Hello from Maryland

[Daniel Sullivan]

Greetings to all,

I have posted once on a topic about a month or two ago, but aside from that, I have pretty much just lurked.

I practice hapkido in Maryland and while I have practiced other arts for a very long time, hapkido and kumdo have become my primary focus, hapkido in particular as of late.

Looks like a lot of people much more knowledgeable than myself post here, so I am looking forward to participating here.

My thanks,

Daniel

[mateo]

Welcome the to forum.

Don't worry about the 'knowledgable' thing. Fresh eyes often mean fresh insights.

It isn't a bad idea to look through past posts to see if issues have been talked to death already, though.

Good to have you here.

Do you do 'conventional kumdo' (kendo-like practise with helmet, armour and bamboo sword) or haedong kumdo or another variety?

[Daniel Sullivan]

Thank you for the welcome!

Our system has both the Daehan Kumdo (i.e. Korean Kendo) and kum beop. We have two kibon hyung, eight hyung, and ten partnered hyung. Nothing that is as flashy as some of the HDGD that I have seen.

Daniel

[Thomas]

Greetings and welcome!

[mateo]

Thank you for the welcome!

Our system has both the Daehan Kumdo (i.e. Korean Kendo) and kum beop. We have two kibon hyung, eight hyung, and ten partnered hyung. Nothing that is as flashy as some of the HDGD that I have seen.

Daniel

Cool.

[jinmukwan]

Welcome,

Do you practice target cutting? Do you have different sets of single forms, cutting forms, paired forms?

Just currious.

Again welcome,

[Bruce W Sims]

Thanks Daniel...and welcome.

Can you say more about the GOM BOP that you practice. Has your teacher provided any background for it? Like Todd (Miller) I would also like to know more about your cutting practices as well as your HYUNG. If it is of any help the five beginning hyung to the GOM BOP that I practice can be found on YAHOO Video.

[yahoo]http://video.yahoo.com/watch/2004109/6412493[/yahoo]

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/2004109/6412493


Best Wishes,

Bruce

[Daniel Sullivan]

Hello Bruce,

Ours are definitely not Hwarang Gom-Bop, though I am not sure where ours ultimately came from. Our forms are more linear than the ones in your link, though they share the same techniques. They are simply called hanguk do beop hyung.

When I first joined, the school had a banner that had hanja reading international kendo federation South Korean headquarters. Our school materials and certificates all said US Korean Kumdo Federation in English and read in hangul, Hankuk jeong tong kumdo Hyeophoe In (my best Romanization) which I was told translated to Korean orthodox kumdo federation. I was also told that GM Kim came from Korea with three others all using the same federation logo. One went down south and two went out west. This was told to me by the school's head kumdo instructor, as our GM did not have the English (nor I the Korean) to discuss it in any detail. I also know that he trained in kendo and aikido in Japan, though I do not know the time frame or length of study.

About three years ago, our GM changed all of the logos and such to Korean Kumdo Federation and essentially went independent, the federation applying to our original school and the two satellite schools.

The basic standing form is 16 postures holding the sword with two hands but with no cuts, the first three hyung are two handed and have cuts. The fourth hyung is similar to the basic hyung, but is postures with a one handed grip, switching from left to right. Five and six are left and right handed use of the weapon, seven is left and right handed use of the weapon, but cuts are made with a reverse grip. Eight is both one and two handed.

After first dan, there are three forms, all of which are similar to six through seven, but with two short swords. Those hyung are called sang do beop.

It has been roughly six years since I asked GM Kim about our kumdo lineage, and to be honest, I have focused in training in kumdo and hapkido without too much thought as to the lineage of our sword hyung.

Thank you again for the warm welcome!

Daniel

[Bruce W Sims]

Thanks, Daniel, for all of the great information. Much appreciated.

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[Daniel Sullivan]

You're welcome Bruce.

Just a follow up: we also have a federation banner that reads International Kumdo Pub. The logo is a taegeuk, red on top, blue on bottom, inside of a blue circle that has to smaller taegeuks on either side. I am not sure if anyone is familiar with them at all or not.

Daniel