History of Koryo Gumdo
From Earliest Times – the end of 2002
In the word of: Master John P. Wood
Koryo Gumdo is a Korean style sword martial art, whose methods practice
today comes as a result of evolution. Korean Gumdo has established itself
through the adoption of many philosophies methodology that existed in
Korea and countries that surround Korea over the last 2,000 years.
Martial arts techniques were initially practiced as a means of protection from attacks by wild animals. Ancient art works, dating to 50 B.C., have been found in Korea show the earliest records of open hand and armed combat.
The legendary origins of Eastern martial arts, however, are generally credited to a Buddhist monk from India, Bodhidarma, who traveled through Asia in the 6th century A.D. There he taught martial art techniques of empty hand and weaponry to monks, emphasizing both mental and physical development.
In Korea, the martial arts is thought to have developed as a result of internal conflicts and repeated attacks from neighboring countries of China and Japan. In an attempt to unite and stop foreign invaders, the various tribes formed alliances, which ultimately resulted in the development of the Three kingdoms Silla, Kokuryu, and Paekche this time was known as the Koryo Dynasty. The military of these three kingdoms formed academies to teach and train their soldiers and officers. Each kingdom had a system of warrior. In the kingdom of Kokuryu, warriors trained and were known as Samurang (The Way of the Warrior) or Ssabori. It was in Silla where the Haw Rang Do (The Flowering Youth) was formed, and the group Chulgi (The Iron Horse) came from the kingdom of Paekche.
These warrior groups had strict codes of honor for the purpose of honor, king, and country.
So through their training they would discipline their mind and body. Cultivate their physical strength to develop a strong spirit. Their goal was to develop ultimate abilities and to be revered as a positive influence to their society. With this philosophy in mind, they would gain power and strength for quickness, and agility and develop their skill with and without weapons to gain battle superiority. The young warrior would learn to think calm and logically and cope with dangerous situations in an orthodox manner. Through the practice of meditation they would train their minds to improve their concentration and apply it to the use of the sword and these concepts compelled the Koryo warrior to strive and overcome the challenges of that time.
Korea is a peninsula that lies between Japan and China, because of migration, sharing, and conflicts between these countries many new philosophies and methods have been introduced and adopted throughout the ages. Their a re many claims concerning the origins of the Korean style of martial arts, especially Gumdo. Confusion surrounding Gumdo is that the art remains obscure even in Korea today. Historically there is evidence in Korea dating back to 70 B.C. of sword making techniques that are used in what is known as the samurai sword of Japan.
Silla,here martial arts reached the highest level. Haw Rang Do became
renowned for their courage and skill in battle. They played a major role
through its influence and power in unifying the three kingdoms around
6oo A.D. into what is now known as Korea. The martial arts of Taekyeon,
Sabuk, and Gumdo enjoyed great popularity and prestige at this time. This
surge in popularity lasted until the Yi Dynasty over threw the Koryo Dynasty
in 1392 A.D. The Yi Dynasty ruled until 1910. During this period the martial
arts fell into decline as Confucism replaced Buddhism. Warriors were banished
and the practice of martial arts were forbidden. The policy of “favoring
the arts and despising arms” was adopted. Many Koreans thus took refuge
to the Buddhist temples where the martial arts were taught and preserved
secretly, with instruction handed down from father to son and teacher
to student.
In the 18th and 10th centuries, military skills declined even further. During this time Japan invaded Korea and on August 28,1910 Emperor Sunjong abdicated his throne and officially relinquished the thrown of Korea to Japan. The Yi Dynasty came to an end with the Japanese occupation of Korea. Japan began systematic destruction of the Korean culture. It became illegal to teach Korean history. A revolutionist history was written by the Japanese replaced traditional subject matter and was taught in public schools. Korean martial arts were banished and replaced by Japanese sporting arts. Ssirum was replaced by Sumo, Subak and Taekyeon were replaced with Judo and Karate, and Koryo Gumdo was replaced with Kendo.
With the end of World War II, and the liberation of Korea, Korea once again took control of its own martial arts. From the period of 1945-1955, there was a movement to unite the various Korean martial arts into unified National Styles. Tae Kwan Do focuses on the ballistic art by utilizing blocking, kicking and punching and grew to be very popular over the recent years. Hapkido incorporates offensive and defensive maneuvers that applies holds, releases, and throwing techniques, and Korean Gumdo the art of the sword trains men women and children this ancient sword art of the Koryo warrior.
