Reflections from Russia 1st to 5th May 2015 III European Championships and seminars, Smolensk, Russia by Stuart Campbell – President, Haedong Kumdo Australian Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu

This was my first experience with other nations in the United World Haedong Kumdo family, and although I had been to Russia the previous year and felt welcomed by my good friend Sergey I was a little apprehensive about meeting my peers from across Europe. My experiences in years gone by of international competitions were of petty jealousies and heavy rivalry, so I was unsure what to expect. At our first night referees seminar and Masters meeting I gave my opinions, and spoke my thoughts about the completion rules etc. and again was unsure as to how I would be received.

I would like to thank Johannes from Finland for making me feel truly a part of the family from that first night. I gave my opinions on the competition format, humbly and as a new member of the federation. Johannes spoke kindly to me and told me that although I have only come recently into the family, I am not a new comer and my 12 years of experience is relevant and appreciated, and in short, that I should consider myself as being with friends. I knew then that the event would be all that I had hoped for in terms of friendship and camaraderie! I was with family! It came to show over the coming days as I got to know briefly, Chris off from Greece and his team, the rest of the Finnish team, my friend Cem from Turkey and also mi amigo Jair from Colombia, Master Choi from Korea and all the international players and masters!

I had a small amount of time together with Grand Master Kim during my stay in Russia as it was hectic and there were many students all together from all over the world. I was asked to come and practice together some senior Dan level Kumbups (patterns) with Johannes from Finland and Christofouros from Greece. It had been around 3 years since I had done any work at all with these particular sword forms

(in fact I had not practiced them since my 5th Dan Grading in 2012), and there are some fundamental differences between what I learnt years ago and the forms practiced by Haedong Kumdo Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu. With these differences aside, it was such a great experience to again have people to train with at a senior level, where all differences and indeed the concept of “rank” was put aside in the interest of learning and training together!

Whilst I truly enjoyed this experience, it was actually only a short one, as after getting us straightened out in the correct movement of the forms; GM Kim then began to speak about a number of things relevant to these movements and then expanded into more theoretical knowledge. He spoke about the necessity of the “centre”, of moving the body naturally and even softly to create power and correct line of movement.

I guess when you look at a golf swing or a tennis swing and the use of the shoulders, elbows etc, and how they line up before, during and after a shot you can gain some small appreciation of what he spoke about.

It is not an accident that the “follow through” in sports of this kind is one of the most crucial things in correct form for best performance. My own experience tells me that when cutting the shoulder should end directed at (or in the case of continued movement at least pass through) the target. In the same way, GM Kim spoke about the concept of the ball of the foot and its connection with energy, and again the parallels for anyone who plays golf will be apparent.

Grand Master Kim spoke a little on this subject and then about the flow of energy and movement, about keeping the energy “controlled”. Controlled is not quite the right word to use, but does allow the concept to be understood. He spoke about keeping the movements and energy ”close” to the body, moving the sword, as an extension of the body, fluidly and close to the body. First you should move the mind or spirit, then the body…..and the sword will follow naturally.

And so, with or without sword, the movement is the same if the intention or spirit is the same.

The topic then moved to the central logo on the “MUDO” insignia that I use for my club logo, and the calligraphy of the word “DO” (doe). “what does this word mean?” he asked. And so, we each offered our own interpretation. “It means way, or path”, “correct way”, “spirit of the way”, actually I cannot recall the actual words we used but that is not important. Grand Master Kim explained the way, or the path, DO or To in the following way.

As human beings we are all on a path. It is the path of our lives. The “correct” path is directed by the universe, God, the one power, Love.

And so Grand Master Kim explained it as follows. Can you imagine three lines, running parallel to each other, but actually not parallel just at the same time? To make it simple, the middle line is Do, the correct path, natural path, (destiny?). On the outside are other possibilities. These are our conscious thoughts and decisions. We may follow naturally for some time, but human nature is to make decisions from the heart or from the mind that may be contrary to the natural one. We make mistakes BECAUSE we are human! And so we step off the path, then in some way, the universe will bounce us back again onto the correct one.

