Kumdo, The Korean Way of the Sword

Here is one of my early published articles on the subject of Kumdo that you may find interesting.

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

Kumdo: The Korean Way of the Sword @ Scott Shaw.com

Scott Shaw Hapkido Taekwondo International

The Intercepting Kicks of Taekwondo

By Scott Shaw

The Korean martial art of Taekwondo is immediately identified by its extensive kicking arsenal. The focus of Taekwondo’s expansive use of the kick became even more clearly defined as the art moved into the ranks of an Olympic sport during the 1980’s.

At the Olympic level, Taekwondo’s focus is placed upon the use of the feet as the predominate weapons of offensive. No punching is allowed to an opponent’s face—though kicking to the head is a viable and sought after option.

Modern Taekwondo has focused primarily upon making the art an aggressive, attack orientated system of martial arts. Though the kicking techniques taught in Taekwondo are predominately geared towards offensive applications, the same kicks which are commonly used as aggressive weapons of attack can be used to defensively intercept the onslaught of an attacking opponent and immediately put an end to his assault. The only difference between the offensive and defensive application of the Taekwondo kick is how, when, and where it is targeted.

Taekwondo’s Kicking Strategy

To begin to understand how to use the Taekwondo kick as a defensive weapon it must first be understood that if you are continually in an offensive posture—hoping to out kick or overpower your opponent, then you will not be able to use your kicks as defensive tools. This overemphasized offensive mindset is prevalent among many modern Olympic style Taekwondo practitioners.  They are commonly taught that by kicking and kicking some more, sooner or later they will win the match by points—if nothing else. Though this understanding may, in fact, be at least partially true when you are wearing a chest protector and engaged in a sanctioned match—this mindset will completely be undermined the minute you go up against as savvy opponent on the street—where the first and most powerfully delivered strike often times sets the stage for who will win the confrontation. 

Understanding this, the modern Taekwondo stylist can begin to redevelop their expansive kicking arsenal and use their kicks not only as powerful weapons of offensive but as precise defensive weapons, as well.

The Offense of Defense

When a Taekwondo kick is used as a defensive weapon it must be initially understood that if you possess the opportunity to launch a preemptive kick to an open target on your opponent: such as a Front Kick to his groin, solar plexus, or under his chin, than this is your opportunity to stop the assault before it begins and you sh­ould take advantage of this opening.  This style of defensive offense is not always applicable on the street or in sanctioned matches, however.  Thus, the science of the defensive Taekwondo kick must be studied further to see how it can be used most effectively in all types of physical combat.

Defining the Defensive Kick

When you begin to use the Taekwondo kick as a defensive weapons there are three primary rules which must be observed in order to make the feet effective weapons of defense:

1) The defensive kick must be easy to unleash.

2) The defensive kick must be very fast.

3) The defensive kick must travel to its target in the most expedient manner possible.

Rule One

The primary rule of the Taekwondo defensive kick is that it must be easy to unleash.  This is elementally important, for if a kick is complicated or elaborate, it will too complex to actualize and your opponent will no doubt deliver his attack to your body before you can intercept it.

Rule Two

The second rule goes hand-in-hand with the first—and that is your kick must be very fast.  The problem with some of the kicks use in demonstration orientated Taekwondo is though the these kick are very flamboyant and pretty to watch, their application is very slow.  To this end, those kicks must be left behind in combat if you wish to emerge victorious.

Rule Three

The third and final rule is that the defensive Taekwondo kick must proceed to it target in the most efficient manner possible.

As Taekwondo has evolved over the past five decades, its methods of delivering powerful kicking techniques has become more and more refined. Taekwondo has left behind many of the exaggerated kicking movements, common to the Japanese martial arts, which influenced Taekwondo’s early development.  What has emerged are fluid, very rapid, linear kicking techniques seen only in this Korean based martial art.  With this evolution, the defensive applications of the Taekwondo kick has increased multifold as the kicks have become much easier to unleash and due to their linear design they are much harder to defend against.

The Taekwondo Forward Side Kick

To come to a better understanding of how the Taekwondo kick has evolved—making it much easer to unleash in offensive and defensive applications, we can view the modern Taekwondo Side Kick.

