Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Silverblue]

Hi everyone,

Could someone help me out. I am looking for Kendo (Kumdo in Korean I think?) classes on weekend or weekday mornings in the area of Suji. Anyone have any ideas??? Thanks.

Cheers,

[ariellowen]

Hi, welcome to the wonderful world of 검도. Please PM if you find any good classes as I'm interested too, or at least in 태관도. Good luck maybe we can spar. Beware, it's a little costly though.

[Tukkong]

I don't know if you guys read Korean, but, you can find different gyms at www.mooto.com.

For Kumdo, check out http://www.kumdo.org/ There is a list of approved clubs.

Cheers.

[Silverblue]

Do you know if there are any weekend classes??? Even in Seoul??

[jazblanc77]

You should be aware that there are two types of kumdo, there is Dae Han Kumdo (대한검도), and Hae Dong Kumdo (해동검도). If you want to actually do some sparring and not spend too much time doing floor routines, you will want to enroll yourself in dae han kumdo (the same thing as the Japanese version of kendo).

Do some research into the gym that you join. You should make sure that you are learning from at least a Kwanjangnim (4th dan), because that is the guarantee that they are competing or on the track to becoming a master.

The official dae han kumdo site for Korea can be found here. I found my first dojang/kumdo gwon by doing a search on the Korean internet. Get a Korean friend, coworker, or SO to help you out.

Also, as previously mentionned, kumdo is an equipment sport, so be prepared to drop some money. Initially, you should only have to pay about 70-90,000 won per month for your classes plus the initial purchase of your dobok (도복), a uniform, and your jukdo (죽도), a sparring sword made of bamboo slats (if they aren't given to you "service" for enrolling). However, after about 3 months (the time that it takes for the average person to get good enough at their basic form to move on to more advanced stuff), you will need to by a set of armor (호구), which can run you in the range of 200,000 to 600,000 won, depending on the quality and style you choose (there are sets that can run into the 10,000,000 won range, but, of course, there is no need for you to even look at anything better than those in the range I quoted previously).

Be prepared to work your arse off, loose some weight, and tend to feet blisters (start rubbing ethanol or methanol on them regularly to toughen them up artificially). Oh yeah, and don't forget to have fun!

[jazblanc77]

Here is the contact information for the Seoul Kumdo association. Phone them or visit their site and I'm sure you will find something to your liking.

Note: If you visit the site, listed below, click on the "Sub Organisation" menu item and then the "도장안내" link and a map will appear to show you the locations of any dojang in Seoul.