Sometimes pain or disease will be the symptom to push us back again or some experience we have will do it, and so we again take to the “correct way”. Throughout our life this happens. But, how long do we have? Can we reach the correct way before the decisions, choices; emotions etc cause us to be finished before we get to the end (is there an end?) of the correct path? With too much anger, with greed, incorrect use of the universal energy, doing bad things then we “die quickly”.

Grand Master asked us “when we say ’Do your best’ what does it mean?” Of course once again we all gave our very serious and very knowledgeable opinions….. “to try with all you have”, “Give it everything”, “to do the best of your ability in any circumstance”, “focus” And, as is his way, he did not correct us but instead told us that we were all correct BUT,

all just around the outside of the true answer, that there was more at the core or center.

“At the centre of this (your answers) is DO”, he told us. “When you give children a game to play, and just leave them to it, what do they do? They play. Without thinking about “do your best” or “focus” or any other external prompting or encouraging. They do it naturally, this is the way, this is DO” “Then, when they are finished, they move on to the next game or next activity.”

“Actually, this is simple, not quite it….., but it is the core. “ The overall lesson is love. Not as we think about love, but ALL love. Our bodies are just borrowed. The energy we use to eat, breath, walk, to train and to love and play are all borrowed and must be used in this way, naturally. This lesson, for me, was reinforced and even extended in some way a couple of days later…..

As we stood together enjoying music and a cold beer and with people mixing and talking all around us, Grand Master Kim spoke to me about “letting go”. He spoke of examples of people he meets that show what I would call “too much passion” some would call zeolism. We spoke about the need to let go. For example, I say that i LOVE my Haedong Kumdo, but can that be possible? I love the training, mental and physical. I love to teach it and pass on my experiences; I love the positive benefits that I see in students.

I love the family that I have found through training and I love My Master and the experience of learning from and with him. BUT, these things are all just experiences. I have them and they leave me with a good feeling. When we obsess about something, when we can’t let it go or it becomes a constant focus, then the damages will far outweigh the benefits. And so the lesson I took is this…….

When I finish my training I am grateful for the experience, but I let it go. I take that experience and the benefits as a blessing and then move on to another part of my life. In short, when you go to the toilet you do it naturally, clean yourself and flush the experience away. You feel much better, it was a natural thing and good for you! But you do not spend the rest of your day thinking about better ways to do it or thinking about whether you are better at it than someone else. You do not lay awake at night thinking about technique, nor do you let the thought of it stop you from appreciating other things in your life because you are only focused on going to the toilet…… or at least I hope you do not!

So, in conclusion, I could say that my experience has shown me again that we should enjoy our training, appreciate the benefits of our training, even understand the how and why, we should correct, reflect, appreciate…. “do your best”. Then, simply say thank you, and knowing that we have benefitted from the experience, naturally, move on to the next experience in our day and enjoy it, whatever it may be!

I have thought so much about my experiences in Russia and have so much to say and to share…. Perhaps now that is enough!

Finally, I would like to say thank you to Grand Master Kim, to Sergey Vassilevesky and the Russian Haedong Kumdo Family for their excellent event and efforts to look after all international Guests. Thank you also to my Peers, from Greece and Finland, Turkey, Russia and Korea and all other countries, Thank you for welcoming me to your Family!

And also thank you to two Students from Australia who made excellent travelling companions, who showed respect and friendship and made an excellent effort to represent me, and Australia at this fantastic event!

HAE DONG!

Feedback from the Russian Haedong Kumdo (Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu) Spring Seminar & Open European Championship 2015

 by  Antti Junikka, 2.dan Instructor, Jyväskylä, Finland

This is a feedback from the Russian Haedong Kumdo (Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu) Spring Seminar & Open European Championship held 1.-5.5.2015 in Smolensk Russia conducted by Grandmaster Kim Jeong Seong 9.dan and organized by the Russian Rep. Sergey Vasilevsky 3.dan. Congratulations my friend for your dan promotion!

