Sword Dance in Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo

[진영]

In Korean
https://m.cafe.daum.net/enlightenment-k/dcM5/641?svc=cafeapp

진영쌍검류 해동검도의 검무-창의성, 조화, 그리고 살아있는 무예의 표현

In Spanish
https://m.cafe.daum.net/enlightenment-k/dcM5/640?svc=cafeapp

La Danza de la Espada en Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo

Sword Dance in Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo

Creativity, Harmony, and the Living Expression‎ of Martial Arts

When we speak about Sword Dance in Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo, many people first imagine artistic movement, performance, or choreography.

However, the true purpose of Sword Dance is much deeper than simply creating beautiful movements.

Sword Dance is a training method through which practitioners can explore the principles of Creativity and Harmony through the body, the sword, and natural movement.

These qualities are essential not only in martial arts but also in everyday life.

As we learn to move beyond fixed concepts and habitual ways of thinking, we begin to understand what it truly means to “Think Out of the Box.”

This realization becomes one of the foundations of both martial arts training and personal growth.

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Historical Background of Sword Dance in Haedong Kumdo

Today, Sword Dance is widely accepted and enjoyed by many practitioners as one of the diverse expressions of Haedong Kumdo.

However, this was not always the case.

I was among the first practitioners to pioneer the development of Haedong Kumdo as a stage performance art through Sword Dance presentations.

Although the first official public Sword Dance event was held on June 24, 2001, at the Busan Cultural Center, public performances had already begun before that time.

One notable example was a twin-sword performance presented on August 14, 2000, at Ayumodoshi Nature Park on Tsushima Island, Japan, along with demonstrations at several other locations.

Some of these early performances can still be viewed today.

August 14, 2000

Twin-Sword Performance at Ayumodoshi Nature Park, Tsushima, Japan

https://youtu.be/dD5ghfxj8dk?si=1kz6O_s2aOdi_xNl

June 24, 2001

The 1st Haedong Kumdo Performance Accompanied by Traditional Korean Music
(Busan Cultural Center)

https://youtu.be/EvP2O6rqBJc?si=HYSs5MCbHAqYSFMw

2002

The 1st Busan Performing Arts Festival Opening Ceremony

https://youtu.be/7tT3d7cQ1xA?si=I_PBpMED6wueY8dC

2006

Collaborative Performance with the Busan City Dance Company

https://youtu.be/0YWkrTdgOrY?si=odFpQ1Iz-60nJJ2-

At that time, many Haedong Kumdo instructors and leaders viewed the concept negatively.

A common opinion was:

“Haedong Kumdo does not have Sword Dance.”

Because training was primarily focused on forms, cutting practice, and technical development, the idea of expressing martial principles through creative sword movement was unfamiliar to many practitioners.

Nevertheless, I believed that martial arts should not only preserve tradition but also continue to evolve and discover new ways to communicate their spirit and value to future generations.

Over time, perspectives gradually changed.

Today, many practitioners enjoy Sword Dance as a recognized field within Haedong Kumdo, developing it through demonstrations, competitions, performances, and creative presentations.

What was once viewed with skepticism has now become one of the cultural expressions of Haedong Kumdo.

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Sword Dance Is Not Merely Dance

Sword Dance is not intended to be dance for the sake of performance alone.

Nor is it simply entertainment.

Rather, it serves as a practical training method that helps practitioners approach the essence of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo.

Through Sword Dance, practitioners gradually learn to express the principles contained within Kumbup rather than merely memorizing techniques.

Every movement becomes an opportunity to explore balance, timing, rhythm, awareness, concentration, relaxation, and natural flow.

In this sense, Sword Dance becomes another way of studying martial principles.

It is a living expression‎ of martial understanding.

---

How Do We Develop Creativity and Harmony?

Creativity does not mean moving randomly.

Harmony does not mean simply moving beautifully.

True Creativity emerges when practitioners discover movement that naturally arises from the principles of martial arts.

True Harmony emerges when the body, the sword, breathing, awareness, and movement become unified.

This process begins with continuous training, observation, correction, and self-reflection.

A simple progression may be described as:

First Stage

Relax and feel the energy.

Second Stage

Focus and observe it.

Third Stage

Realize it and express it through movement.

As training deepens, the body begins to move more naturally.

Movement is no longer forced.

Instead, practitioners learn to follow the natural flow that already exists within the body.

---

The Importance of Humility

One important caution must always be remembered.

Many practitioners experience new sensations and quickly conclude:

“Now I understand.”

“Now I can do it.”

In reality, such conclusions often mark only the beginning of the journey.

The deeper one goes, the more one realizes how much remains to be understood.

True understanding requires patience, humility, and continuous practice.

Even when one begins to feel and follow energy, the depth and degree of experience vary greatly from person to person.

Therefore, practitioners should avoid attachment to temporary experiences and continue training with an open mind.

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Everything Is Connected

As we continually emphasize in Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu, everything in the universe is interconnected.

If a practitioner begins to perceive and follow natural energy flow, that awareness should gradually expand beyond martial arts techniques.

It should become visible in breathing, posture, movement, relationships, nature, and everyday life itself.

Sword Dance therefore becomes more than a training exercise.

It becomes a way to experience interconnectedness through movement.

The sword becomes a medium through which practitioners explore the relationship between themselves and the larger natural order.

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From Sword Dance to Daily Life

The principles of Creativity and Harmony learned through Sword Dance should not remain inside the training hall.

They should naturally appear in everyday life.

Through experience, reflection, and awareness, practitioners gradually learn how to move, think, and live with greater balance.

The ultimate goal is not simply to perform a beautiful Sword Dance.

The goal is to discover a more natural relationship between body, mind, movement, and life itself.

In this sense, Sword Dance becomes a bridge connecting martial arts training with human growth and daily living.

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Final Thoughts

Sword Dance is one pathway toward understanding the deeper principles of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo.

It contains the integration of technique, philosophy, creativity, harmony, and natural movement.

Martial arts are not merely about fighting.

Nor are they merely about competition or physical performance.

Martial arts are a lifelong process of understanding ourselves, understanding the world, and learning to live in harmony with nature.

Sword Dance is one living language through which that process can be expressed.

It is my hope that through Sword Dance, more people will discover Creativity and Harmony and take another step toward the true essence of martial arts.

The ideas of Creativity and Harmony expressed through Sword Dance, as well as the training process of moving beyond fixed patterns of thought, are explored in greater depth in my English book, Think Out of the Box Through Haedong Kumdo Training.

Through this book, readers may gain a broader perspective on how Haedong Kumdo training is not merely about learning techniques, but also about developing awareness, expanding one's understanding of life, and discovering a more harmonious relationship between body, mind, and everyday living.

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31 May 2026

Jeong Seong Kim

Founder & President
Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo
United World Haedong Kumdo Federation (UWHKF)


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