HAIDONG GUMDO

Starting Class and Knowing the Basics

KiMaSeh ready stance, or “horse stance”, heal/ toe movements, by count

1) Hai 2) Dong 3) Gum 4) Do, end with knees turned in two fists width

apart

Pal Dodraw sword, one hand 45 degree cut, bring sword to defense position

Chun Mung Bae Gae center (straight) cut

Cha O Bae Gae left/right cuts

Sam Dan Bae Gae 3 cuts, center/left/right

Wing Ging O Bae Gae cross cut (two hands), waist high and chamber

Kwan Ja Bae Gae 6 cut combination, ending defense position

TaeToSeh stepping forward, into long stance (feet aligned), front knee bent turn

(pivot 180) defense, then turn (pivot 180) cutting

Pal Sang Seh one leg stance, “rooster stance” (Ku-gae Tok Nip PalSangSeh)

turn left (pivot 180), low sweeping block with (back of) sword, into

TaeToSeh, turn back right (pivot 180), lift left leg, (chin, elbow, knee in

alignment) sword held high, stepping forward, ChaYunSeh, (one hand) cross cut,

turn right (180), lift right leg, sword and arms held high, (chin, elbow, right knee in

alignment, toes pointed downward)

ChiYun Seh stepping forward, “pushing” sword into defense position,

Ahpro step forward , defense or cutting (BaeGae)

Dwiro step back

Charo step left

Oro step right

Ee O BaeGae (quickly) stepping forward (Ahpro) then back (Dwiro),

either cutting or defense; (variation) SaToSeh, short stance, cutting

(BaeGae) to ChaYunSeh, cutting (BaeGae); then stepping left (Charo) &

right (Oro), cutting (BaeGae)

SaToSeh short stance, knees bent turn (180 degrees), stepping, cutting or

defense, slide feet

ChoChung Seh

step forward, ChaYunSeh, 45 degree (one handed)cut left to right

(pivoting120 degrees), stepping TaeToSeh, then pivot back forward while

in TaeToSeh,, sword raised over head, (re-grip two hands) in front, left

elbow pointing down, right arm back.

GiYunSeh step forward, into ChaYunSeh, with sword low right side,

stepping Ahpro, Dwai, Charo, Oro

Forms: Sang-soo Gumbub Yedo Gumbub

1) Sang-soo Gumbub Il Bon 1) Yedo Gumbub Il bon

2) Ee Bon 2) Ee Bon

3) Sum Bon 3) Sum Bon

4) Sa Bon 4) Sa Bon

5) Oh Bon 5) Oh Bon

6) Youk Bon 6) Youk Bon

7) Chil Bon 7) Chil Bon

8) Pal Bon 8) Pal Bon

9) gKoo Bon 9) gKoo Bon

10 Ship Bon

11) Ship-Il Bon

12) Ship-Ee Bon

Black Belt Forms

Shimsang Gumbub (by Cho dan)

Yedo Gumbub (by Ee dan)

Bon-guk Gumbub

Jang-paek Gumbub)

Um-yang Gumbub

Tae-guk Gumbub

Hai-Dong Gumbub

Ssang Gumbub (two blades)

Breathing Exercise

DaJung : (Breathing in through the nose and exhale through nose)

From a KiMaSeh stance; start by breathing with arms, two times, and then

say aloud, Chun (sky), Gi (Land), In (human), Tul,(together), Moo

(nothing), Guk (self-defeating), finishing with hands held in front above

head. Then practice breathing from sitting position.

Tan Jun Ho Hoop: Energy Building Mediation

Kae-une-ki-gog: Calming Practice

The Meaning of “ Haidong Gumdo”

It appears that there has been an attempt to trace the lineage of the Haidong Gumdo back to the Kokuryo

Kingdom, specifically mentioning King Kwang Kaeto (371-384 AD). Other

figures, one named General YuYu and another, a monk referred to as the

Sulbong Sunim, are mentioned as playing significant roles in the original

organization of this lineage of training. It is important to note that the name

of Haidong Gumdo is a modern device. You will not find it referenced to a

martial art or system of training with this name in any history book. Though

in one sense it means: Korean Swordsmanship.

