Grading Day - 7th Gup

What a great end to a great week – especially after Sunday. Passed this grading feeling quite confident and at ease with Haedong Kumdo at last. I’m a Yellow belt, reminds me of 1974!

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Thank you again to all who have helped, trained, demonstrated and encouraged me through this year.

Christmas 'Trophy' Day

I’m still in shock. Wow, awesome – what a day! I entered this competition for the experience just hoping against hope that I wouldn’t come last, well at least not in everything.

And what happens? I have the Trophy’s to prove it otherwise I wouldn’t believe it myself but I won two firsts and a second out of the three individual competitions; Paper Cutting, Forms and Draws.

Haedong Kumdo Syllabus

Searching the Internet for information I came across a web site in Scotland which has the Haedong Kumdo Syllabus in a PDF file format available for students to download - see (www.dkma.co.uk/students.htm).

I asked Master Warren De-Vry for permission to put a link here and he kindly agreed – thank you. I’ve also placed a link in the Student Resources section and a link to the Club in Forres, Scotland under the Clubs section.

Using the syllabus with the training guide - Vol 1 really works well for me. I can practice what I need to know and concentrate on that, whilst planning ahead for the stuff I will need to lear in the comming months/years.

Swimming to Fitness

Objective achieved? Swimming is good for you and I think it has worked wonders for my training programme. I can maintain swimming thirty lengths in 30 minutes now and have just pushed it to thirty-two lengths which is exactly half a mile. That’s a good standard in my book and I’ll stick to that level. Swimming has been exceptional for toning my body and sliming me down to just over 15 st – which is a weight loss of almost 2 st in ten months. Everything is starting to get better!

Grand Master Edward Jacobsen - South Africa

Training earlier this week was so fantastic with Grand Master Jacobsen that I just had to get some more. So I went again on Sunday morning. It was just a great, more so because I had a little knowledge of what I was trying to achieve.

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In this photo Grand Master Jacobsen uses a Chukdo (Bamboo Sword) to spar with a more experienced student.

Sword Grip Change

Just found a video on YouTube which helps explain the actions necessary for the change a sword grip. The link is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfN499Z2f2s&feature=related have a look. I hope it helps as it is one of the biggest problems I have in handling the sword.
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I'll put a link under the Student Resourses section for more information.

Grand Master Edward Jacobsen - South Africa

Today was an opportunity just too good to miss – so I didn’t! Grand Master Jacobsen dropped in (from South Africa) to instruct us all personally in the art of Haedong Kumdo. What a fantastic evening it turned out to be and I just had to ask him to sign my little training book and get a photo. I have so much to learn and so far to go on this journey. Truely awesome!

Haedong Kumdo - Finland

Well, I don’t speak any Finnish but I did find this website about Haedong Kumdo from there. If anyone searches YouTube for videos I’m almost certain I recognize these guys (from Bergie’s pony tail) - sorry, but the music is dreadful! Fantastic photos of the Art from dedicated followers though. I hope I’ll meet them one day.

Here is the link http://www.haedong-kumdo.fi/valokuvat/list/all/ it’s well worth a permanent link in the blog. Thanks for the inspiration guys – brilliant cartwheel Jose!

Sword Buyers Guide

This link I found to be of use - information about how to buy a sword - and there are some brilliant videos to watch too (although sadly some links don’t work). I know that most of this information relates to Japanese swords but there is much more information here than a quick glance can reveal.

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http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/authentic-japanese-swords.html
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I’ve put a link in the Student Resources section for anyone to follow.
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Haedong

Grading Day - 8th Gup

Passed again and though not entirely happy with my own performance I’m quite pleased for myself and my colleagues. A much better Grading Day now I have a greater understanding of Haedong Kumdo. A special thanks to Babs who made our new belts and a big thank you to Master Paul Giffen for his special advice and assistance to me!