I started my trip on 30^th of April from Jyväskylä central Finland with my number one swordsman Sami Pelkonen who was about to graduate his chodan in Russia in the dan test held as part of Chongjaenim Kim’s seminar. For me Sami’s graduation was as exciting event as attending to the Seminar and Championship myself, as he is the first chodan attendant from Jyväskylä club and the first person taking the test who I’ve taught since the beginning of his training.

In the Championship I was about to attend for one sword kumbups, two sword kumbups, sparring, creative sparring and paper cutting in the dan category. Sami had the same plan in the color belt category without the paper cutting. We had been training a creative sparring choreography together for at least a hundred times in the dojang and on the beaches of Jyväskylä and we were confident that our mutual part would go quite well in front of the audience.

First we drove to Helsinki-Vantaa airport and from there we took a plane to Moscow Sheremetyevo airport. In Moscow we met a part of the Finnish team, Team Pori. These Porians were obviously crazy but hilarious folk and invited us in a bar during the first travel day. We took a different accommodation in Moscow and I got time to plan a supreme strategy to beat the Porian instructor Juha Lepistö 3.dan in the Championship by letting him drink himself under the table. As Sami and I were sightseeing Moscow and getting familiar to local food, we let the Porians sit in a bar and drink. This way I might not need to drink a beer myself. Late at night, we went to this bar to check the results and my plan failed miserably. So instead we decided to have sophisticated fun all together.

The next day we met Team Greece in a cafeteria in the centrum by accident and after that the rest of the Finnish team in a bar called the Hidden Bar. There we ate and discussed about the trip.  From there we headed to the meeting point where Sergey was waiting for us in an arranged bus. In the bus we met all the nationalities that had arrived to compete. As the competition was open there were nationalities outside Europe as well:

Australia, Colombia, Turkey, South-Korea, Greece, France, Russia and Finland. The bus took us to hotel Smena in Smolensk. In the district you could find accommodation, restaurant, spa and many kinds of sports facilities. GM Kim was there to meet us and we had a great welcoming discussion in the lobby with some local goods (Vodka was it called?).

After a good night sleep it was time for the dan test. Sami did great work with a great feedback and passed the test. Finland got two new chodan: Sami Pelkonen and Risto Nätynki. Also South-Korea and Russia got new dan grades. Congratulations my friends! After the dan test there was a training session under GM Kim that consisted of three parts for me. First we did the warm up and basics together. Then I got to teach one sword Yedos for others and after that I got some personal attention from Chongjaenim Kim. First he wanted to see the latest kumbup I knew so I performed Bonkuk number four. Typically as you thought you knew something you were pushed down from the clouds on the ground. Chongjaenim said: “This is not Bonkuk number four” and made us start with the baldo and started teaching the deeper understanding of the form and how to use your body and breathing correctly.

As in everything form is just a form and the important things are the ones happening inside. It seems so very different when different people make the same patterns. Even though some people may act more natural and effective automatically, still they might not understand what is going on inside. It takes good eye to see and a good teacher to teach things happening inside. GM taught how to use the weight of the sword, how to hold the sword steadily and naturally,

how correct breathing helps you to endure, how and when to gather the energy to the stomach area and why and when to let it go… Similar things were taught in the same kumbup with the palhanse stance. GM made it clear that it is an attacking stance and you should have good balance to proceed from it. The basic mechanics of the stance like the high knee are important in the beginning, but in the end more important is what happens inside the body.

The teachings of this session were personally very soothing. First of all because of the past experience in the martial arts it is no longer a big bump for my ego to be heard that I do not know almost anything about what I’m doing under a great master. Instead it makes me listen to what he has to say. As I am not hurt I feel ready and focused to bite the “for me high level stuff” what he has to offer. Hurt egos raise people’s guards and I’m happy I was able to open my heart instead.

In recent years I feel I’ve taken huge steps with myself in these kinds of things and GM Kim and the HK family has a great influence in this matter, supporting me in my personal growth. For me moodo training is a huge thing. It is for life, but it is not life. Orientation and influence for understanding life.

