By Scott Shaw
The
Japanese Samurai Swordsmen have long been depicted as the consummate sword
warriors of Asia. And, the elaborate
sword techniques of Chinese Kung Fu have been viewed and respected by Martial
Artists worldwide. Both of these Martial Art weapon styles are known and
revered for their own individual strengths and aesthetic beauties. There is,
however, another nation in Asia where the techniques of the sword are no less
developed, yet few even know of the style’s existence. The country is Korea.
The sword style is Kumdo.
Kumdo,
literally translates from Korean means, Sword Way. Created in a country mostly
known for the explosive Martial Art style of Taekwondo, Kumdo is a modern
adaptation of a Martial Art system of swordplay that can trace its origin back
many centuries.
Ancient
Korea
Swords, and
the warfare thereof, came to Korea from China in the early fourth century C.E.,
during the Iron Age. During the fifth century C.E., there came to be a
formalized group of fierce swordsmen, with no less of the code of honor than
that of their later Japanese Samurai counterparts. They were known as the Hwa Rang, Flowering
Youth, warriors.
Korea, at
that time, was divided into three kingdoms: Koguryo, Silla, and Paekche. Silla was constantly under attack by its more
powerful neighbors. During the reign of King Chin Heung of Silla, he formed an
elite, aristocrat warrior corps, made up of young noblemen. The Hwa Rang,
trained their bodies and minds in all forms of weaponry and Martial Arts
available to them.
Early
Sword Mastery
The techniques
of the Korean sword, at this time, were stylistically formalized into
twenty-five poses and postures that would best result in an opponent’s
demise. As the sword was the key instrument
of close contact warfare, it became one of the Hwa Rang warrior’s primary
weapons. In historic documents, dating back to the sixth century, it is
detailed that the Hwa Rang would have contests of strength and endurance
battling with their swords, while barefoot upon frozen lakes.
The sword
stylings and philosophic attitude of the Hwa Rang, based in Buddhism, began to
be passed onto the island nation of Japan in the sixth century C.E. This ideology eventually gave birth to the
military classes which much later came to be identified as the Samurai.
Korea
Moves to the Modern Era
From the
victories of the Hwa Rang came the unification of the three Kingdoms on the
Korean Peninsula. This period of
unification came to be known as the Yi Dynasty.
The Yi
Dynasty lasted from 1392 to 1909. This
period is considered Korea's ‘Age of Enlightenment.’ As martial law led to extended peace, arts
and literature flourished and the populous began to take on a very anti-militarist
posture. This attitude expanded, until by the early 18th century all forms of
public Martial Arts were looked down upon, if not banned altogether in most of
Korea’s geographical regions. This explains why the sword did not remain an
elemental part of Korean culture as it did within Japan.
The Korean Yi Dynasty eventually ended with
the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1909 to 1945. At this juncture, all forms of Korean Martial
Arts were officially forbidden by the Japanese occupying forces. Martial
artists in Korea retreated within the walls of various temples and secret
schools. Many of the zealous
practitioners moved from the country altogether.
The Birth
of Kumdo
Kumdo was
born in Korea in 1945, when Japan’s rule over the peninsula came to an
end. Its inception came about as a
widening public awareness, for the Korean citizen, to become more individually
prepared in case of further invasions.
This attitude continued to heighten as Korea split between North and
South during the 1950’s.
As public
attitude shifted to an almost militaristic temperament, Martial Art became the
order of the day in Korea. So much so,
that Martial Arts began to be taught in public school as a requirement of
education for both boys and girls.
The birth
of Kumdo paralleled these trends as the Korean Martial Artist desired expansion
of their martial knowledge.
Kumdo
Foundational Factors
Kumdo
began by reviving the sword techniques of the ancient Hwa Rang warrior -- which
had been recorded on temple walls and in ancient manuscripts such as the Moo Ye
Do Bok Tong Gi. The ancient sword styling were then integrated them with the
techniques of Japanese swordsmanship --
particularly with various modern schools of Iaido and Kendo.
The
Japanese influence on Kumdo cannot be denied. In brief, the influence may be
seen as pertaining to the sword techniques and not to the mental attitude of
the Kumdo practitioner.
