Haidong Gumdo

[Taliar]

I am currently studying Tae Kwon Do and want to also study a weapons based system. I live in the North Wales in the UK and am interested in studying Haidong. Has anyone got any experience in this Art. Have found it hard to find much info on the subject. Suspect that there will not be classes in my area - nearest is about 2 hours drive away.

Could anyone suggest a similar art.

[Capt Ann]

I've been taking Haidong Gumdo a little over a year, and I am LOVING it!! Before you give up on finding something close to you, please check out the website for the European HDGD Federation: http://www.hdgumdo.com/ You can e-mail the contact for the UK to see if there's anything closer to you.

Also, MSN has a HDGD Discussion Group. That group has a list of member's Dojangs offering HDGD, and one on their list is in Darlington, UK. Pardon my total ignorance of British geography, but is that anywhere near you?

You should also know that there are two world-wide HDGD groups, offering basically the same art (kind of like the split between the ITF and the WTF). One is the World Haidong Gumdo Federation (see the link I already gave you), and the other is the Wolrd Hae Dong Kumdo Federation (Their English-language site is at http://www.haedong2001.com/ ). You might try both to look for related arts available near you.

If neither HDGD form is available near you, I suggest you look into Japanese Kenjutsu ('kenjutsu' just means 'sword art', so it includes anything having to do with swords). If you want something close to Haidong Gumdo, stay away from kendo, and use your discretion with iaido (this art covers only a single strike from the draw, and some cutting).

The Kenjutsu International Association of Instructors has a website at http://kenjutsukai.tripod.com/ . You can also check with them for teachers/schools near you. They list five different UK instructors on their "Members" page.

[Taliar]

Thanks for the Help.

[alister]

Hi there,

Haidong Gumdo in the UK is in its infancy, but there are a few instructors around. See www.haidong-gumdouk.com for the official UK website and contact details.

There are a couple of seminars in late October - one in Bournemouth and one in London. See the website for details.

I've doen a little HDGD and have really enjoyed it..thoroughly recommended.