I have been enjoying Kumdo with my 7-year-old son for almost the past year here in Federal Way.
Kumdo is the Korean version of the Japanese (and more popular) Kendo, which is simply “The Way of the Sword”. It is similar to the kind of sword training that Japanese Samurai practiced. It shares a lot with what would have been taught to foot-soldiers and horseback-riders back in the days of swords and arrows in East Asia.
Like all martial arts, it doesn’t focus simply on physical fitness or technical ability. It also emphasizes the emotional and mental state of the practitioner. Its ultimate goal is to unify the mind, body, spirit, and sword into one, capable of defending and attacking with deadly precision and swiftness.
Kumdo teaches honor and respect as well. During competiton, you are to do your best and push yourself to the limit. Outside of the confrontation, you are to treat others with respect and sincerity. This is certainly a shared value we should all learn, a value that most sports and martial arts teach. I believe it is a value that we need more of in our society.
Most sports and martial arts emphasize endurance and hard work. That’s certainly a priority in Kumdo, but in Kumdo, there are no second chances. See, the way of sword-fighting is to get one quick final cut in to end the battle before it begins. That’s reflected in the art of Kumdo. You get only a split-second to make your move. At the end, either you have survived for a second chance (which is only another split-second), you have made the point, or your opponent has scored on you. This is very different than a sport like boxing, where your goal is to wear your opponent down until he is incapable of fighting.
The tools of kumdo are:
- Jukdo, or bamboo sword. This is simply four strips of bamboo, sanded smooth and bound together with leather and string.
- Dobok, or the uniform. This uniform allows you to comfortably move in the range of motion that kumdo demands. Every student wears the same uniform, and there are no markings to distinguish between experts and beginners. (After all, even a beginner can cut down an expert who is careless.)
- Hogu, which is a combination of gloves, chest armor, hip protector, and helmet. These are designed for protection and mobility.
Beginners in kumdo learn that three basic strikes: head strike, body strike, and wrist strike. Like boxing, everything is based on these few moves. It takes many, many years to master the basic strikes, and perfection is necessary to become an expert. However, with these simple motions, and with an attention to details such as proper posture and form, even beginners learn how to win a sword fight.
I enjoy kumdo very much. It has not only helped me to keep in shape, but it is helping me learn to control my focus, increase my attention span, and work hard. My son enjoys it as well. Even though it appears that progress is slow, it is apparent that in less than a year we have already accomplished a lot. There is nothing as exhilirating as engaging in a swordfight with someone who is above your abilities and scoring a hit.
Best of all, I am learning to keep my back straight. My back appreciates that greatly.
I believe Kumdo is a sport that the young, middle-aged, and old can get into. It doesn’t require carrying a lot of weight, or moving around much more than you are already capable. It demands a lot of arm movements, but nothing that is out of the ordinary range of motions. Any physical contact is harmless and well-regulated. It is an art and a sport that grows with your ability and physical fitness. As you are able to do more, you can enjoy it even more fully.
The only official school for Kumdo in Washington State Baik San Kumdo run by Master Iksung Kim. (Baik San, to those who are familiar with Korean, means “White Mountain”, a reference to our environment.) He holds a class every Monday at the EX3 Teen Center in Federal Way. (class schedule)
You are certainly invited to watch or even participate!
May 20, 2008 at 2:38 pm |
I am a big believer in the value of such discipline for young men and women. We all have an innate (i.e., inborn) love of adventure that we seek out through various channels. Defending our natiuon and loved ones is the source of most great adventure books for children and adults.
By the way, I heard Glen Beck on the radio interviewing Ted Bell regarding a new kid’s book, “Nick of Time”. Mr. Bell writes the Hawk series which is like a new James Bond. I think I read a few chapters of one of the Hawk books and they are good. The librarians are very enthusiastic about the kid’s book and so are the kids and Mr. Beck.
Glen Beck was featured at the NRA Convention in Louisville last weekend. John McCain also gave a very strong Pro2A speech. I did not hear the whole speech but Medved broadcast a few excerpts. If someone can publish a few excerpts from the transcripts and provide some feedback (pro or con) I would love to hear further analysis.
I missed most of Michael medveds comments and he is so pro-McCain he may have lost all credibility. Nevertheless, after I researched Sen McCain’s record on gunrights, I signed up for his campaign with no reservations. So far, I have not heard much pro or con about Dino Rossi in the area of firearms.
Needless, to say, in my humble opinion, the one discipline that is arguably more valuable than sword training for adult’s and children is rifle/pistol/shotgun. Thomas Jefferson recommended rifle shooting over sports that take a great deal more exertion (such as ball playing games) because of the mental calm and physical control that is entailed:
“Then take up antient history in the detail, reading the following books, in the following order:
Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophontis Hellenica, Xenophontis Anabasis, Arrian, Quintus Curtius, Diodorus Siculus, Justin. This shall form the first stage of your historical reading, and is all I need mention to you now. The next, will be of Roman history (*). From that, we will come down to modern history. In Greek and Latin poetry, you have read or will read at school, Virgil, Terence, Horace, Anacreon, Theocritus, Homer, Euripides, Sophocles. Read also Milton’s Paradise Lost, Shakspeare, Ossian, Pope’s and Swift’s works, in order to form your style in your own language. In morality, read Epictetus, Xenophontis Memorabilia, Plato’s Socratic dialogues, Cicero’s philosophies, Antoninus, and Seneca. In order to assure a certain progress in this reading, consider what hours you have free from the school and the exercises of the school. Give about two of them, every day, to exercise; for health must not be sacrificed to learning. A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body, and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks. Never think of taking a book with you. The object of walking is to relax the mind. You should therefore not permit yourself even to think while you walk; but divert your attention by the objects surrounding you. Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far…”
See Jefferson’s whole letter to a young man at:
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/jefflett/let31.htm
May 21, 2008 at 10:44 am |
I certainly should get into the gun culture and start regular target shooting.