Customer Reviews

Haedong Kumdo: Korean Sword Art [VHS]

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This video is third in the historical Korean martial arts series by Turtle Press and Sang H. Kim. Of the three it is the most complete and engaging. The tape covers the general practice of Hai Dong Gumdo (Haedong Kumdo) from basics to some more advanced forms. Oddly, it displays no pre-black belt forms in their entirety, preferring instead to display a few forms from the first to fourth dan requirements. These forms are shown twice at a slower than normal pace and were filmed at the World Hai Dong Gumdo Federation head offices. The members performing on the video are not representative of the best nor the worst gumdo-in in the Federation today but are a sampling of the average. Personally I found it refreshing and uplifting to see mistakes and other acts of God be left as a part of the film. I feel the tape gives a decent overview of the curriculum, its mental and physical requirements as well as the rewards of following the regimen. It clearly shows samples from most areas of the art such as forms, sparring, unarmed techniques, meditative exercises and most exciting - cutting. It is not a training video but can definitely be used to get a full taste of this effective and comprehensive sword art.