Korean Job Discussion Forums

[iain77]

I am thinking of trying it out, does anyone have any info, prices, set-up, levels, times per week? Thanks.

[bobohawke]

Hey i have been doing Kendo , Kumdo for eight years now i taught it in my country, i came to korea to study it more. Went to a competion two weeks ago here in Anyang , a great day.

You start off learning the basic steps then cuts and you have to repeat this over and over for three months.

Then you get to wear the gear, then it's like starting all over again but it's great crack. Very refreshing and exhilirating. Keeps you fit as well, builds up your stamina. The hardest part is the firt three months and keeping at it. If you can make that your fine then the fighting/ fencing begins.

You have picked the second best place in the world to start it, Korea have come second in nearly every World cahmpionships there have ever been ( 13 in all, held every 3 years, next one by the way is in Taipei , Taiwan in December this year ). Japan always win it.

I was at the last one Scotland, Glasgow, a great time. The competitions in Kendo, Kumdo are good fun.

You start off at 9th Kyu and progress up. With regular training and practice and passing grade exams you can make first black belt after about a year to a year and a half providing you pass. I failed my second black belt first try, it happens regularly enough to people.

Korean style and Japanese style are same but different, i studied Japan style and now Korean style.
In the Kata's ( stances and movements for grade exam ) the Korean style differs a bit, i actually really like the Korean style.

The gear will cost for Hakame( trousers/ skirt ) maybe 80 USD.
The Keikogi ( top ) will cost maybe 60 USD.

The gear will cost brand new for a reasonable set around 6 - 800 USD.

But if you join a club they might have spare ones to sell you or they even might let you use one so you dont have to buy one. But if you are serious about it buy your own. You can pay up to 10,000 USD or more for a real good one, but thats hand stitched, deer skin etc etc.

Then stick ( "shinai" in Japnese, Korean similar name ) will set you back about 20,000 KRW.

Classes are 80,000 won for the month and the great thing about Korea is they train every weekday usually 9 - 10 pm, but might differ in some clubs.

Also be prepared to get beaten up by 12 yr olds No joke some of these kids are wicked fast well they have been doing it all their lives.
Dont let that get to you it is one of the phiosophies of Kendo to learn from your juniors.

Well as you have probably gathered i am quite into my Kumdo.



best of luck with it, give it a try. If you want any info or help PM me k.

Some sites for the gear :

tozando.com

e-bogu.com or ebogu.com

I reckon you will get the equipment cheaper in Korea once you speak to the Sensei ( in Korea "SanBom nim" ).

Also it is a good way for learning Korean if you need to learn.

[iain77]

Thanks for the info, I am still mulling over it. It does look very interesting, and the gym is boring.

[kalkamagi]

bobohawke,
as far as kundo-jangs go, anything in particular to look for or are they all the same?
cheers

[bobohawke]

From what i gather they all follow the same rules and etiquette as all Kendo, Kumdo people do.

If the teacher is a couple of black belt grades which he/ she probably is you will be fine.

Just try to find how many adults train because you might end up training with all kids, not that this is bad but it is good to pitch yourself against people of your own age.

And it is good practice for competitons because if you enter a competition you will be fighting poeple in or around your age or sometimes older so if you training with kids all the time you wont be prepared for adult competitions.

[blackjack]

you could try hapkido,

also great fun, has some swords, but also kicks, rolls, flips, self defence and wrist holds. I've down a couple of others and this one is quite fun, not as hard core and painful as kickboxing, and more useful than Judo.

Once again 5 days a week (or however many days you can manage) around 80,000 a month and the kit only cost 35,000. (my gym used to give it free but the master has been burnt by a few waygooks that give it up after a month)

[iain77]

thanks again, i am thinking that i will do this.

[rothkowitz]

Kumdo is great fun.Sticking with the moves for 3 months is pretty difficult.More difficult still if your school start stuffing around with your schedule.

The gear isn't that expensive.

Uniform about 80.000 won
Wooden practice sword 20.000?Use a bamboo sword later.
Monthly fees were about 60.000

If you find a good place,with a cool sabonnim and others that can help describe things its great.

There are 2 styles here .The names escape me....

One style you practice for 3 months,the other you regularly spar (so a former co-worker told me)and has regular gradings.

