Attached here is a paper written by a Haidong Gumdo student, Andrew Chiu. Great students, like Andrew, make me keep going. Warrior and Black Belt Culture by Andrew Chiu (2013)

The following is an excerpt from an email sent to me by a student. The topic being responded to is our first instructor’s training program that starts next week. “The only rewards in teaching is your student achieving their goals well. Otherwise it’s the pits. If your going to teach Gumdo it is for the […]

If you think you train hard, is your Taekwondo poomse/Haidong Gumdo gumbub this strong? I know mine isn’t, which is why I keep training. Forms Championship

This article provides the words in a manner that I can agree with regarding competition and any focus on winning. There are several good points in it. One of them… “Discipline expands beyond sportsmanship, too. Highly disciplined teams conduct practices that are far more productive and efficient. The pace is fast, reps are plentiful and […]

As part of Taekwondo drills last night, students gained some insight on the performance of techniques. I joined the class in technique drills. Many students found that they were doing the drill differently. This should have caused a bit of additional study on their part. Students recognized the speed difference from my techniques to theirs. […]

I first learned about the concept of “Beginner’s Mind” when I started my Aikido training in 1990. While I understood that it was a concept across the martial arts, I had not heard it referred to in Korean martial arts until a recent Haidong Gumdo training. The concept twisted a bit as it was discussed. […]

Two days ago, I returned from an awesome training weekend (12 hours over 3 days) in Haidong Gumdo. I had the opportunity to be taught by the Director of Education for the World Haidong Gumdo Federation. I get to claim him as my Teacher. There were ten Masters in attendance. A small group receiving intimate […]

It had been a while since I asked that in class last night. So long, in fact, that several students had forgotten the answer. Now, before you read further, when is your test? I’ve always been a big proponent that actual “tests” are merely the opportunity to show off for family and friends. Yes, people […]

Something that I’ve had on the back burner for quite a while. If you think of any people or groups that may wish to host the course, please forward my contact information to them. Thank you.

So, after three attempts to write more about how competition against others is counterproductive, I decided it sounded just like the other articles that I’ve read on the subject. It made me wonder if I was trying to write something on the topic in order to “keep up” with the others, which would only be […]

While I was listening to the commentators during the Minnesota State Mavericks/Miami (OH) Redhawks hockey game as they mention that each team has a couple “lunchbox” players. It struck me that I would rather be known by that description as well. The player…person…who shows up everyday with a lunchbox is also the one ready to […]

Shibui (渋い) (adjective), shibumi (渋み) (noun), or shibusa (渋さ) (noun) are Japanese words which refer to a particular aesthetic of simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty. Okay, so here’s my thoughts on this… In this world that has some much bling and flash in pretty much everything you see, it can be difficult to “see” the […]

Shibui (渋い) (adjective), shibumi (渋み) (noun), or shibusa (渋さ) (noun) are Japanese words which refer to a particular aesthetic of simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty. How big is your house? How fancy is your car? What labels are in your clothes? What do you want to add to your life? Another one to ponder for […]

Giri (義理?)[1]:95[2] is a Japanese value roughly corresponding to “duty”, “obligation”, or even “burden of obligation” in English. It is defined as “to serve one’s superiors with a self-sacrificing devotion” by Namiko Abe. Who is your duty to? Who do you serve? Is your job “work” or a way for your to serve others? Something […]

Experiences from the 2012 Haidong Gumdo World Championships by the rookie Minnesota contingent. The whole adventure started in March 2012 during the Master’s training workshop (and student seminar) held in Minnesota. The announcement made was accompanied with World Championship posters that were signed by Kwanjangnim Kim, Jeong Woo, the Director of Education for the World […]

Over the past month or so, I’ve realized that my training journal has been sadly lacking entries. I’ve decided to work on it here because I can regularly get onto the blog to write something. Sorry, but you’ll be subjected to my additional ramblings…which I hope to gain deeper insights into my thoughts by getting […]

While not truly a revelation last night, but its fun when the words come around to help explain things better. This one involves connecting the basics to your poomsae/gumbub (forms). During a class being covered by a Black belt (because I was in South Korea), the extra comments made during a drill were something like […]

In a conversation yesterday, someone brought up that it was the one year anniversary of a break-up and got teary during it. We chatted a bit more and I realized that my point of view may be a bit…different. I have had my share of loss. My father passed in 1983 and my mother in […]

From a basic point of view for a martial artist, you should have ONE…but… Yes, you should be going to class to be taught by your teacher (school master?). You are paying them to instill their knowledge and wisdom in you, so you should be in their class. Now here’s where the line blur though, […]