The modern Taekwondo Side Kick is brought straight up, as if a Front Kick were being launched. Once your leg has reached approximately waist height, your leg is then pivoted at hip level, and the kick is snapped out in Side Kick fashion. The style of Forward Side Kick can be launched from either your rear or forward leg.

The reason it is important to develop the ability to perform a Side Kick in this fashion is that it is extremely fast and can be launched from virtually any standing positioning. It does not require that you bring your rear leg up to the side and then pivot your entire body, alerting your opponent to your intentions before you actually deliver the kick—as is the case of the Traditional Side Kick. Instead, you have alleviated many of the unnecessary components of this kick, making it not only easier to unleash but substantially faster, as well.

 

The Two Styles of Kicking Defense

Once the basic rules of defensive kicking are understood you can then move on to actually implementing effective defensive kicks.  There are type primary methods of defense, the Taekwondo practitioner employees, while utilizing the kick:

1) The Intercepting Kick.

2) The Blocking Kick.

           

The Intercepting Kick

The Intercepting Kick is Taekwondo first-line of defensive kicking methodology.  The Intercepting Kick witness you drive a defensive kick into your opponent before his kicking or punching attack can be fully actualized.

At the most elementary level, Intercepting Kick Defense witnesses you deliver a basic Front Kick, Side Kick, or Roundhouse Kick to an open Vital Strike Point on your opponent as he is in the process of launching an aggressive attack towards you.  As targeting is very important with this style of kicking defense, you will want to aim at a location on his body which you will be assured of impacting.  Furthermore, you will want to target a location which, once you have made contact with, will cause his attack to immediately stop. The primary target locations for this style of Interceptive Kicking Defense are the knees, the groin, or in the case of sanctioned Taekwondo matches, the solar plexus, or under the chin.

This style of Interceptive Kicking Counter Attack can also be used to intercept the punching assault of your opponent.  In this case, you would target a Front Kick at his inner shoulder, just as he is recoiling to punch.  With impact, not only will his initial attack be halted but also he will be left open for further counter assault as necessary.

The Intercepting Side Kick

The Intercepting Kick is not limited to debilitating first-line kicking counter attacks.  For example, an Interceptive Side Kick delivered to the mid-section of your attacker will instantly stop any assault he is unleashing.

The defensive Intercepting Side Kick can be most rapidly deployed from your Lead Leg.  This is especially true when your opponent is launching an offensive kicking technique from his Rear Leg.  As his kick rises, you simply deliver a powerful Side Kick to his side, under his arms, and he will be send back, often times to the ground.

The Intercepting Side Kick is also very effective against the punching assault of an attacker.  As his punch is launched, you powerfully deliver a mid-level Side Kick to his body.  His punching attacking will be intercepted due to the fact that not only is the reach of your leg longer than his arm, but it is additionally substantially more powerful.   

The Blocking Kick

The second level of Taekwondo’s defensive kick is the Blocking Kick.  This style of defense witnesses you interrupt the kick of your opponent by blocking it with a kick of your own. To achieve this, your kick must be faster then your opponent’s and halt his attack as close to its point of origin as possible.  In this way his kick will not have gained the necessary momentum to knock you off balance before you can stop his attack.

The Blocking Side Kick

The Blocking Kick is ideally represented by delivering a low Side Kick to the ankle or shin section of your opponent’s kicking leg as he attempted to unleashing his offensive techniques.  This style of defensive kick will immediately interrupt his attack and leave him open to further counter attack.

Follow Up

Once you have intercepted or blocked your opponent attack, with a kicking technique, you must immediately follow up with a secondary counter strike or his assault will continue.  The style of secondary attack you will unleash is predominately defined by the type of kicking defense you initially utilized.  For example, if you intercepted an assault with a mid-level Side Kick to your opponent’s stomach or side, then you can immediately use your free hands to deliver a Back Fist to his face.  If you have block his oncoming kick with a Side Kick to his ankle, you may wish to continue with your kicking defense by immediately retracting your kicking leg and deliver a secondary Side Kick to a higher level on his body.