The other soothing part was that GM Kim told me that even though I am according to him able to perform movement, throw kicks and punches, in a natural way, he saw that he cannot see me using my breathing as part of my doing. As I took it I cannot gather the energy correctly and use my midsection well for creating more power to be given away. This is the second time I got a similar feedback.

As I have studied similar principles of using the body in another art, it makes me feel good that these both different influences are directing me towards the same goal that I am eager to see more clear day by day. It is an important mystery I want to solve. Like many other things in life too, pushing you towards something after you’ve figured out better who you are. I feel that I am closer now to next big step of development.

The next day the Open European Championship was held. It started with a nice ceremony with drummers and dancers. We got to see beautiful Haedong Kumdo demonstrations too. My favorite one was the super skillful demonstration of the Korean master Choi . First was shown the color belt category and I got to see Sami’s performances. Sami did well and took gold medals in both kumbup categories and bronze in sparring. Next I got gold in high dan category one sword kumbup, silver in two swords kumbup and bronze in sparring. Then I attended to paper cutting but I didn’t pass the first round against a Russian competitor.

Our creative sparring placed the 2^nd and lost the gold medal to another Finnish team. I competed also in the group kumbup with the Finnish dan as the Finnish rep. got a supreme idea the same day that we should attend. So we trained a bit and happened to win the category with our Jiri Hyung number five. The Finnish team than consisted of fourteen people was successful overall and we got four gold,

three silver and two bronze for Jyväskylä alone! So I can be very proud of the achievements of our team. Even Pori! Russia was the only team that got more gold medals.  Finland was the 2^nd successful country and Australia took the 3^rd place as a team.

Beautiful gifts were shared during the ending ceremony and GM Kim and the organizer got lots of positive feedback and gratitude. After the ending ceremony it was time for a Russian sauna and spa! Not so very different from Finnish one, but the sauna hats were hilarious and unisex public sauna and wearing swimsuits in a sauna is not that common in Finland. There was also a bucket of cold water by the ceiling you could pour all over the place by pulling a string. I had to try that one. And of course drinking beer in a public sauna is nice, in my opinion at least.

Monday morning started with the second seminar lesson. After a mutual beginning I got to teach two swords basic techniques and Hanra Hyung number 1. After that I got to train a new kumbup under GM Kim, the mysterious Star Hyung. In the kumbup you start from one point and move smoothly to the next, where you give up your energy, redirect and charge your battery, then move smoothly to the next point etc.

In the beginning a very nice sword twirl with an accurate explanation how the one hand cut must be executed sword almost attached to you spine to get power. We got the first two straights to practice and maybe we get some more in July. The form seems cool at this point and seems to have a deeper meaning for GM Kim.

After the morning session we took sightseeing around beautiful Smolensk and I got to try the local Shashlik. I had tried the Borscht already in Moscow and found these both delicious.  After the sightseeing we had a huge godlike barbecue arranged by Sergey and the Russian team with beautiful demonstrations of dance and music. Grilled pork and salmon and all kinds of side dishes for about six hours in a sunlight outside the hotel! We had our own tap of never ending Russian beer and tables filled with Russian quality vodka. That was just unbelievable and a great climax of the trip! I got to perform a song myself with my brother in arms Christian Pöyhönen, thanks bro!

I met so many new friends and fine people on this trip, outside Europe as well because this was an Open Championship. I’ll never forget the beer I was given by master Choi after a nice breakfast conversation with him and his wife and the invitation they gave me if I ever come to South-Korea. And the Korean guys Min Ho & Kwon Il who came to ask me to train with them on the first training day. Or the awesome party boogie and fighting skill showed by Cem from Turkey! And the sunny character of mi amigo Jair from Colombia! And master Stuart Campbell my man… Who invited me to his home and teach in his club in Australia 2016. The whole team absolute gold! I’ll see you on Gold Coast team ‘Strailiya!

