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CompleteMartialArts.com - Haedong Kumdo: Korean Sword Martial Art

Haedong Kumdo: Korean Sword Martial Art
List Price: $29.95
Our Price: $29.95
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Turtle Press
Directed By: Sang H. Kim
Average Customer Rating: Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5

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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0823327204926
Format: Color
Label: Turtle Press
Manufacturer: Turtle Press
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Turtle Press
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2005-09-01
Running Time: 60
Studio: Turtle Press

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Editorial Reviews:

Haedong Kumdo encompasses practice with both the wooden training sword and the forged steel sword. On this DVD, both types of practice are demonstrated by top Korean Kumdo masters. Using the wooden sword, the masters demonstrate training exercises, basic skills and combat drills with a partner. They then progress to more intricate sqeuences of cuts with the live blade sword, including fascinating demonstrations of cutting prowess in which bamboo is sliced and candles are extinguished with masterful speed.

This program was filmed in Korea at the Haedong Kumdo headquarters and features performances and interviews with the top ranking Haedong Kumdo masters in Korea.


Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: Well done, interesting and well worth the price.
Comment: Turtle press offers 2 DVDs of contemporary Korean sword arts (Kumdo and Haedong Kumdo). Kumdo is a sport which uses split bamboo poles for swords and requires heavy kendo-style protective gear. That style is in another video, Kumdo Kumdo: Sword Art. This DVD is about the other martial art, Haedong Kumdo, which is completely different. Haedong Kumdo uses both real metal swords and practice wooden swords. This is a practical art with military applications, which generates powerful strikes. In this video, Korean masters demonstrate breaking wooden poles using a wooden practice sword. No heavy protective gear is used, except for self restraint.

Some sword videos are boring. Not this one! This video is very professional, and almost looks like a documentary or infomercial with pleasing photography, narration, and background music. It includes stances and sword basics in an fast and pleasing way. This DVD also shows enough short clips from a Hedong Kumdo class to allow a potential student to see if they would like to take lessons. This video includes 4 forms, Shimsang Gumbup, Yedo Gumbup, Bonkuk Gumbup and Jangbek Gumbup. The Yedo Gumbuk and Bonkuk Gumbuk are different than the ancient Ye do and Bok Kuk Gum forms demonstrated in Ancient Korean Sword and Weapon Arts Korean Sword and Weapon Arts DVD. The forms, nevertheless, maintain the same gracefulness, circular motions, and train the body to generate enough power for practical sword defense, just like the original military forms. The video also shows cutting exercises, which demonstrate the practical power of these techniques. Combat practice further shows the practicality of these techniques.

The cover of the video is a little misleading, as the techniques in the video almost never require the low stances or the flexibility shown in the stance on the cover. This is a martial art that almost anyone can learn, and the participants in the tape include both men and women, and both young and old.

The video also includes material beyond sword arts, such as breathing exercises and demonstrations of Ki, which is believed to be an unseen energy within the martial artist. In one demonstration, a Korean master punches toward a lighted candle, but stops short of hitting it. His ki extinquishes the flame. Nevertheless, this 70 minute video is not only interesting, it still provides more than enough sword material to be worth more than its reasonable price.



Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: Good overview
Comment: I've heard about this sword art, but never seen it practiced. Apparently it's quite the big thing in Korea these days. This DVD is a good overview of Haedong Kumdo (sometimes called Haidong Gumdo) - especially the higher rank forms and cutting techniques. All of the instructors are very skilled and some are quite high ranking practitioners in Korea so you know you're seeing the forms and techniques done the way their supposed to be done, not a third-hand imitation. For practitioners, especially those outside of Korea, I think this is a great asset in learning. This isn't an instructional DVD but it doesn't pretend to be so I'm giving it 5 stars for accomplishing exactly what it promises to with very good production values and plenty of content.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5
Summary: A Demonstration, Nothing More.
Comment: Unless you practice the system or forms presented in this video, you will not find it of use. This video contain almost no instruction or useful applications. As a practitioner of Chinese Swordsmanship I purchased it out of curiousity, I wish I had spent my money on something else... The Rock 'n' Roll presentation of the cutting sequenced just gave me a headache.


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