The most important thing to remember is that your follow up technique must occur instantaneously after your initial defensive technique has successfully intercepted your opponent’s assault.  Additionally, your secondary counter attack must be able to travel rapidly—striking your opponent to a debilitating location, thus, keeping the bout from continuing further.

As you now understand, the Taekwondo Kick is much more than simply an offensive weapon.  When used properly it cannot only aid you in your self-defense, but it lead you to victory in any physical confrontation.

Copyright © 1993—All Rights Reserved

The Intercepting Kicks of Taekwondo @ Scott Shaw.com

Scott Shaw Hapkido Taekwondo International

The Low Kicks of Traditional Taekwondo

This article originally appeared in the July 1997 issue of Black Belt Magazine.

By Scott Shaw

            Modern Taekwondo has entered into a period where the rules of Olympic Sport Taekwondo have come to largely dominate the way in which this martial art system is taught. Though Taekwondo’s presence in the Olympics has done much to promote this martial art system on the whole, the rules inherent with Olympic sporting events are limiting by their very design. From Taekwondo’s association with the Olympics, many of the offensive and defensive techniques used in what might best be titled, “Traditional Taekwondo,” have been left behind if not lost altogether.

            In Olympic Taekwondo, the offensive strike zone on the opponent is limited to locations above the waistline. There are, however, numerous kicking techniques that were once commonly taught by traditional Taekwondo stylists that access many other locations on an opponent. For example, there were highly focused low kicks that were targeted at locations just at or well below the waistline. With the advent of Taekwondo’s acceptance as an Olympic sport many of these techniques have been, if not altogether forgotten, at least no longer commonly taught.

            To fill out a young Taekwondo student’s understanding of the earlier aspects of Taekwondo, which were commonly used before Olympic Taekwondo, we can view some of the low kicking techniques with the hope of expanding the kicking arsenal of all Taekwondo practitioners. From this the Taekwondo practitioner can become a more well-rounded self-defense technician.

Understanding the Front Kick 

            The Front Kick is the most commonly used kicking technique in both offensive and defensive applications. As is commonly understood, a Front Kick to the groin area of any individual is universally debilitating.  There are, however, other, less used offensive and defensive applications for the Front Kick that were once taught in Taekwondo. The first of these is a Front Kick strike targeted at an opponent’s shin. 

            A shin strike, though obviously not as devastating as a groin strike is, none-the-less, very effective in deterring an opponent from initially launching an aggressive attack towards you. To implement this form of rapid self-defense you simply need to witness your attacker as he moves towards you. As he does, you immediately deliver a powerful Front Kick targeted at his shin. From this impact, his attack will be halted and you will have the ability to either follow up with additional counter measures or leave the situation before the altercation continues on any farther.

            The low Front Kick is also an effective way to defensively intercept the onslaught of an opponent’s kick before it has had the opportunity to move too far from its position of inception. For example, you have faced off with an adversary; he begins a kicking technique targeted at you.  Immediately, you Front Kick to the shin region of his kicking leg. With this style of self-defense, you have immediately halted his kicking technique in progress. Not only does this stop his assault but this may throw him off balance.  Additionally, due to your opponent’s offensive technique being intercept, he will be ill prepared to launch a secondary technique at you.  From your superior combat positioning, you are ready to strike at him with a well-prepared secondary counter strike.

Understanding the Defensive Methodology

By intercepting your opponent’s kick with a low Front Kick interception, you will not be forced to block his kick with your hands or your arms. This allows them to remain free. Thus, you possess the superior opportunity to use them as necessary in achieving first strike advantage.

            The low Front Kick is an exceeding easy kick to deliver to your opponent; as your Front Kicking leg need only rise slightly up from the ground.  Therefore, this kick is exceedingly fast and extremely energy efficient. The low level Front Kick must, however, be precisely targeted to be effective.  This type of precision comes from target kicking drills focused at this low level position; low level drills which have, in fact, become absent from most modern Taekwondo classes. 