I’ll never forget the heart touching conversations with Christoforos and mother-figure-like Patty from the Greek team. The dance instructions from young Georgia are probably attached somewhere in my mind despite of the morning party sickness. And I got nice traveling tips from Denisa who represented Team France. My own team was awesome as well. I feel proud of the efforts everyone made and thankful to have such a wonderful traveling party. Last but definitely not least the Russian Team.

Such a welcoming and nice folk! Despite the language barriers we got together smoothly. You don’t need much mutual tongue while for example playing vodka volleyball in the dark during night time. You were the heart of this event! Spasiba my friends!

On Tuesday morning we left early for Moscow by bus after goodbyes with the Russian Team. As everybody knew each other there was a good boogie in the bus. In the airport we said goodbyes to other teams and headed back to Finland with Sami and the Porians. The rest of the Finnish Team had an extra night in Moscow and stayed there. In Helsinki-Vantaa airport we said goodbyes our dear friends from Team Pori. While driving to Jyväskylä by car with Sami we were tired but happy and satisfied. We had a lot to talk about after so many experiences we had on this trip.

Still now writing this feedback I am overwhelmed with the humbleness and teachings of GM Kim and generosity of Sergey Vasilevsky and his team. I remember Chongjaenim telling about how many people ask help from him, because he has knowledge of healing people with acupuncture etc. And he explained that sometimes he knows what is wrong but sometimes he does not. That he is not for example a doctor.

At least two times I saw him guiding a person to the attention of a better knowledge. As he is a grandmaster, I find them acts of humbleness and reason in these small cases I saw. Some people search for help and have a lot of faith. And as an authority you can use it for your own ego or just do the right thing.

I was also so satisfied that I got personal teaching from Chongjaenim Kim and it was a “for me high level” rollercoaster that opened new paths. He really had the skill to pull the right strings concerning me and my current skill level.  And Sergey, your organizing was pure gold. I thank you so much for your efforts! You are a kind man with a great sense of humor! I still can’t forget the morning discussion and imitation you pulled: “…But where is the mountain man???”. LOL! Keep on going on your golden rails. You’re doing a great job!

So many experiences, so many new friends, such a great martial art connecting people! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Haedong!

Antti Junikka

Jyväskylä, Finland

Haedong Kumdo Feedback 12/2014

written down by Christoforos Christodoulou,

HK Rep of Greek HK Association.

place : Athens, Greece
date : 19th to 27th Dec. 2014

A few days ago another seminar ended under the guidance of the great grand master Kim Jeong Seong. After 21 months we met him again and we were delighted to experience everything he taught us.

We are blessed that we have this huge opportunity to receive this knowledge straight from the source, and that there are no third party people to stop or misinterpret this information according to their limited knowledge.

Truth is simple, master empersize over and over. That is the reason why we trust and follow him, me and the other colleagues at the Greek Haedong Kumdo Union.

I want to warn you that in the future more Haedong Kumdo Unions will show up in our country, as with all kind of martial arts. These people will hold Dan titles (I am not referring to old members that for personal reasons stopped, but deserve every Dan earned through participating in every examination- we should congratulate them again and again).

Maybe they will appear again, old members with Dan earned with honor- written in their diploma- leaders of the union with 3,4,5 or 6 and 7 Dan.

We are at the right place, the right time. We accept all kinds of living experiences from an experienced teacher who has stepped and walked the path of knowledge. He knows and feels, as we all understood at the seminar, who speaks the truth, who is not, who copes and who fools himself/herself. He knows more than any of us the principles of nature and universe that he taught us with his attitude and behavior.

Maybe some people who believe they know more, will state that he knows nothing. We thank them for this belief.

But like our teacher gives knowledge, there are people among us who think they do the same. We must recognize them and continue our education for our own good. There are many milestones as we walk forward, this is written in our life routine, this is the only way through which we can change our level.

The pick in this year’s education is to think out of the box. Master Kim made an introduction the previous day of the seminar with the aim for us to think seminar’s subject. He tutored for three milestones in our evolution during the process of recognition and energy use.

