miguksaram
06-13-2003, 08:26 AM
(Writer's note: This particular report is based on the Dae Han systme of Kumdo which has not relations to the Hai Dong Kumdo system. It is a system based of the the Japanese style of Kendo. The information presented in this report is based on the study of several researches done on the history of Kumdo. Since there is so much controversy surrounding its origins, I suggest that you research for yourself and draw your own conclusions.)
Kumdo, it is as deadly as it is beautiful.Kum (sword) Do (way or path) literally translates to "Sword Way". Its origins are a mystery due to its close-knit resemblance to the Japanese art of Kendo. Because of this resemblance many practitioners of the martial arts believe that Kumdo is nothing more than the Korean word for Kendo and that it is a purely Japanese art practiced in Korea.
"This little known system of Martial Arts was founded in June 1948. At this historic point in time, many new systems of Korean martial arts came into existence. Due to the long period of Japanese occupation, many of these new schools were influenced, to varying degrees, by the Japanese understanding of the martial arts. Kumdo was no exception."(KD) This
tends to be a very popular ideal since the Japanese occupation of Korea called for a total ban on Korean martial arts. However Japanese martial arts were taught to some Koreans both in Korea and Japan.
What about prior to the Japanese occupation? Didn't Korea have sword arts before then?
The answer is most definitely, yes. An interview, by Taekwondo Times, with Mr. Duk Young Kim, president of the World Kum Do Association, states that Korean sword practice has been around since the period of the Three Kingdoms. "Hwa Rang Do especially contributed to making all Korean martial arts systemic. Keueng Do (bow and arrow art), Kum Do were developed as martial arts for the defense of the fatherland during the period of the Silla Dynasty. According to many historians, all Japanese martial arts were inherited from Korea."(WKA) "Korean Buddhism and the Hwa Rang warriors directly influenced the initial development of the Japanese Samurai in the 6th century C.E."(KD) Another source of proof of sword arts existing prior to Japanese occupation is a book, which dates back to the 1700's, called the Mu Yea Do Bo Tong Ji. This book depicts written, and illustrated, documentation of uniformed practice of the sword as well as other weapon and weaponless arts.
So, if Kumdo has roots that date back so far into Korean history, why isn't it more distinguishable from Japanese Kendo? Why was there no other documentation on Kumdo outside of the Mu Yea Do Bo Tong Ji?
These are two questions that tend to be the biggest gap in the history of Kumdo. One thing we would have to look at is the cultural structure of Korea compared to Japan. During the Choson Dynasty in the 15th century, Korea switched from a warrior class society to a scholar driven society. Because of this change, martial arts were looked down upon as something for thugs and peasants. As a result, Korean martial arts weren't developed. Japan on the other hand remained a Feudalistic society. This resulted in deeper development of martial arts, especially the sword.
During the occupation of Japan in Korea, many Korean books were destroyed and a lot of written history lost. This is a good reason why we have not seen any other books on Kumdo prior to Japanese occupation. Mr. Jung Hak Seo, founder of the Korean Kum Do Association, stated "Until the day of Korea's liberation from Japan on August 15, 1945, Kum Do was called Guek Do and included full body contact. in 1950, the first sword art tournament was held. We have called this art Kum Do ever since then."(WKA) One big trademark of the Kumdo, which is not found in Kendo, is Bon Gook Gum Bup.
"...'Bon Gook Gum Bup'.... is the oldest sword technique in the world. About 2000 years ago'Bon Gook Bum Bup', constituted with 33 movements, was developed by Silla's Hwa Rang warriors to defend their territorial hold."(KK) However, many who believe that Kumdo is Kendo, say that the Bon Gook Gum Bup is nothing more than a modern recreation of movements found in the Mu Yea Do Bo Tong Ji.
In the beginning I suggested that the reader should not draw conclusions from this article, but should instead go out to do his or her own research. It is more than obvious that there still needs to be more done to discover the true origins of Kumdo and its relations with Kendo as well as other Korean and Japanese sword arts. No matter what the origins are, no one can deny that Kumdo is a beautiful and deadly art that encompasses mind, body and spirit.