The low level Roundhouse Kick or Dollo Chagi is another common kick who's effectiveness becomes substantially enhanced by targeting it at a low level opponent location.  At the outset of any confrontation, a Roundhouse Kick can be most effectively delivered to the outside of your opponent’s knee or to his thigh. 

            When striking to an opponent’s knee, with a low level Roundhouse kick, he will be sent off balance; perhaps to such a degree that he will be knocked down to the ground.  If your impact is not that substantial, he will at least be set off balance where additional offensive techniques such as a Straight Punch to his face will leave him physically impaired.

If your low level Roundhouse Kick is directed towards an adversary’s outer thigh, this impact should be used as a prelude to a secondary offensive technique.  As the outer thigh strike location will not immediately impair an opponent, you can, non-the-less, use this substantial target to distract him while you deliver another powerful attack.

The Side Kick or Yup Chagi is also a common technique used in Taekwondo.  There is, however, a variation of this technique that is rarely taught to modern students of the art.  This Side Kicking technique is call Ap Yup Chagi in Korean or may be translated into Forward Side Kick.

To perform this Forward Side Kick, you can launch your kicking leg from either a rear, forward, or even a standing position.  The actual kicking leg, in this technique, is brought straight up, as if a Front Kick were being launched.  Once this leg has reached approximately waist level the kick in then pivoted at hip level and the actual kick is snapped out in Side Kick fashion.

This kick may take a little time for the beginning Taekwondo student to master, as the kicking foot is turned almost parallel to the ground.  The best way to initially develop the ability to kick in this fashion is to sit down, with legs straight in front of you, and slowly bend your feet in towards each other.  This movement should not take place at ankle level, but instead, should be performed by the pivoting of your hips.  In time, the muscles along your outer legs will loosen up and this Side Kicking technique will be easily performed.

The reason it is important to develop the ability to perform a Side Kick in this fashion, is that it is extremely fast and can be launched from virtually any standing positioning. As a defensive technique, this kick can be targeted at your opponent’s shin or knee.  As discussed with the low Front Kick, this is a very good weapon to intercept an opponent’s kick before it has the ability to develop velocity and strike you.  The added advantage of using this Forward Side Kick as a blocking technique over that of the Front Kick is that, you have the entire side of your foot to use a blocking weapon.  Thus, your precision does not have to be as precise as with that of the low Front Kick block.

As an offensive tool, the Forward Side Kick can be effectively low targeted at an adversary’s shin or his knee.  At mid level, is ideally targeted at an opponent’s mid section.  This kick can be used at the outset of a confrontation to impede the progress of an adversarial attack on you or can be used at any point during the fight when you are in close proximity to your opponent and need an effective weapon which is very difficult to block.

The Forward Side Kick does not need to be launched from the rear leg, as is common with many traditional kicking techniques. This kick, as discussed, can be launched from virtually any standing position.  With this as a basis, it is much harder for an opponent to see the Forward Side Kick’s onslaught.  Thereby, it is an exceedingly effective offensive weapon.  As this kick can be launched from any standing position, it can be utilized in all types of physical altercations.

As the Forward Side Kick by its design is very linear in nature.  It is a very rapid technique to use in all types of fights.  Therefore, the practice and development of this kick should be added to all martial artist’s kicking arsenals.

Another Traditional Taekwondo low kick which has been all but abandoned since the beginning of Sport Taekwondo is that of the Instep Kick or Pal Sok Chagi.  This kick is delivered by arching your kicking foot outwards and exposing the instep of your foot. The strike points of this kick are your heel and to a lesser degree the outer knife-edge of your foot.

You have faced off with an opponent. He begins to direct a kick at you. You immediately intercept this kick with an Instep Kick across your opponent’s shin.  His kick is thereby halted.  By keeping your kicking leg in place and applying additional muscle strength to it you push your opponent’s leg back to the ground.  Once his foot has made impact, you slid your own foot down his leg and step powerfully onto his foot.  His leg is, thereby, locked into place.  You cannot effortlessly deliver a powerful punching technique to his face.

As is the case with the low Side Kick, the Instep Kick needs little precision to intercept the oncoming kick of an opponent.  Additionally, by intercepting an offensive kick with your own powerful defensive kick, there is the potential of initially injuring your opponent’s shin, which leaves you in further superior positioning in the altercation.

