Haedong Kumdo - An International Sport

For many years I have been travelling around the world with different work commitments, hobbies and holidays.

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Not surprisingly I enjoy travel, meeting people from other countries with vaious backgrounds, cultures, religions and now Haedong Kumdo!

When I first started training in January 2007 I met Jerre van Kuijk, a Dutch National working here in the UK, and we have spent a lot of time training together and entered competitions too.

Sadly, Jerre has decided to make a career move to work in Doha, Qatar and I think he will be missed. I wish him well and good fortune – and hope he can find somewhere good to train in Haedong Kumdo.

On reflection this is a small world and it is exciting to interact with fellow students in it.

Anti Social Behaviour

Well, that took some time to resolve - thanks for bearing with me - so frustrating. It seems the long arm of the law has an even longer waiting list for taking action. But it feels good when it finally acts, and sorts it.

So now I can get on with my training without having a clouded mind and my family can get back to their lives too. All except one that is, poor Zoe. She's decided it would be fun to take up Tang Soo Do!

Started back swimming and training at the gym. I'm glad to be back and feeling much better already. Haedong!

My Little Do-Jang!

Well, here we are again, that’s me in the photo (bad light in the Squash Court, sorry) training. I prefer to train in my Do-Bok, with bare feet, I guess so I don’t look too odd to the folk passing by who expect me to be swinging a Squash Racquet.

Some of my colleagues wear trainers in class but I just don’t like the feel and it may be something about my Judo days where it just wasn’t done. Anyhow, I need to learn both Forms 4 and 5 by June this year for Grading. Form 5 includes a forward dive roll with a drawn sword. That should be fun, not!

Swords - Good and Bad!

Oh dear. Bought a really cheap sword – and I mean less than £5.00 including postage, cheap! No harm as I just wanted to take it apart and learn stuff without damaging one of my more expensive swords.

Take it apart? It almost fell apart. And whilst it looked fairly good on the outside and had a nice feel to it, weight and balance - it just wasn’t to be.

Look at the ‘tang’ of the blade, circled in red. It’s not a part of the blade at all. In fact there is a steel rod welded onto the end of the blade and the rest of the handle attaches round this rod.

One strike against a firm object and the sword would have snapped in two at the hilt – and who knows what else would have happened.

Be careful choosing a sword please - have a look again at the Sword Buyers Guide in the Student Resources Section.