Haidong Gumdo

[samurai80]

Anybody have any information on this...http://www.etftaekwondo.com/history_haidong_gumdo.htm

It seems there is a controversy to when this was made up. So far I've heard it was made in the 70's, it isn't real at all, it is thousands of years old(probably not), it is hundreds of years old. I tried bullshido.net, but that wasn't any help, seeing as how most of them couldn't figure out kendo. (It is hilarious to read conversations about kendo from twenty guys who obviously know nothing about it.)What's the deal? The website states that students learn to throw objects in the air and cut them....hmmm. They appearently start with cutting balled up paper at different angles, then move on to SILLY PUDDY, and finally graduate to cutting oranges. Weird.

[samurai80]

Actually, I think I'm starting to get the picture.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQH0u92I6Wk

[nonamehandle]

here is something that addresses your question/comment.

:55 for cutting objects in the air; 8:55 seems impressive as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LowYYaphkxc


their history might be made up and embellished, but some of their sword skills, esp. cutting skills, seem pretty impressive to my untrained eyes

[samurai80]

The cutting is cool, I guess.

[Jon Palombi]

Hey Guys,
I admire the speed and athleticism of their cutting demos but there is definitely something that bothers me about all the spinning and dramatic antics. It certainly looks cool but I think it is something far removed from the kind of swordsmanship practiced by warriors in ancient Korea. Of course, you could say the same for Chinese wushu. Fantastic to watch but ridiculous in terms of realistic combat scenarios. :chinese: Still, some of the bamboo cutting was quite impressive but I don't think those straw bundles are nearly as tough as tatami mats. Even so, they are due some respect for their enthusiasm.

Later, Jon Palombi

[Big One]

Since Swordmanship is not practical anymore, I guess as long as every one having good time, It doesn't matter if the style is old or new.

[Oroshi]

Since Swordmanship is not practical anymore, I guess as long as every one having good time, It doesn't matter if the style is old or new.
Agreed. It's not for me, but I can understand why people find it appealing.

Just don't take any of the revisionist history rubbish seriously :rolleyes:

[JoDuncan]

It's like WWE but with shinai!

Thought it was quite a cool effort for a coreographed sequence.... i expected to hear Bankai at one point... :D

I've got a question about the sword dancing. There was a post a while ago but i can't remember what it was called.
-Did sword dancing like this come from the kung fu sword kata? Or does it have a unique origin e.g. Japanese / Korean?

[ZEROtoNINE]

I am a traditional kumdo/kendo student (1st dan) but have learned some of the forms that they practice from a kumdo sabunim who trained in HD kumdo in korea for 6 years. It takes a lot of practice and dedication to learn the forms and cutting techniques. I respect the serious HD practioners. Though I know nothing of the history, the experienced students are really impressive.

[ShinKenshi]

This was discussed at some length on this thread (http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14607&highlight=haedong+gumdo). I think I heard that there are official court documents in Korean that have the founder of Haedong Gumdo say that he did in fact make it up and tried to make up a history to make it seem like Japan copied all sword influences from them. Not really sure if this actually happened but the content of the aforementioned thread should help explain some things.

[Oroshi]

I've got a question about the sword dancing. There was a post a while ago but i can't remember what it was called.
-Did sword dancing like this come from the kung fu sword kata? Or does it have a unique origin e.g. Japanese / Korean?

It's called kenbu (剣舞) or kenshibu (剣詩舞). There's an English-language history on the Araki-ryu/Toyoda-ryu website (click on 'kenshibu'): http://www1.winknet.ne.jp/~meirin/English/eindex.html

[sirius1906]

It's called kenbu (剣舞) or kenshibu (剣詩舞). There's an English-language history on the Araki-ryu/Toyoda-ryu website (click on 'kenshibu'): http://www1.winknet.ne.jp/~meirin/English/eindex.html

Dennis posted this kenbu (剣舞) on youtube a while ago.

part 1 http://youtube.com/watch?v=eqjJOqO3Y9Q
part 2 http://youtube.com/watch?v=zWWXIH7il5E

[Kagerou]

The actual korean stuff looks similar in concept to taekwondo. Modernize and turn it into a sport. It seems to have been done in a reasonable fashion, but you still get nutty Mcdojoites who have to add the xtreme to it to make themselves feel big and important.

[KO1598]

I'm korean and even i dont believe the history. If its soley korean why do they wear hakamas and use the same strikes as in kendo. Real korean swordsmanship is like chinese swordplay although koreans did use 2 handed swords a lot more. the clothing is the biggest clue in telling you its not korean. Koreans wear pants and light shirts with often for nobles a much bigger surcoat that went over the their regular shirt and extended to the bottom of their legs and gave the appearance of a skirt but actually had cuts in the side up to their waist so they could move better.

[Kendoka_Han]

here is something that addresses your question/comment.

:55 for cutting objects in the air; 8:55 seems impressive as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LowYYaphkxc


their history might be made up and embellished, but some of their sword skills, esp. cutting skills, seem pretty impressive to my untrained eyes

They are as well quite impressive, if I take it as a non-kendo point of view. In my opinion, there are wasted moves, and in my opinion, my 6th and 4th Dan sensei's would literally shame these guys techniques / in a real kendo fight.

Btw, these are kata forms of fighting yes?

EDIT: I have to admit though, the near ending of that video, showcasing the cutting forms are actually impressive.