The Instep Kick can additionally be used as an offensive weapon.  This kick can be target at low level locations on your opponent’s body, such as his shin or his knee.  It can also be brought up to a slightly higher level where it can strike to his thigh, groin, or midsection.  In all case the only defining factor for the use of this kick is that you must be in close proximity to your opponent.  This kick is not the type of technique that should be overtly extended, as this will have the potential of making you become off balance.  And, this is not an appropriate state to be in any physical confrontation.

In all cases with the low level kick, unless they are targeted at your opponent’s groin or his knee, they are not designed to leave you instantly victorious in a confrontation.  They are designed, however, to give you that ability to emerge victorious by following any of the initial low-level techniques up with appropriate additional defenses.

As we have learned Taekwondo possess several kick which are targeted a low level strike point and are rarely taught to modern students.  All of these kicks are easy to perform and are very effective to utilize when every you find yourself in a physical confrontation.  Add them to your practice schedule and you will become a more proficient martial artist.

Copyright © 1997—All Rights Reserved

The Low Kicks of Traditional Taekwondo @ Scott Shaw.com

Scott Shaw Hapkido Taekwondo International

Moo Yeh Do Bok Tong Gi By Scott Shaw

By Scott Shaw

Understand Korea's Martial History

            It is essential to understand that the Japanese forces, which occupied the Korean Peninsula from 1909 until 1945, destroyed virtually all records of the actual techniques of the ancient Korean martial arts. Many modern masters of the Korean martial arts falsely claim they can trace the origins of their systems back to the dawn of Korean civilization. Unfortunately, this is historically not the case. There are only two remaining documents: the Moo Yeh Jee Bo and the Moo Yeh Do Bok Tong Gi which give us insight into Korea's martial history. These are the only two sources to trace the history of Korean martial arts.

Moo Yeh Do Bok Tong Gi

            The conflicts between Japan and Korea are not unique to the twentieth century. They have been ongoing for centuries. Between 1592 and 1598 an attempted Japanese invasion of Korea took place. The Japanese invaders were defeated. Near the end of this conflict, a Chinese military text entitled, Ki Hyu Shin Zu, authored by the Chinese military strategist and martial artist, Chuk, Kye Kwang was discovered. The text had been acquired from a slain Japanese General. This manuscript was presented to Korean King Sun Jo (1567 - 1608). Within its pages was a system of Chinese weapons and hand-to-hand combat. King Sun Jo was so impressed by the methods presented in this text that he invited Chinese Generals and Chinese martial art masters who employed this system to visit his capital. From this contact, he ordered one of his Generals, Han Kyo, to take what he had learned from both the text and the demonstrations and design a new system of battlefield combat. This system was eventually written in six chapters and published as, Moo Yeh Jee Bo, “The Illustrations of the Martial Arts.”

            This text became the basis for formalized warfare for the Korean military. Within the pages of the text, the techniques of the Sang Soo Do, “Long Sword” Jang Chang, “Spear,” Dang Pa, “Triple End Spear,” Kon Bong, “Long Staff,” and Dung Pa, “Shield Defense,” are outlined.

Korean King Yong Jo (1724 - 1776) had the text revised during his reign. Twelve additional approaches to fighting were added. The manual was renamed, Moo Yeh Shin Bo, “The New Illustrations of the Martial Arts.”

            The fighting techniques added to the pages employed the Bon Kuk Kum, “Korean Straight Sword,” Wae Kum, “Japanese Sword,” Jee Dook Kum, “Admiral's Sword,” Yee Do, “Short Sword,” Sang Kum, “Twin Swords,” Wae Kum, “Crescent Sword,” Juk Jang, “Long Bamboo Spear,” Hyup Do, “Spear with a Blade,” Kee Jang, “Flag Spear,” Pyun Kon, “Long Staff with end like a nunchaka,” Kyo Jun, “Combat Engagement Strategy,” and Kwon Bop, literally, “Karate.”