Iaido
Verse Kumdo
In
Japanese Iaido, which is also a modern martial style adapted from ancient
applications, all techniques which are performed are based in metaphysical
reasoning for their implementation. The Iaido practitioner views their sword
practice as a form of meditation and not as a system of advanced self
defense. Kumdo, on the other hand,
mimics many of the Iaido sword techniques, but emphasis is not placed upon the
spiritual elements of the art. Rather,
it is focused on the mastery of the sword in order to physically overcome an
opponent.
The Kumdo
practitioner views the sword as a weapon of war. All of its techniques are,
therefore, developed as an extension of the body. Which, of course, is commonly
the way a Martial Artist views a weapon.
The Iaido
practitioner, on the other hand, views the sword as an extension of their soul,
not of their body. To this end, the
large difference in the foundations of the two arts can be understood.
Kumdo’s
focus is very physical and possesses a much stronger preoccupation with
physical ability and power. By understanding the motivating factors of these
two individual arts, it brings the Kumdo practitioner to a deeper understanding
of the mindset which makes up his sword style.
The
Korean Sword
The basic
difference between the Japanese Samurai sword or Katana and the Korean long
sword, known as Jung Kum, is that the Katana possess a slight arch. The Jung Kum, on the other hand, is straight.
The use of the Jung Kum is not universal in Kumdo, however, as the Katana often
times replaces it.
The
straight design of the Jung Kum was brought into utilization predominately by
such modern Korean Martial Art systems as Kook Sul Won and Hwa Rang Do -- which
both possess a Chinese influenced art of swordplay.
Though
the straight sword is now commonly associated with the Korean arts, in the Moo
Yeh Do Bok Tong Gi, the long swords are detailed as possessing the same arch as
those used by the Japanese Samurai.
The
bamboo sword, commonly used in Japanese Kendo, is also a key element of Kumdo.
The Bamboo sword is generally used in partner training.
The
wooden sword, known as Bokken in Japanese or Mok Kum in Korean, is also a
common training tool. It is used for the
practice of sword striking techniques.
The Use
of the Sword
Proper
usage of the sword is a must to save one from not only injuring himself but
one’s practice partner, as well. For
this reasoning, proper sword handling must be understood for the sword zealot
to get under way in his practice of Kumdo.
The
sword, held properly, is grasped just under the sword guard by the lead
hand. This grasp is firm, yet, it is not
so tight as to not allow proper hand and wrist flex movements. The rear hand
grasps near the bottom of the sword’s handle, in much lighter a fashion than
does the lead hand. In this way this
rear hand is allowed to slide or move in order to aid in the appropriate strike
or slash positioning. The reason behind
holding the sword at either end of its handle, is that this allows you to have
maximum control over the sword -- which, to the uninitiated, is quite a heavy
and awkward object when not controlled properly.
The
elbows of the Kumdo swordsmen are allowed to remain slightly bent, even while
striking. In this way, they are prevented from hyperextension due to impact
force, momentum, and weight of the sword, when it is extended.
All
techniques used in Kumdo are based in eight primary strikes:
1) Overhead Strike, Straight
2) Overhead Slash, Left Side
3) Overhead Slash, Right Side
4) Side Slash, from the left
5) Side Slash, from the right
6)
Under Slash, from the left
7) Under Slash, from the right
8) Under Body Strike
Of
course, these are basic strikes and slashes and variations can be, and are,
added as the practitioner becomes more advanced in his Kumdo techniques.
One of
the primary differences between Kumdo and Iaido is that once the sword has been
unsheathed, the sheath itself, then is often times used as a blocking tool or
secondary striking weapon.
Kumdo’s
Sword Strikes
Kumdo’s sword
strikes are made in linear fashion. That
is to say, they are performed in a straight to the target pattern. Whenever a strike is performed with the Kumdo
sword, it is quickly and precisely snapped into its final position. The sword
techniques are not ornamented or flashy. And, no unnecessary energy is used
when they are performed. This is where Kumdo differs from some of the Chinese
sword techniques. In essence, all Kumdo techniques are direct and aimed
precisely at their intended target.
The
strike of the Kumdo sword is never over extended. The practitioner must control
the blade, rather than being controlled by its weight and momentum. This is
accomplished by not randomly striking at a target -- imaginary or not. All strikes are performed consciously with
impact point in mind.
