Kumdo – Korean Martial Arts
Kumdo (or Gumdo) is a sword-based Korean martial arts which is similar to Japanese Kendo.
According to US Hwa Rang Kwan Kumdo, “A direct translation of ‘Kumdo’ is ‘the way of the sword.’ The art of the sword in Korea evolved from a martial art heritage reaching back more than three thousand years to the time of the Bronze Age. Archeological records indicate that the sword and its art were a part of daily life in Korean antiquity to defend territorial hold extending from Manchuria to Korean peninsula and early settlements in the Japanese main island… By the early 20th century, Kumdo training had adopted and utilized a practice weapon made of bamboo and lightweight armor that had been developed by the Japanese. This method of practice largely replaced the earlier, more dangerous, methods of training. Yet, the Kumdo popularity had been limited until early 1960 when the practice armor could be mass produced with the latest materials. When Kumdo equipments became easily available and affordable, the Kumdo population started to grow rapidly.”
Kumdo
References
- US Hwa Rang Kwan Kumdo, History of Kumdo, http://www.kumdo.com/history-of-kumdo/, Added – 01/09/14