These are:
1. Relax and feel the energy
2. Focus and see it
3. Realize and do it

The next day he put us in the process of the first level and some of us experienced it. These were Claudia, Anastasia, Ilias, Yiannis.

He explained that if we overthink we might complicate more our thoughts with no positive results. He continued by telling us to realize our position towards time and place and understand that we are a simple dot at the WHOLE. He gave us some faqs in order not to step into traps, not to get excited with our wants and not to get tempted with our EGO.

This is the reason the seminar was called think out of he box- step out of the logic of your thought, think without logic. It is difficult but not impossible. It is simple and not complex and it depends on the education that we had at the past from our teachers family etc.

If our will for change is strong we will find the way, master argues. Here are the personal experiences of our classmates.

The people mentioned above told us that they felt their hands burning,others more others less. Some felt it more at the one hand than the other.

When master Kim went close to them and touched them, he whispered to them that this is the force, this energy balanced on their hands and then they felt as if they were holding a fire ball, others felt it big, others small.

Claudia said master Kim was a unique experience and before she did the exercise, she was feeling tired but later on she was relaxed, full of energy. “I tried to focus on my mother’s face as master Kim told me to”.

When she managed to have her mother’s face on her mind, she felt IT. She felt the energy pouring inside her. At the same time her hands became warmer. “This was one of the most exciting experiences of my life, she claims. I couldn’t do any if these without the help of my master Kim”.

Anastasia saw a firing light in front of her eyes and said:” when I closed my eyes I saw the building we are in, not as it was supposed to be, but it looked like an energy field as in movies, but in a transparent way, and on its surface it had waves. Besides the building I saw the rest of us there, and I felt them. My right hand was burning in its middle and i felt like I was holding something in my hands, something that I could not describe until master Kim asked us about it. This was regarding the light that I saw.

Some among all the students felt heat, cold breeze, some thought they saw something.
At exactly that point master said not to give importance on it, and to surpass what we felt at that specific time!! If we won’t do it as our fellow student stamatis did in the past this very energy would affect us for a long time. This is what stamatis said to the master and the master would like to share it with us.

Stamatis in the past implemented the respiration exercises that our master taught him, before doing a demonstration of wooden surfaces breaking. He indeed achieved his goal with surplus of strength as he mentioned ” I could break a wall” . yet, stamatis for that very day and all the following he was experiencing augmented heart breat as well as high blood pressure and he could not fall asleep easily.

In that part, the master teaches us not to use the power with no reason and if we do, we need to release it afterwards as it is not ours, like our body; otherwise we would do it whatever we wanted.

Like our fellow student john , the energy should flow and not be collected , if it does, someone can not hold it for long and will get sick or even die. Imagine us wanting oxygen and not breath it out; in the end we will die. this is the principle of nature. We need not to be foolish to do the opposite.

Another hint for us in order to successfully graduate from the first level is to avoid 3 things:
1. not to get angry
2.not to be greedy and
3.not be foolish.

If we let ourselves fall in those traps, the energy will get blocked and strange things will happen I.e. bad life ,problems or even sicknesses.

This is why we always need to do the best we can and love and help the others. Via the training of the sword we are lucky to be taught the principles of life first and foremost helpful for ourselves and then for the others.

In the end, the master highlights that the goal is through the training of the haedong kumdo “heavy and long sword ” to pass from our natural capabilities onto respiration exercises named ki mu, through the energy that we will develop over the years, we will be able to use small and light swords “needles”, and after that, we may not need the neadles at all.

everything is interconnected to each other in the very same way. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to transact to you everything I know and I hope that I will see you again in the next seminar and be able to teach you more. Till then enjoy the training.
Today we build tommorow.

Haedong!!!