The
development of proper sword strike ability is developed through conscious
practice and proper technique. The Kumdo sword, even in practice, is always
extended with the same intent or controlled force that would be used in a true
confrontational situation. It is a
misnomer that a sword is wielded with a different intensity when one is
defending against an imaginary opponent or a real object. For if the
practitioner does not practice delivering a blow with suitable intensity in
exercise drills, he will not know how to control the sword to encounter
physical objects if the situation ever occurs.
As is the
same with the kicking and punching techniques indigenous to Korea, all strikes
are not ended at the beginning of the target. They are, instead, performed in
an application that would penetrate and go through said target or opponent.
This technique implementation does not negate the previously mentioned
conscious impact point. What it does entail is that the Kumdo swordsmen learns
how much impact must be delivered in each sword application to penetrate their
intended target.
All Kumdo sword strikes are precisely
implemented movements. Through continued practice the swordsman comes to the
understand how each sword technique is most efficiently performed. This is accomplished by observing how much
force is used in each sword technique, where that energy is most effectively
focused, and how much power it will take to achieve the desired result. All of this come from continued practice and
developed understanding.
The
Practice of Kumdo
As it is
no longer a common practice to battle sword to sword, to the death, with an
opponent -- as did the ancient Hwa Rang in their training, the Kumdo technician
today, focuses upon three training formats in order to increase and perfect
their skills:
1)
Kyung or forms practice,
2) Imaginary opponent practice
3)
Partner training drills
The
practice and development of Kumdo relies heavily on Kyung or forms.
Specifically these forms are referred to as Bon Kuk Kum Bop, in Korean.
There are
ten primary Kyung which make up the sword system of Kumdo. With in these forms,
the majority of all the sword techniques are used and then integrated with the
various applicable foot and hand techniques that can be used properly and
effectively with the sword. The
Kumdo sword forms are named Kum il, Kum
ee, Kum som (Sword one, Sword two,
Sword three, and so on).
The techniques
of Kumdo are integrated with the weaponless fighting styles of Korea. For
example, kicks and to a lesser degree, hand strikes are incorporated into all
methods of sword practice, particularly in the Kyung of Kumdo.
Kumdo
Shadow Boxing
The
imaginary opponent practice in Kumdo may loosely be compared to Shadow Boxing. This
is the aspect of training when a Kumdo practitioner perfects his techniques through
solo practice -- executing and delivering attacks, defensive maneuvers, and
counter strikes to imaginary targets and opponents.
Through
this ongoing practice, you are given the opportunity to perfect specific sword
techniques and develop new mastery over the weapon. For the novice this is a time to experiment
and discover how the sword moves and feels while performing the various
techniques.
Partner
Training Drills
Swords,
even when unsharpened or made of wood, are very dangerous objects. It is for
this reason that the Kumdo practitioner spend many months and even years
performing sword forms and individual solo practice sessions, in order to
become very familiar with the weapon, before he moves onto the more advanced
partner training drills.
The
partner training drills involve the calculated and prescribed movements of a
sword attack being launched and then blocked and possibly countered by a
trained opponent. Commonly, the wooden or bamboo sword are used in these
drills.
The
techniques that make up these partner training drills are ones common to Kumdo;
i.e.: over head strike, side strikes, spinning back strikes, and the various
blocks and then counter attacks which would follow such initial attacks.
In the
beginning of the partner training the practice opponent is told what sword
technique will be [1] launched at him and
what block or counter attack he will answer with. As deeper understanding of
the sword is mastered, training partners then move on from the specified
techniques to more random sword attacks, blocks, and counter strikes. In this way actual sword fighting timing and
skill is developed.
These
practice sessions are engaged in by the advanced Kumdo stylist who has had the
training time to develop precise strike and block abilities with the sword. It cannot
be undertaken at an early stage by the sword aspirant, as they do not yet
possess the developed control needed to insure the safety of their training
partner.
Kumdo and
You
The sword
techniques of Kumdo not only add to your arsenal of knowledge but from the use
of the sword you additionally gains added balance, timing, and hand to eye
coordination. Kumdo leads you, the
modern Martial Artist, onto a new level of understanding, through the use of a
weapon that has been revered for centuries.
Copyright © 1991
