of the KKA and seek to become a rival to the FIK by having kumdo included in the Olympic games with them as the recognized governing body ahead of the FIK. They are proponents of changes to the format and scoring system, advocating the use of electric scoring as with fencing
.
, Shim Gumdo came to his mind when he achieved enlightenment
. In 1971, Kim Changsik established the Korean Shim Gum Do Association and began teaching Shim Gumdo in South Korea. He moved to the United States in 1974 and in 1978 he established American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association. The main temple, Shim Gwang Sa, was built in Boston, Massachusetts, and there the World Shim Gum Do Association was established as the center of Shim Gum Do Associations around the world.
heritage of Gumdo. In this sense it qualifies as a type of historical martial arts reconstruction in the wider sense, but while the weapons used are based on historical Korean templates, the techniques are not derived from historical manuals but are based on the 1970s Shim Gum Do
.
The "historical" emphasis of the discipline was also accompanied with some false claims of authentic lineage of the system.
Kim Jeong-ho had represented that in 1963 he began training in Korean sword under a monk named Jang Park San. Based on this premise, Kim developed the World Hae Dong Kumdo Association.
During legal proceedings in the 1990s it was revealed that Hae Dong Kumdo was developed solely by Kim's own design integrating Gi Cheon esoteric practices and Shin Kumdo.
Practitioners of Haidong Gumdo engage in the practice of basic techqniues (kibon), forms (geompeob or pumsae), step sparring (yaksuk daeryun), sparring (hada), energy building exercises (qi gong) and cutting practice (begi).
letters. It was first presented in 1997 by Myung Jae Nam
, who also founded the related style of Hankido
in the 1980s.
Korean martial arts
Korean martial arts are the martial arts that originated from Korea. Some well known Korean martial arts are hapkido, kuk sool won, and taekwondo. There has also been a revival of Korean sword arts as well as knife fighting and archery...
, sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
disciplines are known as Gum Sool (검술, 劍術 kenjutsu
Kenjutsu
, meaning "the method, or technique, of the sword." This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for all traditional schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration...
) or Gum Do (검도, 劍道 kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
). The extant schools originate after the end of Japanese occupation (1945) and are heavily amalgamated with the modern Japanese schools of Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu
, meaning "the method, or technique, of the sword." This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for all traditional schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration...
or Kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
.
Gekiken, the predeceossor of modern Kendo, was introduced to Korea in 1896, giving rise to the Korean variant of Gumdo after 1947. Later Korean schools developed under the names of Shim Gum Do
Shim Gum Do
Shim Gum Do, translated as the "mind sword path", is a martial arts system of recent invention, originating in Korea. Shim Gum Do emerged from the enlightenment of the monk Won Gwang, born as Chang Sik Kim, during a 100 day meditation and prayer retreat in 1965. The central component of the system...
(1965), Haidong Gumdo
Haidong Gumdo
Haedong Kumdo, also spelled Haidong Gumdo, is a name coined around 1982 and used for several Korean martial arts organizations that use swords. Spelling varies between certain organizations...
(1982) and Hankumdo
Hankumdo
Hankumdo is a Korean sword-art where the basic techniques are based on the letters of the Korean alphabet, Hangul.-Goal:The goal of hankumdo is to teach people how to defend themselves and at the same time offer them exercises to stay healthy. It also is meant to give practitioners the means to...
(1997).
Antiquity
The Korean Bronze Age, and with it the earliest bladed weapons, dates to the GojoseonGojoseon
Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom. Go , meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn....
period, approximately 8th century BC. In Gojoseon, violin-shaped daggers
Liaoning bronze dagger culture
The Liaoning bronze dagger culture is an archeological complex of the late Bronze Age in Korea and China. Artifacts from the culture are found primarily in the Liaoning area of Manchuria and in the Korean peninsula. Various other bronze artifacts, including ornaments and weapons, are associated...
were widely used. Due to short length of these daggers, it is assumed that swordsmanship at this time was simplistic.
Korean swordsmanship during the Three Kingdoms of Korea
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
period can be witnessed on Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
tomb murals. Swordsmanship was an important component of Goguryeo martial arts, and it was also practiced as a form of art and dancing. From the wall murals, it is believed there were three styles of Korean swordsmanship. First style is where both opponents face each other on foot, and second style is where both opponents face each other on horse. The third style is where one opponent on foot is facing another opponent on horse.
