Korean swordsmanship

Infobox East Asian
color=#CCCCFF
koreanname=Gum Sool
hangul=검술
hanja=劍術
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mr=

The technique of Korean swordsmanship is relatively obscure to the West, but for martial arts masters of the east has regained its reputation from modern swordsmen and martial arts mastersFact|date=September 2008.

History

Evidence of swordsmanship in Korea goes back to the ancient Gojoseon 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. Third style is where one opponet on foot is facing another opponent on horse.

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.

Korean swordsmanship was widely practiced by commoners during Joseon dynasty. Fearful of popular uprising, the Joseon court began suppressing swordsmanship among commoners. Despite suppression however, the commoners retained the tradition of Korean swordsmanship. This has proven to be effective against the invading Japanese during Imjin War. While the Joseon court fled from the invasion, many Korean commoners proficient in swordsmanship has formed popular resistance groups and fought effectively against the Japanese army. After the Imjin War and Manchu invasions, the Joseon court recognized importance of Korean swordsmanship and began encouraging it among the commoners.

In early 17th century, Mao Yuanyi, a Chinese military tactitian, has recorded Korean swordsmanship methods in "Army Account of Military Arts and Science" (Hanzi: _zh. 武備志; Pinyin: "Wǔ Bèi Zhì"). Much of today's revival movements of Korean swordsmanship is 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.

Yaedo Gumbop

Bonguk Gumbop

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. [ [http://www.shimgumdo.org World Shim Gum Do Association] ] During a 100-day meditation, Shim Gumdo came to his mind when he achieved enlightment. 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.

Shim Gumdo is considered the precedent of Haidong Gumdo, another Koeran swordsmanship style that was developed by one of Kim Changsik's students. [ [http://www.dailian.co.kr/news/n_view.html?id=78455 신성대의 무예이야기<11>] ]

Haidong Gumdo

Gumdo

"Gumdo" had its most significant contributions to future swordsmen from the Silla (57 B.C.- 935 A.D.) book Bon Kuk Gum Bup (『本国剣法』). This book forms the basis for two-handed sword techniques and modern Gumdo. The pratice of Gumdo declines during the end of the Koryo period and beginning of the Chosun period. Japan begins a policy of eradication [http://www.meijigakuin.ac.jp/~ascj/1999/9906.htm] [http://www.cgs.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp/workshops_e/w_2004_02_23_e.html] of Korean culture around 1900. In 1910 the Japanese begin modifying Korean heritage and outlawing Korean martial artsFacts|date=September 2008 which changes Gumdo and merges 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 surplanted 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 1930-s and 1940-s.

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" ( _ko. 大韓劍道), 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 setup 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.

"Haedong Gumdo" (海東劍道 "Korean way of the sword") is a term introduced in 1982 and is used for several Korean martial art organizations that use swords. 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 1990-s it was revealed that Hae Dong Kumdo is was developed solely by Kim’s own design integrating Gi Cheon esoteric practices and Shin Kumdo, a sword art resulting from a nocturnal inspiration to a monk named Kim Chang Sik.Fact|date=August 2008 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).

Olympic fencing

Lim Mi-Kyung is one of the veterans of contemporary swordsmanship in Korea, and has represented the country at numerous competitions.

The current Korean fencing champions are known for being intense fighters, mentally tough, and with good strength according to their competitors.

Amongst other sabre and foil experts, increasingly dominated by the new vigorous women blades are:

* Seo Mi-jung
* Lee Gyu-young
* Lee Shin-mi

See also

*List of Korea-related topics
*Korean sword
*Gom Bop
*Kumdo
*Haedong Gumdo
*Gummu (Korean sword dance)
*Chung Suk Kuhapdo (Korean Iaido)

References

cite encyclopedia
title = 칼쓰기
encyclopedia = 한국민족대사전
publisher = 여강출판사
date = 2001

External links

* [http://www.hwarangdojang.com/HaidongGumdo.php Hwarang Dojang]
* [http://www.hanmudo.com/intropage.html World Han Mu Do Association]
* [http://ourworld.cs.com/kuksoolcl/koreanswordsmanship.htm KOREAN SWORDSMANSHIP]
* [http://english.people.com.cn/200209/23/eng20020923_103702.shtml News on the Korean fencing team competitions abroad]