Haedong Kumdo Latest News from Bonn, Germany, on 4th Feb. 2025

[HAEDONG]

2025.2.4
독일 본 해동검도 기사 내용

GA reporter practices Korean sword art


Oberpleis - Korean sword fighting is an art that can be learned - even at an advanced age. Haedong Kumdo trains attack and defense techniques while at the same time strengthening inner balance. Our reporter tried it out in Königswinter.

04.02.2025,18:00h
GA reporter Gabriela Quarg (second from left) trains sword fighting with instructor Li Schlüter. Photo:Frank Homann
By Gabriela Quarg Freelance author
Taekwondo, Kendo, Aikido - Asian martial arts have fascinated me ever since I had the opportunity to look over at the budo fighters in the neighboring sports gym when I was a student at university sports.

The strength and determination, but also the inner calm and mental strength that the athletes radiate, impressed me - then as now. However, I never tried it myself. And now, in my early 50s, I thought that the train had left the station anyway. Until I stumbled across the Königswinter judo club's “Martial Arts for older than 50 years people” program.

Now I'm standing with a wooden sword in my hand among other “best agers” in the sports gym at the Oberpleis school center, trying my first steps in Haedong Kumdo, or Korean sword fighting. The word “trying my first steps” is to be taken quite literally, because I would never have thought how difficult it can be to do simple sequences of steps forwards, backwards and sideways while your arms are performing completely different movements with the sword in your hand. Of course, you also have to stand up straight, not pull your shoulders forward, hold the sword cleanly, and, above all, hold it properly -

i.e., not rest your fingers on the blade. Because then - if I had a sharp samurai sword in my hand - they would be “off”, as trainer Li Schlüter from Bonn reminds me.
~~~
Background
 
About the martial art of Haedong Kumdo
 
Haedong Kumdo or Haidong Gumdo is a sword fighting art from Korea that imitates traditional sword fighting on the battlefield. The name is made up of the Korean words Haedong (eastern sea, the old name of Korea), Kum (sword), and Do (way). You can learn Haedong Kumdo at the Königswinter Judo Club, which also offers Taekwondo Do, Kung Fu To' A and Judo. Swords Training for over 50s, which can be adapted to the individual needs of participants, takes place on Fridays from 8.15 to 9.45 p.m. in Gym II (Segment III) at the Oberpleis school center. Anyone interested is invited to a free trial training session. For further information and to register, please contact Li Schlüter on 0163 / 5556119 or visit www.jc-koenigswinter.de or www.haedong-kumdo.de. qg
 ~~~~
Weapon is the center of attention

Even for experienced martial artists, the sword is the “add on”, the cream on the cake, so to speak. “The sword is the ultimate weapon. It requires an enormous amount of attention.” Nevertheless, even beginners can learn sword art and, according to the trainer, it is a great sport for older people in particular. Why? Because, unlike other martial arts, you usually stand with both feet on the ground and don't perform  jumps or kicks too often. “The focus is on the weapon. And you coordinate it with your hand.” Working with the sword also strengthens and opens up the upper body, promotes overall mobility, and strengthens the muscles due to the moderate weight of the wooden sword. Above all, however, learning new movements improves coordination and memory.

“The movements are a big challenge in terms of coordination - especially at the beginning,” says Li. I can confirm‎ that. In other sports, I don't have to think about anything and can just “do it”. Now I have to concentrate precisely on what I'm doing. But the stress of everyday life disappears from my mind surprisingly quickly. “The first priority is to feel good,” emphasizes the trainer. After all, Haedong Kumdo is intended to provide a balance to everyday life - inner balance and mental strength play just as big a role as physical strength and ability.


Technique as the key to success

Li shows sequences of exercises to train attack and defense techniques in combat against an imaginary opponent. While the wooden swords of my fellow fighters cut through the air precisely and cleanly next to me, my attempts to execute the sword cuts correctly probably look like I'm trying to chop up a block of wood with a cleaver. As is so often the case, the right technique is the way to success - Li explains once again how to guide the sword backward over the head in order to execute the cut correctly. To avoid falling into the aforementioned “hacking”, beginners also learn to cut through paper with the sword as early as possible. Li demonstrates it: a quick slash and the page of newspaper I'm holding in my hands is cleanly cut in halves.

As a complete beginner, for now, I prefer to devote myself to the challenge of practicing drawing the sword and putting it back into the imaginary sheath. There is a special technique to ensure that the latter, in particular, doesn't end up in a wild poking and prodding session, which allows you to stow the sword away safely while flying blind. This also looks easier than it is. My coordination skills leave a lot to be desired. “That's normal at first. But it will come, you learn,” my teammate Ulrike comforts me and tells me that she's only been training since December. I'm amazed that you can make such progress in such a short time, although Ulrike also trains twice a week. The former volleyball player started after a long break from sport to become more flexible again. “I'm not really into martial arts. But it really helps.”

In any case, Korean art of sword fighting is less about fighting and more about art. The movements are aesthetic, almost dance-like. “I see the beauty of the movement as a great gift,” says trainer Li. She herself came to Haedong Kumdo through many years of kung fu training: “I worked with several weapons in kung fu, but I really failed with the sword. “To gain more knowledge, she got involved with Haedong Kumdo and has now been at it for about 14 years. “Handling the samurai sword is just totally fascinating.”

I feel the same way. And so I feel almost a little majestic that evening with my sword in my hand, even if it is only made of wood.