Kendo or Kumdo?

[The Rose Knight]

Just the title of this thread is bound to raise some hackles, especially with a poll attached, but be at ease; I'm not looking to compare the two. That has been done at length on other threads.

My question is this: how many of you began taking kumdo because you were actually looking for kendo, but the local "dojo" was a dojang? How many found that the dojang was Haidong Gumdo? And lastly, how many of you were specifically looking to practice a Korean sword art or Korean Kumdo specifically, rather than taking the class because there was no kendo place that you knew of nearby? Or were you looking for Karate and found that the karate place also had kumdo and wound up getting into it instead or after taking some tae kwon do? Or did you just see the place and say to yourself, "that looks cool?"

I ask this because myself, my sons, and some good friends, were all looking to do kendo and when the dojang opened up next to a book store we frequent, we saw shinai and bogu and just thougt, "kendo" and went in to inquire (that's a very simplified version, as we didn't all inquire at the same time). We found out that it was kumdo, but we didn't really care; it was the only kendo/kumdo place within ten miles of our homes, and we really liked Kwanjangnim, so we signed up.

It seems that most of the class is interested in Kendo: Korean style. Nothing wrong with that, mind you. I'm simply curious as to how each of us came to practice Kumdo; was it by chance, in the process of seeking kendo, or a specific aim to practice Korean sword arts? I do include Haidong gumdo in this.

The reason for the thread? I find it interesting to see the divergent ways that people find their way into things, be it sports, a vocation, art or music or martial arts.

Daniel

[June]

I was in Korea for a year after college and decided I wanted to do "kumdo" and walked past a hai dong gumdo dojang, the sahbum's were all cool and enjoyed my time there. 7 years fast forward and I started looking for kendo/kumdo for exercise and the rest is history.

[ahmed61086]

I was actually looking for a Kendo dojo, and I didn't even know there was such as thing as Kumdo, but while I was looking, the place closest to my house was a kumdo dojang, so I did some research. I found that Kumdo is basically the same thing as Kendo, so I joined up. The rest is history. I am extremely happy that I signed up where I did, because it realy is close to my heart and I have a lot of friends there now. I wouldn't change anything.

[johnkichu]

I was actually looking for a Kendo dojo, and I didn't even know there was such as thing as Kumdo, but while I was looking, the place closest to my house was a kumdo dojang, so I did some research. I found that Kumdo is basically the same thing as Kendo, so I joined up. The rest is history. I am extremely happy that I signed up where I did, because it realy is close to my heart and I have a lot of friends there now. I wouldn't change anything.

Ahmed,

Your dojang is an excellent one. Good choice.

John

[ahmed61086]

HwarangKwan is pretty awesome too. I hope to visit it one day. Take care.

[johnkichu]

HwarangKwan is pretty awesome too. I hope to visit it one day. Take care.

I think the up coming Spring Tournament will be hosted by HRK. I hope you can make it.

[cesarekim]

The diatribe on kendo/kumdo was something I wasn't even aware of growing up. I remember all kinds of crap about korean style being too sporty/athletic in the early 80's but that was a non-issue for my dojang as we were affiliated to the Italian kendo federation of the time and we learned using Japanese terminology even though our teacher was Korean... Our teacher was very much into the BIG KENDO thing and he was coaching the national team for a while so no one was saying much.

[ahmed61086]

I think the up coming Spring Tournament will be hosted by HRK. I hope you can make it.

I will do my best to get there, God willing, I will make it.

[Bruce W Sims]

For me it was the other way around.

I knew what I wanted and I did not want Kendo or a Korean counterpart. I wanted to learn to use a sword in the manner that the Koreans had traditionally learned and used a sword. Most people I met actually resisted teaching traditional Korean sword. It took persistence to find a teacher who would teach the original Korean sword since they aren't exactly standing on every street-corner. Kum-Bup is not for everyone as it can be very demanding, and so, very frustrating. And without an outlet through competition people tend not to stick with it as long as is necessary to develop skills. FWIW.

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[The Rose Knight]

I think that there is a large number of people who feel the need to "try out" the art they've learned and see that it "works". I don't know that this is a good or a bad thing. I think that it depends greatly upon the person.

Daniel