The use of swordsmanship on the battlefield in Korea dates as early as the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
period, where sword techniques using a two-handed sword are illustrated in a book named Bonguk Geombeop, believed to have been authored during the Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
dynasty
Joseon period
The Joseon DynastyJoseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
, due to the heavy influence of neo-Confucianism, greatly valued scholastic achievement and refinement over martial prowess. Yangban
Yangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
, Joseon-era noblemen who were typically the only males eligible for government positions through the Chinese-based examination systems, generally preferred to apply for the civil service as opposed to the military as the civil service was considered more prestigious and a better guarantor of wealth and honor compared to comparable positions in the military's officer corps, which were also generally restricted to yangban
Yangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
and chungin
Chungin
The chungin also jungin, were the petite bourgeoisie of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. The name "chungin" literally means "middle people". This privileged class of commoners consisted of a small group of petty bureaucrats and other skilled workers whose technical and administrative skills enabled the...
. In addition, the royal court, mindful that the Joseon dynasty founder, Yi Seonggye
Taejo of Joseon
Taejo of Joseon , born Yi Seong-gye, whose changed name is Yi Dan, was the founder and the first king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, and the main figure in overthrowing the Goryeo Dynasty...
, was a general who overthrew the last Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
king, looked warily at its successful and popular military leaders and were reluctant to support a large military. Influenced by Confucian thought, the royal court generally deferred to imperial China out of respect in regards to their foreign, cultural, and defense policies, relying on the Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
and Qing
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
dynasties for military aid and necessary foreign intervention.
According to the Army Account of Military Arts and Science (Hanzi: 武備志; Pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Wǔ Bèi Zhì), a Ming dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
strategy book written in 1629 by Mao Yuanyi, Korean fencing (朝鮮勢法; Cháoxiǎn shìfǎ) was a martial art that had reached Korea through Chinese martial artists. Much of this text was based on earlier works by Ming general Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang was a Chinese military general and national hero during the Ming Dynasty. He was best remembered for his courage and leadership in the fight against Japanese pirates along the east coast of China, as well as his reinforcement work on the Great Wall of China.-Early life:Qi Jiguang was...
, who successfully fought off the prevalent threat from the Japanese wokou
Wokou
Wokou , which literally translates as "Japanese pirates" in English, were pirates of varying origins who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the 13th century onwards...
or pirates. Joseon Saebeop, one of the few surviving techniques of historical Korean swordplay, is believed to be based on this work.
The tradition of Korean swordsmanship continuously evolved into the period of Joseon dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
. At this point, Korean swordsmanship has become more sophisticated and standardized. Swords were categorized to six specific types, Yaedo, Jedok geom
Jedok geom
Jedok geom or Admiral sword or Commander sword is the name of sword-skill introduced by the Chinese commander Li Rusong who fought during the Imjin waeran on Korea's side against the Japanese. Li Rusong was of Korean descent.-Technique:...
, Bonguk geom
Bonguk geom
The Korean word Bonguk geom refers to both a sword and a sword skill which are said to have originated from the sword skills of the Hwarang from the Silla Dynasty. This is why the sword is also called Silla sword or singeom...
, Ssang geom, Woldo
Woldo
The Woldo , was a Korean pole weapon that closely resembled the Chinese guandao , though proportionally smaller. It was so named because of its curved blade...
and Hyeopdo
Hyeopdo
The Hyeopdo was a pole weapon used in Korea. It is very similar to the Japanese naginata. It was also called micheomdo , which could be translated as 'eyebrow sword' because the curved blade resembled an eyebrow...
. Yaedo was the largest of these swords by blade length, while Hyeopdo was the largest based on total length.
The Imjin War, the last large-scale pre-modern conflict between Japanese and Korean forces, is known more for the use of emerging weapons such as the Japanese use of the arquebus
Arquebus
The arquebus , or "hook tube", is an early muzzle-loaded firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. The word was originally modeled on the German hakenbüchse; this produced haquebute...
and the Korean use of naval technologies such as the turtle ship
Turtle ship
The Turtle ship, also known as Geobukseon or Kobukson , was a type of large warship belonging to the Panokseon class in Korea that was used intermittently by the Royal Korean Navy during the Joseon Dynasty from the early 15th century up until the 19th century.The first references to older, first...
and panokseon
Panokseon
Panokseon was an oar- and sail-propelled ship that was the main class of warship used by the Korean Joseon Dynasty during the late 16th century. The first ship of this class was constructed in 1555...
that were advanced for its time and context, as well as the use of gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
-based artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
, than for the use of traditional weapons such as swords and spears.