Korea was once thought of as the land of the East Sea and Haidong

Gumdo, it is thought, derives its name from Haidong Seongguk Balhae, a name for Balhae, an ancient

kingdom in the region of what is today northeastern Korea, northern China, and eastern Siberia.

The characters‟ for Hai and Dong carry several meanings. The general meanings are the Sea and the

East. Haidong refers to Korea and along the southern tip of Korea. It has other shades of meaning, however,

which are lost in translation. Dong means east. It can also refer to the rays of sunlight at dawn. Hai means

sea. It also refers to the energy of the sun. Gum refers to swords-specifically long bladed ones. Do has a

wide variety of meanings but they tend to revolve around the principle of the “way of life”. Do in this

context includes concepts such as areas of study, principle of behavior or paths of self–improvement, but it

is not limited to these meanings. It is perhaps best to keep multiple meanings in mind and not allow the

experience of the art to be shaped by just one facet.

The name HDGD was designed to reflect the tradition of swordsmanship in Korea. It was also

coined to bring to mind the image of the sun‟s first rays glinting from an upraised sword. The character of a

people and how they train is more resistant to change and this is part of what the choice of name is trying to

relate about Korean swordsmanship. As swords have evolved over the centuries so too must the methods of

employing them. HDGD is striving to preserve the intangible of Korean Swordsmanship. The art employs‟

one class of weapon and a practical body of techniques to provide students with a path to self-improvement

and discovery.

History:

HDGD is related to but different from Taehan Gumdo, which is based more on the Japanese style of sword

techniques more commonly known as Kendo. Unlike Taehan Gumdo, HDGD does not use armor and does

not usually have sparring. HDGD focuses instead on precision cutting, sword routines and difficult forms

done in various stances and with many swords techniques.

In 1789, King Jeongjo, ruler of the Yi dynasty, ordered General Yi Deok Mu to compile an official textbook

on all martial art forms then present in Korea to preserve them for future generations. The result, the Mu-

Ye-Do-Bo-Tong-Ji, is the only surviving classical text on the Korean arts of war. Mu-Ye-Yi-Sip-Sa-Ban,

literally translated as 24 Technique Martial Art, is made up of the 24 arts of the Mu-Ye-Do-Bo-Tong-Ji.

Based on the earliest known Korean martial arts treatise, the Mu-Ye-Je-Bo written in 1599, and the Mu-Ye-

Do-Bo-Tong-Ji clearly shows the influence of the neighboring Japanese and Chinese armies.

The text Moo Yeh Do Bok Tong Gi, "The Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of the Martial Arts." is the

primary remaining document from which modern Korean martial art sword practitioners turn to search out

their foundational history.

And although recent translations of the Mu Yei Tobo Tongji into

English provide some insight in the study of Korean martial art

history, it is still difficult following the Japanese occupation of Korea

(1592) to find confirming studies/texts, however, here are several

(web-based) version of HDGD history with a common theme:

The prevalent state of warfare in Korea gave these Korean

warriors the opportunity to practice their sword techniques and find out which techniques neutralized their

enemies most efficiently and effectively. One group of warriors--Samurang--who lived in the Koguryo (or

Kokuryo) Kingdom nearly 2,000 years ago, became particularly skilled at swordsmanship. Their training

hall was located on Mt. Baekdu (which rests on the North Korea-China border) and they were led by a

master swordsman named Sul Bong, who had great spirituality. Sul Bong not only taught his students the

deadliest sword techniques, but also told them to live their lives according to the ideals of Choong (loyalty),

Hyo (filial piety), Ye (propriety), Eui (justice), Shin (trust), Ji (knowledge), Duk (generosity) and Che

(sound body).

