Haidong Gumdo
Practitioners of Haidong Gumdo engage in the practice of basic techniques (kibon), forms (geompeob or pumsae), step sparring (yaksuk daeryun), sparring (hada), energy building exercises (qi gong) and cutting practice (begi).Basic practice is done with the mokgum (wooden sword).
Sparring practice begins with the bamboo sword (chukdo) but now due to new laws passed down from the Haidong Gumdo federation a plastic/rubber sword must be used in competitions, advances to mokgum, and depending on the school, may advance to weighted training weapons with protective padding or armor. Forms within Haidong Gumdo were derived from the mechanics of Kichun (a Korean form of martial arts similar to Tai Chi Chuan), and various sword patterns found within the Muyedobotongji ( Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts). Baldo and chakgeom forms (drawing and sheathing the sword) were also developed.
While traditional Korean sword forms are contained in the Bonguk Geombeop (Korean sword method), other geombeop are taught within Haidong Gumdo curricula, including:
Ssangsu Geombeop (method of using the double handed sword)
Simsang Geombeop (method of the heart of swordsmanship)
Yedo Geombeop (method of using the short sword)
Jedok Geombeop (Admiral's sword method)
Jangbaek Geombeop (the Jangbaek method)
Wae Geombeop (Japanese method)
Wuisu Geombeop (method of using the sword with one hand)
Ssanggeom Geombeop (The method of using two swords)
Haidong Gumdo may be generally characterized as exchanging multiple strikes of the sword for one strike of the sword. The one strike concept characterizes the Japanese method. The merits and limitations of each of the philosophies may be debated endlessly. Probably the best way to characterize the main difference between Japanese Kendo and the Korean Haidong Gumdo styles is through training philosophy:
The Japanese technique primarily focuses on one-versus-one, or individual combat.
The Korean technique primarily focuses on one-versus-many, or battlefield combat.