While swordsmanship continued to be practiced, it was eclipsed in popularity by archery and the use of cavalry, was generally not as systematized as Japanese sword schools, and was seldom practiced beyond members of the military and their associates. Consequently, the popularity of certain martial arts waned without many successors to carry on its traditions. Today, there are only two remaining documents that refer to ancient Korean martial arts.
The Muye Dobo Tongji, compiled during the reign of King Jeongjo
Jeongjo of Joseon
King Jeongjo was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He made various attempts to reform and improve the nation of Joseon. He was preceded by his grandfather King Yeongjo and succeeded by his son King Sunjo...
in the 1790s, cataloged various sword arts and applications known to Koreans during that time, as well as hand-to-hand techniques and the use of other weapons. This work was based on earlier Ming and Joseon texts including Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang was a Chinese military general and national hero during the Ming Dynasty. He was best remembered for his courage and leadership in the fight against Japanese pirates along the east coast of China, as well as his reinforcement work on the Great Wall of China.-Early life:Qi Jiguang was...
's Ji Xiao Xin Shu
Ji Xiao Xin Shu
The book Ji Xiao Xin Shu was written by the Chinese general Qi Jiguang of the Ming Dynasty. The title can be translated as New Book Recording Effective Techniques....
, the Muyejebo
Muyejebo
The Muyejebo is a Korean martial art manual written during the reign of King Seonjo in 1598.-History:As the Imjin war dragged on for years, Korea needed a way to effectively train a large number of troops, and the Korean military adopted a training methodology based on a Chinese military manual...
, and the Muyesinbo
Muyesinbo
The Muyesinbo is Korean martial arts manual published in 1759. The book is a revision of the older Muyejebo and adds twelve methods of both armed and unarmed fighting to the original six which were descbribed in the Muyejebo...
and incorporates known Chinese martial arts and weapon techniques. While noting the efficacy of the Japanese katana and its applications, the manual noted that Chinese influences on Korean swordsmanship and other martial arts were more prevalent.
These ancient arts are not popularly considered to be ancestors of kumdo, though some kumdo scholars, including those at the Korea Kumdo Association, believe ancient Korean fencing as outlined in a Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
dynasty book known as Bonguk Geombeop (本國劍法; Korean Sword Method) was the basis of all modern two-handed sword techniques.
In the early 17th century, Mao Yuanyi, a Chinese military tactician, recorded Korean swordsmanship methods in the Wubei Zhi (Army Account of Military Arts and Science). Many of today's revival movements of Korean swordsmanship are based on Muyedobotongji
Muyedobotongji
In 1790, King Jeongjo of Korea commissioned a book called the Muyedobotongji which was an illustrated manual of Korean martial arts. This book, written by Yi Deokmu and Pak Jega , described in detail Korea's martial arts of which an unarmed combat style of kicking and punching is extensively...
, which has detailed descriptions of Korean swordsmanship methods. The book was compiled in late 17th century by Joseon officials under the order of King Jeongjo.
Japanese influence
Korean swordsmanship declined during the end of the KoryoKoryo
Koryo may refer to:*The Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. It is spelt Koryŏ in McCune-Reischauer Romanization.*Koryo, a pumsae in Taekwondo.*Kōryō, Nara, a town in Japan.*Air Koryo, a North Korean airline company....
period and beginning of the Chosun
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
period. Japan began a policy of eradication of Korean culture around 1900. In 1910 the Japanese began modifying Korean heritage and outlawing Korean martial arts which changed Gumdo and merged it with kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
.
Japanese Kendo first came to Korea in 1896 through the Dai Nippon Butokukai (DNBK), Choson-bu (Korean Branch)under NAKAMURA Tokichi. In April, 1895 the Dai Nippon Butokukai, or “All Japan Martial Virtue Society” had been established by civilian enthusiasts of various traditional Japanese arts such as Archery, Ju-jutsu and Ken-jutsu. The establishment of the Korean branch of this organization was the inevitable result of political and cultural pressures of the time. With the occupation of Korea by Japan in 1910, Kendo increasingly merged and supplanted traditional Korean sword work. This development was strengthened by the acceptance of Kendo in the Korean educational system in 1931 as well as a series of high-profile competitions between Korean and Japanese players during the 1930s and 1940s.