The Samurang spread the vision of living each day with righteousness and justice, and under the command

of General Uel Ji Moon Duk, fended off 2 million soldiers during the invasion of the Sui Dynasty. They

also defeated 600,000 Tang soldiers at the Ahn Shi battle under the command of General Yang Man Choon.

Through the centuries, the sword techniques that the Samurang perfected were passed down from warrior to

warrior until, in the 1970's, they reached a spiritual wanderer named Jang Baek-San.

Jan Baek-San, living on Kwanak Mountain, found an eager and talented student in Grandmaster

Jeong-Ho Kim. He taught Grandmaster Jeong-Ho Kim Haidong Gumdo. Grandmaster Jeong-Ho Kim is

the President of The World Haidong Gumdo Federation, in Korea, an organization that is spreading the art

of Haidong Gumdo all over the world. There are well over 1,000 schools in more than 30 other countries

(2005).

Another version:

Haidong Gumdo is the art of the Samurang, who were a group of elite warriors in the kingdom of

Goguryeo, originating around 300 AD. They were created by General Yu Yu and trained in martial arts,

with a heavy emphasis on swordsmanship and the concepts of patriotism, filial piety and respecting the

elderly. In the centuries to come, they grew to become an enormously powerful military force, and also

served as military advisors when Goguryeo was at its peak. Their era ended around 670 AD, when political

changes stripped them of governmental support. Some of them are said to have withdrawn to further their

studies at a dojang in the vicinity of the Sam Ji Lake in the Baekdu Mountains, where a master named Sul

Bong continued to educate them in the martial arts.

Samurang was a title given only to the best of his pupils and the World Haidong Gumdo Federation thus

uses the title in its grading system. Samurang is also the name given to the dojang in each country where the

highest ranked master is teaching the martial art (this is usually the first dojang to be established).

The modern and global development of Haidong Gumdo started when Master Kim Jeong Ho received

teaching from Master Jang Back San at Chun-in temple in the Kwan-Ak Mountains in 1961.

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 Japanese ideal of "one strike,

one kill" is prevalent in Japanese kendo (kumdo), even today. The Korean technique primarily focuses on

one-versus-many, or battlefield combat.

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.

Yet another version: You will notice some similarities to the formation of Tang Soo Do with this one.

In the fourth century of the Common Era a new system of metallurgy was introduced to the Korea

Peninsula from China. This introduction gave birth to a new and superior weaponry.At this juncture of

history, Korea was divided into three warring kingdoms: Koguryo, Silla, and Paekche. Due to this fact,

beginning in the fifth century C.E., formalized groups of warriors came into existence on the Korean

Peninsula. These warriors embraced Buddhism and devoted themselves to the cultivation of moral values,

based in Confucian ideology. These warriors took martial warfare to a new and much more refined level of

understanding than had been previously embraced. Among these armies were the Kyong Dang of Koguryo

and, most notably, the Hwa Rang of Silla.

The Hwa Rang were formed during the reign of King Chin Heung. They were

an elite, warrior corps, made up of young noblemen. These warriors trained their

bodies and minds in all forms of martial understanding. The Hwa Rang, through

refined military strategy, defeated their neighboring armies and unified the three

Korean kingdoms. Throughout history, Korea has looked to the Hwa Rang for

inspiration for the martial art tradition

Note: the above versions are referenced from a number of web sites and from different schools, which have

been practicing/teaching HDGD in the USA and Canada. You will notice an inconsistency in the spelling of

various places, names, and Korean sword terminology due to the Romanizing of the underlying language(s).

For example the kingdom of Kokuryo, or Koguryo or Goguryo.

The Sword

When you start HDGD you will be given a wooden sword, Mok Gum, a basic practicing weapon

made of varnished, hard wood, (oak, maple). The sword is slightly “curved”, with a thicker rounded front

and tapered toward the back and it closely resembles a real metal sword. Approx. 40 inches and 600 grams

in weight. There is no scabbard nor hand guard. Besides learning basic techniques, to include cuts (Begi),

drawing (Paldo) and sheathing (Chakkom), it is also used to extinguish candles (Ch’otbul Kkûgi). The

number of candles (usually 1-6) and the number of attempts at extinguishing them will depend on the order

of rank.

