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Haidong Gumdo is a significantly different style from Japanese Kendo or Korean Kumdo, emphasizing a "battlefield" style of combat over the one-on-one dueling style found in standard Kendo or Kumdo. As such, it is unrelated to modern, standard Kendo/Kumdo.
Haidong Gumdo reflects Korean cultural influences and methodology.
Haidong Gumdo derives its name from Haedong Seongguk Balhae, a name from Balhae, a medieval kingdom in the region of northeastern Korea, and southern Manchuria.
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Practitioners of Haidong Gumdo engage in the practice of basic techniques (kibon), forms (geompeob or hyungs), step sparring (yaksuk daeryun), sparring (hada), energy building exercises (qi gong) and cutting practice (begi).
Basic practice is done with the mokgum (wooden sword).
Haidong Gumdo may be generally characterized as exchanging multiple strikes of the sword for one strike of the sword. The one strike concept characterizes the Japanese method. The merits and limitations of each of the philosophies may be debated endlessly. Probably the best way to characterize the main difference between Japanese Kendo and the Korean Haidong Gumdo styles is through training philosophy:
The Japanese technique primarily focuses on one-versus-one, or individual combat.
The Korean technique primarily focuses on one-versus-many, or battlefield combat.
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The essence of Haidong Gumdo is in shimgum.
Shimgum is the unification of the mind, body and spirit expressing itself through the use of the sword. It implies a technical mastery of the sword, but transcends technical limitations. One can be "technically perfect" but still not achieve shimgum. One may also be technically imperfect and still achieve shimgum. Shimgum is what makes Haidong Gumdo not only a martial science but also a martial art.
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Master David Benson has been studying martial arts since 1980, training in Tang Soo Do, Tai Chi, Shotokan, Qi Gong and Haidong Gumdo. He started learning Haidong Gumdo(Korean Sword) in 2003 being taught by Master Oh under the supervision of Master Park in Levittown, Pa
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