Gumdo
Following the Second World War, the Tae Han Kum SA Association, predecessor to the Tae Han Kumdohoe (The Korea Kumdo Association) was organized on May 20, 1948. At that time, some 100 masters, including SUH Ching Hac, KIM Yong Dal, HO Ik Yong, Chung Tae Min, Lee Chung Ku, Do Ho Mun, Kang Nak-won, Pak Chong-kyu and KIM Yong-bae met on the grounds of the Changdok Palace and formed the Taehan Kumsa Association. In 1953, the Korean Kumdo Association was founded by Chong Hac Suh in cooperation with Kendo practitioners both in Korea and Japan. Later, Suh would relocate to Bettendorf, Iowa in the United States and establish the World Kumdo Association. After WWII, Gumdo and Kendo were able to diverge again.The Korea Kumdo Association (KKA) is the de facto governing organization for kumdo in Korea. The art promoted by them, Daehan Kumdo , had become, after the Japanese occupation
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
and outlaw
Editing Agency of Korean History
Korean History Compilation Committee was established in June 1925 by the Japanese government of Royal edict. It is also known as "Korean History Compilation Society", "Association of the Compilation of Korean History", "Korean History Compilation Bureau" or "Society of Compiling Korean...
of Korean martial arts, virtually identical to kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
. Some noted changes were made to reflect Korean cultural influences and methodology, and is the kumdo which Koreans normally refer to. The KKA has established overseas branches in other countries and have set up kumdo dojangs or schools. Unlike most of the FIK affiliates, including Japan, they wish to see kumdo/kendo become an Olympic sport as with Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
.
The World Kumdo Association (WKA) - founded around 2001 as a merger of thirteen smaller, rival kumdo organizations, they are critical of the KKA and seek to become a rival to the FIK by having kumdo included in the Olympic games with them as the recognized governing body ahead of the FIK. They are proponents of changes to the format and scoring system, advocating the use of electric scoring as with fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
.
Shim Gumdo
Shim Gumdo, also known as Mind Sword path, is a style of Korean swordsmanship created by Kim Changsik, a Korean Buddhist monk. According to World Shim Gum Do Association, Kim Changsik was a Buddhist disciple at Hwagyesa temple in Seoul, South Korea. During a 100-day meditationMeditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
, Shim Gumdo came to his mind when he achieved enlightenment
Bodhi
Bodhi is both a Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English with the word "enlightenment", but which means awakened. In Buddhism it is the knowledge possessed by a Buddha into the nature of things...
. In 1971, Kim Changsik established the Korean Shim Gum Do Association and began teaching Shim Gumdo in South Korea. He moved to the United States in 1974 and in 1978 he established American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association. The main temple, Shim Gwang Sa, was built in Boston, Massachusetts, and there the World Shim Gum Do Association was established as the center of Shim Gum Do Associations around the world.
Haidong Gumdo
Haidong Gumdo (Haedong Gumdo (海東劍道 "Korean way of the sword") arose in the 1980s from the desire to reconstruct a native Korean "battlefield" style of swordsmanship, moving away from the KendoKendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
heritage of Gumdo. In this sense it qualifies as a type of historical martial arts reconstruction in the wider sense, but while the weapons used are based on historical Korean templates, the techniques are not derived from historical manuals but are based on the 1970s Shim Gum Do
Shim Gum Do
Shim Gum Do, translated as the "mind sword path", is a martial arts system of recent invention, originating in Korea. Shim Gum Do emerged from the enlightenment of the monk Won Gwang, born as Chang Sik Kim, during a 100 day meditation and prayer retreat in 1965. The central component of the system...
.
The "historical" emphasis of the discipline was also accompanied with some false claims of authentic lineage of the system.
Kim Jeong-ho had represented that in 1963 he began training in Korean sword under a monk named Jang Park San. Based on this premise, Kim developed the World Hae Dong Kumdo Association.
During legal proceedings in the 1990s it was revealed that Hae Dong Kumdo was developed solely by Kim's own design integrating Gi Cheon esoteric practices and Shin Kumdo.
Practitioners of Haidong Gumdo engage in the practice of basic techqniues (kibon), forms (geompeob or pumsae), step sparring (yaksuk daeryun), sparring (hada), energy building exercises (qi gong) and cutting practice (begi).
Hankumdo
Hangumdo is a style that bases its techniques on the shape of the HangulHangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
letters. It was first presented in 1997 by Myung Jae Nam
Myung Jae Nam
Myung Jae Nam or Jae-Nam Myong was a Korean Hapkido practitioner who founded two martial art styles; Hankido and Hankumdo.-Life:Myung Jae Nam was born in Jeollanam-do province but lived in Incheon for most of his life....
, who also founded the related style of Hankido
Hankido
Hankido is a new hapkido style developed by the late Myung Jae Nam using even more circular flowing movements owing to Nam's background in traditional Korean dance.-Etymology:...
in the 1980s.