Basic parts of the wooden sword: Mok Gum

Vocabulary:

Pick up sword: (gum tehseyo)

Put down sword: (gum doseyo)

Uniform: Top (OoDo Rie), Pants (Baji)

In addition to the wooden sword (Mok Gum), and at a time determined by your instructor, you will

begin to use a metal sword. They can vary from a light hollow metal bladed sword, to ones made of

aluminum (Ka Gum) that are sharp at the tip and with a thin, though blunt blade (not a sharpened edge) and

can be used for the cutting of paper or clay. Some of these swords make a whistling sound to help train the

user in the proper technique during cutting drills. Additionally they may come with a wooden or plastic

scabbard (Gum Jeep). Care should be exercised during forward rolls (Nak bop) in higher forms, as the

scabbard can break easily if not properly “tucked” in front.

Gumtun, back

Gum charu, handle

Gumko, nose

Gumnal, edge

Besides the metal sword(s) there is a bamboo (Chukdo) or (Juk do) sword, strips of bamboo bound

with a leather handle and leather tip, with a rubber or plastic hand guard

and a yellow string running the

length of the sword to denote

the back of the sword. It is used

in light sparring drills.

The “real” sword Jin Gum is used as one approaches the rank of black belt in the cutting of Taenamu begi

(bamboo), Sinmunji begi (news paper), Kagmok charugi (board) as well as wet grass mats, Jeepdan begi.

Master Park: Diagonal cut through bamboo with a Jin Gum

Juk do

Starting Class and Knowing the Basics

Joonbe ready stance,

KiMaSeh “horse stance”, heal/ toe movements, by count:

Gum Nal (blade)

Gum YaPaKaRi (opening)

Gum YaRu (hilt)

Gum Ko, (nose)

Gum YaRuMoRie

(cap)

Gum Jeep (scabbard)

Gyok ChaBu (cutting area)

Ko DunGi (guard)

Gum Pae (side of blade)

Gum Deung (back)

Gum Jeep Hyom (cord)

Gum Hyuk Do (channel groove)

1) Hai 2) Dong 3) Gum 4) Do,

2) End with knees turned in

Pal Do draw sword, one hand 45 degree cut, bring sword to defense position

Chun Mung Bae Gae ( or Baggi) center (straight) cut

Chwa BaeGae & U Bae Gae (or Baggi) left cut & right cut

Chao U BaeGae left/right cuts

Sam Dan Bae Gae 3 cuts, center/left/right

Wing Ging O Bae Gae cross cut (two hands), waist high and chamber

Kwan Ja Bae Gae 6 cut combination, ending defense position

TaeToSeh stepping forward, into long stance (feet aligned), front

knee bent, turn (pivot 180) defense, then turn (pivot 180) cutting

Pal Sang Seh one leg stance, “rooster stance” (Kumgye Tok Nip

PalSangSeh) turn left (pivot 180), low sweeping block with

(back of) sword, into TaeToSeh, turn back right (pivot 180), lift left leg, (chin, elbow, left knee

in alignment) sword held high, stepping forward, ChaYunSeh, (one hand) cross cut, turn right

(180), lift right leg, sword and arms held high, (chin, elbow, right knee in alignment, toes pointed

downward)

ChiYun Seh stepping forward, “pushing” sword into defense position,

Ahpro step forward , defense or cutting (BaeGae)

Dwiro step back

Charo step left

Oro step right

Ee O BaeGae (quickly) stepping forward (Ahpro) then back (Dwiro), either

cutting or defense; (variation) SaToSeh, short stance, cutting (BaeGae) to ChaYunSeh,

cutting (BaeGae); then stepping left (Charo) & right (Oro), cutting (BaeGae)

SaeToSeh short stance, knees bent turn (180 degrees), stepping, cutting or defense,

slide feet

TaeTo Seh

ChoChung Seh

step forward, ChaYunSeh, make a 45 degree (one handed) cut left to right

(pivoting120 degrees), stepping TaeToSeh, then pivot back forward while in TaeToSeh,,

sword raised over head, (re-grip two hands) in front, left elbow pointing

down, right arm back.

