The Fatal Flaws of Training Through Videos

[진영]

■ The Fatal Flaws of Training Through Videos

This content is based on nearly 30 years of directly spreading and teaching Haedong Kumdo globally through international seminars. Through my experiences with overseas Haedong Kumdo instructors and masters, I’d like to share some thoughts based on my observations and firsthand experiences.

First, during the peak period of Haedong Kumdo's popularity in Korea, many martial arts masters from other disciplines produced numerous instructors through short-term instructor training courses.

These individuals played a significant role in the widespread dissemination of Haedong Kumdo. However, what I want to address here is their level of Haedong Kumdo proficiency at that time, and using this as a reference, I encourage a reflection on the current level of Haedong Kumdo overseas.

For reference, I began Haedong Kumdo as a white belt in 1991, becoming one of the first black belts in Busan Haedong Kumdo. I established and taught Haedong Kumdo at a workplace club, following the original curriculum step by step, until I reached the higher ranks. I then founded Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo, establishing a structured training system with techniques, philosophy, and healing as its core. I continue to spread it globally, and I am constantly striving daily to improve my level.

When I was a 4th dan black belt in Haedong Kumdo, I witnessed numerous martial arts masters from other disciplines start their Haedong Kumdo training and then begin teaching it. Many of these masters would attend lessons once a week or two to three times a month, and that was how they started their training.

What I still remember vividly is how many of these masters struggled to memorize all the sword techniques at each stage.

Running a martial arts school often leaves limited time for personal practice, and time always feels short.

In reality, the more diligently you practice the Kumbups(sword techniques), the less overwhelming they feel over time in Kumbups' training.

Those who constantly find it challenging and difficult may cite various personal abilities or circumstances, but in most cases, it’s because they are trying to memorize large amounts at once despite having limited training time.

Whenever you learn just one Kumbup, repeated practice of each part one by one step by step makes it easier to internalize. The only thing required is time.

Now, let’s briefly discuss the fatal flaws of training through videos, as follows:

1. When people watch a video or memorize something they’ve learned, they tend to think they have mastered it and then move on to the next level of sword techniques. It’s natural to forget some things or feel that certain areas are lacking, but because there is a recorded video, they simply move on to the next sword technique video.


2. Developing the ability to assess one’s own skill level and progress becomes difficult, as one can easily fall into the illusion that they are doing well. I’ve experienced this too often while teaching many instructors. Although time and experience at each level are necessary, reliance on videos when they forget something leads to this issue.


3. One can not acquire the personal knowledge and training methods for each movement's meaning and technique. The continuous exploration, passion, time, and effort put into practicing each part of a sword technique are what steadily improve one’s skills.


4. Forgetting certain movements during sword training is normal. However, when relying on videos, one significantly lacks the depth of understanding required to internalize the movements. Depending on videos whenever something is forgotten leads to a lack of creativity and reflection, making mastery impossible and causing continuous difficulties in sword training.


5. For example, in Kimu (energy in martial arts) training, the Kimu forms are very simple, making them easy to memorize. However, memorizing the movements and capturing their flow, then applying them to martial arts practice and daily life, requires considerable time and effort.



The fundamental goal of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu training is to promote continuous development, innovation, and change in consciousness by challenging established ways of thinking, all grounded in martial arts training. This approach provides the foundation for a more relaxed and enriched life, both in martial arts and in everyday living. In other words, it enables one to understand and put into practice the source of true health.

September 13, 2024
Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu
Jeong Seong Kim