Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Canerican]

So I mentioned getting into some exercise/doing a sport while I'm here to my fellow teachers. The word kendo got into the conversation and, being a dork and remembering a really old computer game I used to play, I was all "DUDE THAT WOULD BE AWESOME". I got a few weird looks and one of them asked if I'd rather learn taekwondo, but I said no; after all, who'd use your bare hands when you can swing something sharp around?

One of the teachers volunteered to walk me down to the place so I could talk to the instructor (small area; very few people speak English). They were willing to let me in on the classes, but it wasn't until after I got back to the classroom that I was able to settle down with someone who spoke English again, who informed me that the classes are all middle school and high school students -- no one practices kendo after they grow up. I'd be the only adult in the class, ever.

Being flustered and a bit embarassed by this, I have to ask -- has this happened to anyone else? Is it really a kids-only sport over here? There's so much kendo stuff worldwide that I find it hard to believe there are no adult classes anywhere in Korea.

[yawarakaijin]

I always thought it considerably strange that Koreans would play Kendo. They call it Kum-do or something like that don't they? For all their intense hatred of Japan due to it's wartime aggression against Korea isn't it odd they decide to play to Japan's most pure budo "way of the warrior" sport?

As for korea im not sure but plenty of adults play and study kendo in Japan. It was/is part of the school curriculum in many areas but it is often continued way into adulthood.

[exit86]

Welcome to the state of martial arts in Korea.
Yes, you are correct, komdo is kendo. (Though Haedong Komdo
was invented to "Koreanize" this Japanese art; the same goes for
yudo (judo), and for taekwondo [karate altered a bit and made
a source of national pride])
Actually, any martial art in Korea with the suffix "do" has its roots
in Japan (with the exception of Hwarangdo which is a 100% modern
Korean fabrication [meaning: somebody made it up recently]).

Most martial arts in Korea are fairly comparable to "Little League"
baseball or soccer back home; cute for the little kiddies and something to keep the older kiddies busy. You are correct, very few adults (meaning:
university age and above) find the time to train. Korea never was a "Martial arts" culture like Japan, with its millenia of warfare
and worship of the sword. Korea in the past has ridden the Japanese
Wave in this respect, directly or indirectly marketing itself to the Western countries as a martial arts culture, but this is simply untrue.
The one true martial art which Koreans have traditionally been known for and which they excelled at through the ages--
archery--is a long-dead discipline here, except for rich high school kiddies aspiring to be Olympic stars. Taekyon is another story altogether--"Korean" yes, but connected with the hwarang--doubtful; and, having existed traditionally as it does at present--very doubtful.

Funny, but true.

Don't be fooled by anyone trying to sell their "Korean" martial art
(besides archery and taekyon) as wholly independent of the Japanese tradition. It is a lie.