In Spanish

by  Gerardo Iniguez, JSKR-HK  Instructor in Mexico

Reporte de los eventos Haedong Kumdo Grecia 2014

Reporte Haedong Kumdo 12/2014

Escrito por Christoforos Christodoulou, Representante HK de la Asociación Griega HK

Lugar: Atenas, Grecia

Fecha: 19 al 27 de Diciembre 2014

Hace pocos días terminó un seminario más bajo la guía del Gran Maestro Kim Jeong Seong. Después de 21 meses lo vimos de nuevo y nos entusiasmamos por experimentar todo lo que nos enseñó.

Somos afortunados de tener esta gran oportunidad para recibir tal conocimiento directamente de la fuente, y de que no haya fuentes intermedias para parar o malinterpretar la información de acuerdo a su conocimiento limitado.

La verdad es imple, el maestro lo enfatizó muchas veces. Esta es la razón por la que confiamos en él y lo seguimos, yo y otros integrantes de la Unión Griega Haedong Kumdo.

Quisiera advertirles que en el futuro más Uniones Haedong Kumdo aparecerán en nuestro país, como sucede con cualquier arte marcial. Estas personas tendrán títulos Dan (no me refiero a miembros antiguos que dejaron de entrenar por razones personales, pero que merecen cada Dan recibido a través de la participación en exámenes – a ellos los debemos celebrar repetidamente).

Tal vez aparecerán de nuevo, aquellos viejos miembros con títulos Dan recibidos con honor – escrito en sus diplomas – líderes de la unión con 3, 4, 5, 6 o 7 Dan.

Estamos en el lugar correcto, en el tiempo indicado. Aceptamos todo tipo de experiencias de vida de un Maestro conocedor que ha recorrido el camino del conocimiento. Él sabe y siente, como todos entendimos en el seminario, quién habla la verdad, quién no, quién enfrenta y quién se engaña a sí mismo. Más que todos nosotros, él conoce los principios de la naturaleza y el universo que nos ha enseñado con su actitud y comportamiento.

Tal vez algunas personas que creen saber más, dirán que él no sabe nada. Nosotros les agradecemos por tener esta creencia.

Pero de la misma forma que nuestro maestro da conocimiento, hay gente entre nosotros que cree puede hacer lo mismo. Debemos reconocerlos y continuar nuestra educación por nuestro propio bien. Hay muchos hitos mientras caminamos hacia delante; esto está escrito en nuestra rutina diaria, es la única forma en que podemos aumentar nuestro nivel.

El tema para aprender este año es pensar fuera de lo común. El Maestro Kim dio una introducción el día anterior al seminario para que pudiéramos pensar acerca del tema del seminario. Nos enseñó que hay tres hitos durante el proceso de reconocimiento y uso de la energía.

Estos son: 1. Relájate y siente la energía. 2. Concéntrate y velo. 3. Date cuenta y hazlo.

El siguiente día nos puso en el proceso del primer nivel y algunos de nosotros lo experimentamos. Ellos fueron Claudia, Anastasia, Ilias y Yiannis.

Nos explicó que si pensamos de más, podemos complicar más nuestros pensamientos sin resultados positivos. Continuó diciéndonos que tenemos que entender nuestra posición en el tiempo y el espacio, y entender que simplemente somos un punto en el TODO. Nos dio algunas pistas para no caer en trampas, para no entusiasmarnos con nuestros deseos y no ser seducidos por nuestro EGO.

Esta es la razón por la cual el seminario se llama “pensar fuera de lo común” – salir de la lógica de tu pensamiento, pensar sin lógica. Es difícil pero no imposible. Es simple, no complejo, y depende de la educación que hemos tenido en el pasado con nuestros maestros, familia, etc.

Si nuestra voluntad para cambiar es fuerte nosotros encontraremos el camino, el Maestro nos dice. Aquí están las experiencias personales de nuestros estudiantes.

La gente mencionada con anterioridad dijo que sentían sus manos arder; algunos más, algunos menos. Algunos lo sintieron más en una mano que en la otra.

Cuando el Maestro Kim se acercó, les dijo que esta es la fuerza, energía balanceada en sus manos, y ellos sintieron que sujetaban una bola de fuego. Algunos la percibieron grande, otros chica.