            In 1790, at the direction of the next King of Korea, King Jung Jo (1776 - 1800), the Korean military strategists, Yi, Duk Moo and Park, Je Ga again revised the text and added six additional chapters to the manuscript: Ma Sang, “Combat horsemanship,” Ki Chang, “Spear fighting from horseback,” Ma Sang Wol Do, “Sword fighting from horseback,” Ma Sang Sang Kum, “Twin sword fighting from horseback,” Ma Sang Pyun Kon, “Long staff with shorter end like nunchaka, fighting from horseback,” and Kyuk Koo, “Gaming on horseback.”

            The text was retitled, Moo Yeh Do Bok Tong Gi, “The Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of the Martial Arts.” This text is the primary remaining document which modern Korean martial art practitioners turn to search out their foundational history.

The Moo Yeh Do Bok Tong Gi was first published for world consumption, in its original form, over twenty years ago by Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan founder Hwang Kee in this book, Tang Soo Do. It has recently been translated into English.

            Many people hear of this book believe that it will hold all of the answers to all of their questions on combat. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The techniques presented in this manuscript are extremely limited and the drawings, which depict the maneuvers, are not exacting as they were created several hundred years ago.

            As a source point for understanding the evolution of Korean history, Moo Yeh Do Bok Tong Gi, is a great text. It was written for a different age, however. As such, it is not the holy grail of martial art manuscripts as some people believe it to be. What you take away from it will be based on your own understanding of the martial arts.

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For more information on the history and the evolution of the Korean Martial Arts visit The History of the Korean Martial Arts page at Scott Shaw.com.

Kumdo: Understanding the Varying Traditions

 

By Scott Shaw

            Kumdo is the Korean art of the sword. Like many of the other modern Korean martial arts, Kumdo arose at the end of World War II when the Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula was lifted. Historically, there is an essential fact about Kumdo that many practitioners and non-practitioners alike do not understand. That fact is, there is not one overriding style of Kumdo that has arisen from Korea. There are a number of traditions that practice very different techniques, yet they each exist under the banner of Kumdo.

            With the lifting of Japanese occupation, there arose a number of martial art practitioners who had studied the Japanese martial arts, mostly in Japan, and had then returned to their native Korea and began teaching these arts, generally under a new name. This is what gave birth to the styles that eventually became the predominate martial arts associated with Korea; namely: Taekwondo and Hapkido. Within the realms of Taekwondo and Hapkido, yes, there are variants in style and technique but there is also a great commonality. This, however, is not absolutely the case with Kumdo. As the is no supreme governing body for Kumdo, like The World Taekwondo Federation or the Korea Hapkido Federation, the various styles of Kumdo have existed in their own right for decades.

            Currently, there is a style of Kumdo which holds very tightly to an origin based in Japanese Kendo. This is the branch where you will witness the practitioners putting on the long flowing pants that are mostly commonly known by the Japanese term, Hakama. They also wear the face protection and have fighting competitions using the bamboo sword or, Juk do, in Korean. But, there are other variants of Kumdo that are just a prominent. Perhaps the most prominent of these are the styles of Kumdo that have arisen within schools of Taekwondo where the Kumdo practitioner uses a standardized set of forms to enhance their swordplay skillset. Within this realm of Kumdo, you will witness the practitioner wearing the standard martial art uniform and performing a prescribed set of stances, sword strikes, and kicks defined by the specific form. Commonly, there are a set of ten distinct form patterns that are taught to the students who practice this brand of Kumdo.
           Of course, some of the other modern Korean martial arts systems such as Kuk Sul Won and Hwa Rang Do employ sword training in their curriculum, as well. But, as they are closed martial art organizations, the only people who are taught these techniques are their direct students. Thus, their brand of Kumdo is not as wide spanning as the previously described examples.   

            The key point to understand, regarding Korean Kumdo, is that though there is a commonality in title, Kumdo, this is not an overriding description of this style of martial arts. This is based upon the fact that there are numerous schools and organizations that practice vastly different techniques while all proclaiming that what they do is, Kumdo.

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For further insight into Kumdo you can also read,

Kumdo: The Korean Art of the Sword on Scott Shaw.com. 

Scott Shaw Hapkido Taekwondo International