GiYunSeh (also Chiha se) step forward, into ChaYunSeh, with sword

low right side, stepping Ahpro, Dwai, Charo, Oro

Miscelleous Vocabulary

Pom Sae tiger stance

Bok ho sae (pokhosae) crouching tiger stance (as in form #7 a deep

taedo sae)

Twig jump

Pung cha kurugi cartwheel

Paro relax return to ready stance

Wesu Baggi one handed cut

Hyung

Sang-soo Gumbub Yedo Gumbub (black belt forms) 1) Sang-soo Gumbub: Il Bon 1) Il bon

2) Ee Bon 2) Ee Bon

3) Sum Bon 3) Sum Bon

4) Sa Bon 4) Sa Bon

5) Oh Bon 5) Oh Bon

6) Youk Bon 6) Youk Bon

7) Chil Bon 7) Chil Bon

8) Pal Bon 8) Pal Bon

9) gKoo Bon 9) gKoo Bon

10 Ship Bon

11) Ship-Il Bon

13) Ship-Ee Bon

14) Shimsang Gumbub by Chodan

Group Names of Additional Forms (Hyung)

Yedo Gumbub (by Ee dan)

Bon-guk Gumbub

Jang-paek Gumbub)

Um-yang Gumbub

Tae-guk Gumbub

Hai-Dong Gumbub

Ssang Gumbub (two blades)

Breathing Exercise

DaJung : (Breathing in through the nose and exhaling through nose)

From a KiMaSeh stance; start by breathing with arms,(wide cicles) two times, and then

say aloud, Chun (sky), Gi (Land), In (human), Tul,(together), Moo (nothing), Guk (self-

defeating), finishing with hands held in front above head. Then practice breathing from

sitting position.

Tan Jun Ho Hoop: Energy Building Mediation

Kae-une-ki-gog: Calming Practice

General Terms

Kwan Jang Neem: Grand Master Danjan hohup: deep breathing

Sa Bum Neem: Instructor Doboak: uniform

Dojang: workout area Gam sa hamnida: thank you

Tae Kooki: Korean flag(kooki) Chamamiyo: you are welcome

Song Jukki: American flag Jyuk gum: sparring techniques

Seejack: begin Sangsoo Gumbup: two handed sword form

Joonbe: ready stance Parts of uniform:

Kyunge: bow Ba Ji: pants, OoDoRie: top, Tdi: belt

Kiap: yell Maettop: tie(should be horizontal)

Chariot: attention Put down sword: gum naeryeo noeseyo (gum doseyo)

Gum bup: sword law Pick up sword: gumneuseyo (gum tehseyo)

Gum (Sword)

Paldo: draw sword Gumgeut: end (pommel)

Chakgum: return sword Yol-do: groove in jingum

Mokgum: wooden sword Gumkey: ear of sword

Kagum: blunt metal sword Sun ja be: hilt

Chukdo: bamboo sword Gumbae: stomach of sword

Jingum: sharp sword Gumtung: back/ridge of sword

Gumjip: scabbard Jip jabee: scabbard handgrip

Gumnal: sharp edge of blade Gum charu: handle

Gum mak-e: hand guard Nalgay: wing of sword

Gumko; nose of sword

Baggi (Cutting) and Stepping

Ahp roh: step forward Chwa baggi: left cut

Twerro: step back Sandan baggi: 3 cut, C-L-R

Chungmyôn baggi: center cut Bit kwang cha baggi: 6 cut

Chao u baggi: left right cut Yun-suk baggi: multiple cuts

Ee-oh baggi: continuous cuts Makki: block

Ollyo baggi: upwards cut Kip: slash with tip

Ewro: right U baggi: right cut

Chwa: left Hwengdan baggi: horizontal cut

Naera: downward cut Nae-ryo baggi: diagonal cut

Dae gak baggi: angle cut Chirûgi: thrust (stab)