In 1994 the Grandmaster Duk Gun Kwon organized the introduction of the Korean Hwarang Gumdo to the United States National Taekwondo Federation (USNTF) Masters and Instructors. The purpose of this special training program was to educate and expand the knowledge of the Korean martial arts as a whole.
During the 1980’s and 1990’s many masters around the world felt that when
Korean Taekwondo reaches the Olympics, the focus of this martial art would
change to a sporting art and would fall prey to the same fate as judo
did the following years when it became an Olympic sport. The result was
masters and instructors became coaches instead of teachers who were once
revered and looked up to. Martial arts techniques became altered to become
point-scoring techniques, which resulted in the decline of popularity
to the general public resulting in the loss of an invisible war that would
yet claim another casualty in Korean History.
In an effort to preserve strong traditions through worldwide education of the Korean martial arts, in 1988 the International Martial Arts Education program (IMAEP) was organized. Directed by its president, Grand Master Duk Gun Kwon. The IMAEP began a cooperative effort between Korea and the U.S. to explore the ancient Korean martial art of Koryo Gumdo. Since then many martial arts masters from America and around the globe have traveled with the IMAEP to Korea in an effort to spread the word about Koryo Gumdo and to create an avenue for practitioners to learn and enjoy the benefits it has to offer.
Since 1988 there has been steady progress in instituting a Gumdo Forum. With the cooperation of masters from Korea, America, and the IMAEP introduced the Korean art of Gumdo in a public demonstration at the 6th United States National Taekwondo Championships held in Chicago, IL in 1998
To help Koryo Gumdo grow worldwide. In August of 1999 the IMAEP and the USNTF sponsored a second public demonstration of the Korean art of Gumdo at the 7th United States National Taekwondo Championships.
In September of 1999 a group of the USNTF masters and instructors from America, South America, and Europe, visited Korea and participated in an instructors training program of the Korean Haidong Gumdo.
July 22nd to August 3rd, 2000 Master John P. Wood traveled to Korea and was invited to participate in special private training program at the World Haidong Federation Headquarters.
On August 4th, 2000 USNTF and the IMAEP held its first instructors certification seminar in Springfield, IL, 12 instructors tested.
The World Koryo Gumdo Association was formed in the November of 2000
The IMAEP with the Koryo Gumdo Association held its second Instructors Certification Seminar at the United States Headquarters in Franklin Park, IL in March of 2001
In April of 2001 the Samurang Games introduced the first formal Championship for Koryo Gumdo in Palatine, IL
In May of 2001 Master John P. Wood of Palatine Illinois was appointed by Grand Master Duk Gun Kwon the United States Gumdo Division Chairman.
July 1,2001, IMAEP held a formal meeting to outline the rules for International competition of Koryo Gumdo. Masters from throughout the U.S. and Korea were present.
Sponsored by the IMAEP and the USNTF, Koryo Gumdo was a demonstration sport with Competition of Sword Application Form and sparring on July 29, 20001 at the 9th United States National Championships that hosted Taekwondo and Gumdo in St. Louis, MO
Koryo Gumdo Association was officially incorporated in October 2001
Recently Koryo Gumdo, which represents the Koryo warrior wielding his sword for honor and country, is becoming very popular with adults and children around the world through the efforts of the IMAEP.
In March 10, 2002 the 2nd Samurang Games Championships for Koryo Gumdo competition was held in Palatine, IL
The 3rd Instructors Seminar was held on July 26, 2002 in Franklin Park, IL
The 4th Instructors Seminar was held on November 09, 2002 in Franklin Park, IL
The IMAEP sponsored the 2nd Koryo Gumdo International Black Belt Instructor Certification Exam held on November 9, 2002 in Franklin Park, IL
November 30,2002 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Master John P. Wood taught a seminar to introduce Koryo Gumdo to the martial arts Masters and Instructors
Dec. 01, 2002 Master John P. Wood and his sons John Jr. and Rory along with Min Gun Kwak held a public demonstration of Koryo Gumdo at the Caribbean Taekwondo Open Championship