[Missile Command Kid]

Any place in Daegu to do Kumdo, preferably in Dalseo-gu? Will it be a problem if I know virtually no Korean?

[Unreal]

I take haedong kumdo which focuses more on the forms and techniques for fighting multiple opponents rather than one-on-one sparring. We do a little sparring but not much. Mostly we practice individually with a wooden sword and memorize and practice different "gum-bap", which are set series of attacks and defenses. After getting a black belt, you can train to cut paper (not as easy as it sounds), straw and bamboo with a real sword. Both gyms I've been to charge 80,000 won per month for five one-hour classes per week.

[Hapkido-In]

Cutting paper with a real blade is easy. Just kidding.

Cutting paper with the wooden practice swords, now that's not as easy as it looks

I am currently practicing the left-right, and right-left double cut. KwonJongNim wants me to cut high on the first swing and catch the paper before it falls with the comeback. I swear I've cut down at least one rain forest practicing that.

Also, Kumdo is everywhere. You shouldn't have to look hard to find a gym in any city.

You don't need to know any Korean, and they don't need to know any English. Just do what they show you. When you start getting better, learn how to say "Show me". (Boi-ya Ju-sey-yo). Tell them "Oh-Bah-Chi-Gi Boi-Ya Ju-sey-yo" just for funsies and see what happens.

I do recommend learning how to read Korean, asking them to write down the names of the moves they teach you, and taking them home and memorizing them, though. That's a huge help.

Have fun. It's awesome exercise and it's something totally bad-ass to take back home with you when you're done.

[Tukkong]

My 2 cents.

I started Kumdo a couple of months ago. The place where I work has a Kumdo club, with a visiting 8th dan master (apparently, he is ranked number 2 or 3 in Korea). As well as Kumdo, I currently train in Gongkwon Yusul, having previously trained in Hapkido and Tukkong/Teukgong Moosool.

In my opinion, Kumdo is a relatively boring martial art at lower ranks when compared to other styles. There is immense repetition at lower ranks. Spending an hour practising the same strike or step, day in and day out, is not the most exciting. However, this is also one of its strengths as it develops self discipline. Its quite relaxing spending time concentrating on a basic move after a long day at work.

The reason I started Kumdo was to help with my other training. The higher ranks have great footwork and hand-eye coordination and timing.

Previously, I tried Haidong/Haedong Gumdo for a few months, several years ago. I did it to help with a shoulder injury. Haedong Gumdo was okay except the master was a bit of a git. He was very hung up on money.

I notice that quite a lot of Haedong gyms also do traditional Kumdo sparring. I also notice that quite a lot of Hapkido gyms also teach Haidong, so you might be able to cross train.

I think uniforms can be purchased for as little as 35,000 won. However, I paid that just for the top.

As with any martial art, give Kumdo a go and see what you think.

A good place to find a Daehan Kumdo dojang is http://www.kumdo.org/gym/gym.php

For other dojangs, try www.mooto.com

Cheers.

[Lostone7]

is there a kumdo club in Soechoen? or Kunsan anyone can recomend?

[faustkampf]

Gumdo/ Komdo is awesome. I went from being a depressed, homesick, Korea hating waygookeen to loving being in Korea just from komdo. I actually made friends outside of school, I felt acomplishment, and I could prove that just because I was a waygookeen didn't mean that I was a moron with everything Korean. (I'm assuming Koreans still wonder when a foreigner uses chopsticks or uses a single word of Korean).

[kimchi_pizza]

I couldn't have found a more suitable martial art for myself. I've been practicing Daehan Kumdo for about 5 months in Wonju and it's been a wonderful experience.

I've met Korean friends and awesome teachers and not a single negative experience.

Besides learning a martial art, it's also a great way to meet Korean friends, learn the language and understand the culture. Of course, it takes dedication, patience, an open mind and discipline. All the things that any martial art is ultimately focused on.

Though neither my Songsaenim nor Sabamnim speak English, they really go out of their way to help me out and encourage me to learn Korean as well (which I need a good kick in the butt for!)

For any exact info or details, anyone can PM me.

HEADS UP! The next World Kendo Competition will be in Taiwan! I plan on going with my teacher as I already spent 3 years there. This only happens every 3 years and the last one was in Scotland (I think..). So take advantage of our close proximity to Taiwan and Go! I think it's on Dec. 8 - 10.