Website for references:
http://www.wka.org
http://kumdo.co.kr
http://www.scottshaw.com/kumdo
http://www.kumdo.com
Jeremy M. Talbott
http://www.koreanma.homestead.com/index.html
http://www.martialscience.homestead.com/home.html
Kumdo, it is as deadly as it is beautiful.Kum (sword) Do (way or path) literally translates to "Sword Way". Its origins are a mystery due to its close-knit resemblance to the Japanese art of Kendo. Because of this resemblance many practitioners of the martial arts believe that Kumdo is nothing more than the Korean word for Kendo and that it is a purely Japanese art practiced in Korea.
"This little known system of Martial Arts was founded in June 1948. At this historic point in time, many new systems of Korean martial arts came into existence. Due to the long period of Japanese occupation, many of these new schools were influenced, to varying degrees, by the Japanese understanding of the martial arts. Kumdo was no exception."(KD) This
tends to be a very popular ideal since the Japanese occupation of Korea called for a total ban on Korean martial arts. However Japanese martial arts were taught to some Koreans both in Korea and Japan.
What about prior to the Japanese occupation? Didn't Korea have sword arts before then?
The answer is most definitely, yes. An interview, by Taekwondo Times, with Mr. Duk Young Kim, president of the World Kum Do Association, states that Korean sword practice has been around since the period of the Three Kingdoms. "Hwa Rang Do especially contributed to making all Korean martial arts systemic. Keueng Do (bow and arrow art), Kum Do were developed as martial arts for the defense of the fatherland during the period of the Silla Dynasty. According to many historians, all Japanese martial arts were inherited from Korea."(WKA) "Korean Buddhism and the Hwa Rang warriors directly influenced the initial development of the Japanese Samurai in the 6th century C.E."(KD) Another source of proof of sword arts existing prior to Japanese occupation is a book, which dates back to the 1700's, called the Mu Yea Do Bo Tong Ji. This book depicts written, and illustrated, documentation of uniformed practice of the sword as well as other weapon and weaponless arts.
So, if Kumdo has roots that date back so far into Korean history, why isn't it more distinguishable from Japanese Kendo? Why was there no other documentation on Kumdo outside of the Mu Yea Do Bo Tong Ji?
These are two questions that tend to be the biggest gap in the history of Kumdo. One thing we would have to look at is the cultural structure of Korea compared to Japan. During the Choson Dynasty in the 15th century, Korea switched from a warrior class society to a scholar driven society. Because of this change, martial arts were looked down upon as something for thugs and peasants. As a result, Korean martial arts weren't developed. Japan on the other hand remained a Feudalistic society. This resulted in deeper development of martial arts, especially the sword.
During the occupation of Japan in Korea, many Korean books were destroyed and a lot of written history lost. This is a good reason why we have not seen any other books on Kumdo prior to Japanese occupation. Mr. Jung Hak Seo, founder of the Korean Kum Do Association, stated "Until the day of Korea's liberation from Japan on August 15, 1945, Kum Do was called Guek Do and included full body contact. in 1950, the first sword art tournament was held. We have called this art Kum Do ever since then."(WKA) One big trademark of the Kumdo, which is not found in Kendo, is Bon Gook Gum Bup.
"...'Bon Gook Gum Bup'.... is the oldest sword technique in the world. About 2000 years ago'Bon Gook Bum Bup', constituted with 33 movements, was developed by Silla's Hwa Rang warriors to defend their territorial hold."(KK) However, many who believe that Kumdo is Kendo, say that the Bon Gook Gum Bup is nothing more than a modern recreation of movements found in the Mu Yea Do Bo Tong Ji.
In the beginning I suggested that the reader should not draw conclusions from this article, but should instead go out to do his or her own research. It is more than obvious that there still needs to be more done to discover the true origins of Kumdo and its relations with Kendo as well as other Korean and Japanese sword arts. No matter what the origins are, no one can deny that Kumdo is a beautiful and deadly art that encompasses mind, body and spirit.
Website for references:
http://www.wka.org
http://kumdo.co.kr
http://www.scottshaw.com/kumdo
http://www.kumdo.com
Jeremy M. Talbott
http://www.koreanma.homestead.com/index.html
http://www.martialscience.homestead.com/home.html