Jase (Stances)

Joonbe: ready stance Ban: “half” stance, ie-ban jochunse (as in SG#6)

Ki ma sae: horse riding stance Sodo sae: small stance (crouching stance)

Daedo: long stance (large stance) Cha yon sae: natural stance

Jo chun sae: sky holding sword stance Ji ha sae: shaking blood and dirt off

Keum gae teung gae p’al sang sae: Bok ho se (pokho-se): crouching tiger stance

Vertical blocking rooster stance Jase bakaso (chase pakkuseyo): change stance

Pôm-se: tiger stance to opposite direction

Kyeon juk sae: fighting stance (gum eye level)

Miscellaneous

P’ungch’a-kurugi: cartwheel Utmom irûk’igi: sit-ups

Ch’otbul Kkûgi: candle extinguishing Nakbôp rolls, only forward it seems

P’algup hyôpyôki: push-ups Sinmunji beggi: newspaper slicing

Twig: jump Sukyô chugi; stretching

Taenamu beggi: bamboo cut

Counting

1-10 Korean: Hanna, Dul, Set, Net, Dasut, Yasut, Ilgop, Yuadol, Ahop, Yul

By 10’s: Yul, Sumul, Sorhun, Morhun, Shiun, Yesun, Elun, Yodun, Ahun, Bahk

1-12 Chinese: Il, EE, Sahn, Sah, Oh, Yuk, Chil, Pahl, Koo, Sip, Sip-il, Sip-ee

Sword Techniques: oo-ee-gi-bom] sword technique

[pal-do] draw sword

[chak-gom] sheathe sword

[gyeon-jock] guard position. This position may vary a bit depending on stance, but generally the sword

tip is angled toward an opponent‟s neck, while the butt of the hilt is held hovering near your center (your

belt or your belly button).

[mock-go] a block

[goat-aw-dae-gi] to swing your sword sideways to knock aside an opponent‟s blade with the side of your

own blade. A parry.

Competition Techniques:

[chot-bool-goo-gi] Snuffing candles with only your sword‟s air. This is often done even at the early belt

levels.

[jong-ee-beh-gi] Cutting paper held only lightly at the corners without pulling it out from its clips or

tearing it. This is usually done vertically, horizontally, or at 45-degree angles left or right. Typically

done by students with high level colored belts or black belts.

[gock-mok-ja-ru-gi] Breaking slats of wood suspended by strips of rice paper without tearing the paper.

Typically done by students at the Poong-Dee level, or red/black belt.

[jeep-dan-beh-gi] Cutting a bundle or bundles of wet rice grass at different angles. This may be done in

groups of 1 to 9 bundles, 9 being very difficult to cut all in one swipe. Typically done at 1st degree black

belt.

[dae-na-mu beh-gi] Cutting bamboo at different angles, usually 45-degree angles left or right, horizontal

cuts, or vertical cuts. Typically done at 1st degree black belt.

[mool-chay-beh-gi] Tossed object cutting, where you might throw a ping-pong ball, orange, or tennis

ball into the air and slice it before it hits the ground. Typically done at 2nd

degree black belt.

Stances:

[ja-sae] Stance, you may hear a stance with „ja-sae‟ in it instead of just „sae.‟

[gi-ma-sae] Horse Riding Stance

[dae-do-sae] Long Stance

[so-do-sae] Low Stance

[bom-sae] Tiger Stance

[poke-ho-pal-gwon-sae] Crouching Tiger Stance

[cha-yon-sae] Natural Stance

[choong-dan-sae] Walking Ready Stance

[jo-chun-sae] Sky Stance

[ji-ha-sae] Earth Stance

gum-gye-dong-nim-bal-sang-sae] High Sword Stance

[gum-gye-dong-nim-bal-sang-sae] Crane Stance

*Please note that the names given for the stances may have been simplified for ease of learning.