Claudia dijo que las enseñanzas del Maestro Kim fueron una experiencia única; aunque antes de hacer el ejercicio se sentía cansada, después estaba relajada y llena de energía. “Traté de enfocarme en la cara de mi madre como el Maestro Kim me dijo”.

Cuando logró tener la cara de su madre en la mente, LO sintió. Sintió la energía interna. Al mismo tiempo sus manos se calentaron. “Esta fue una de las experiencias más emocionantes de mi vida”, ella dice. “No podría haberlo logrado sin la ayuda del Maestro Kim”.

Anastasia vio una luz centelleante enfrente de sus ojos y dijo: “Cuando cerré mis ojos vi el edificio donde estábamos, no como realmente era, sino como un campo de energía en una película, de forma transparente, con olas en la superficie. Además del edificio vi al resto de nosotros, y los sentí. Mi mano derecha ardía en el centro y sentí que estaba sosteniendo algo en mis manos, algo que no podía describir hasta que el Maestro Kim nos preguntó al respecto. Esto se refería a la luz que vi.”

Algunos estudiantes sintieron calor o una brisa fría; algunos pensaron que vieron algo.

Justo en ese momento el Maestro dijo que no le diéramos importancia, que superáramos lo que sentimos en ese momento! Si no lo hacemos como nuestro compañero Stamatis hizo en el pasado, esta misma energía nos afectaría por mucho tiempo. Esto es lo que Stamatis le dijo al Maestro y el Maestro quiere compartir con nosotros.

Hace tiempo Stamatis implementó los ejercicios de respiración que nuestro Maestro le enseñó, antes de hacer una demostración rompiendo superficies de madera. Claramente logró su objetivo con un excedente de fuerza, mientra decía “podría romper una pared”. Sin embargo, todo ese día y el siguiente Stamatis experimentó un ritmo cardíaco acelerado, presión arterial alta y no pudo dormir fácilmente.

En ese sentido, el Maestro nos enseña a no usar el poder sin razón, y si lo hacemos, a liberarlo pues no es nuestro, como nuestro cuerpo; de otra forma lo haríamos en cualquier momento.

Como con nuestro compañero John… la energía debe fluir y no ser almacenada; en caso contrario, la gente no puede guardarla por mucho tiempo, se enfermará e incluso morirá. Imagina si respiráramos oxígeno pero no lo exhaláramos; eventualmente moriríamos. Este es el principio de la naturaleza. Tenemos que ser astutos y no hacer lo opuesto.

Otra pista para poder superar el primer nivel es evitar 3 cosas: 1. Enojarse. 2. Ser codicioso. 3. Ser tonto.

Si nos dejamos caer en estas trampas, la energía se bloqueará y cosas raras pasarás, como por ejemplo, una mala vida, problemas e incluso enfermedad.

Es por esto que siempre tenemos que hacer nuestro mejor esfuerzo y amar y ayudar a los otros. A través del entrenamiento de la espada somos afortunados de aprender los principios de la vida, para ayudarnos a nosotros mismos y a los demás.

Al final, el Maestro resalta que, a través del entrenamiento de la “espada pesada y larga” en Haedong Kumdo, el objetivo es pasar de nuestras habilidades naturales a los ejercicios de respiración Ki-Mu. Gracias a la energía que desarrollaremos a lo largo de los años, podremos llegar a utilizar espadas pequeñas y livianas, “agujas”, y después de eso tal vez ni siquiera necesitemos agujas.

Cada cosa está interconectada a todas las demás de la misma forma. Muchas gracias por darnos la oportunidad de reportar todo lo que aprendimos y esperamos ver a todos de nuevo en el siguiente seminario, para aprender y enseñar mucho más. Hasta entonces, disfruten el entrenamiento.

Hoy construimos el mañana. Haedong!

그랜드 마스터 김의 캐나다 라이지에나 방문

 글쓴이 : 크랙 수석사범

2014년 12월 1일부터 9일까지의 그랜드 마스터 김의 해동검도 세미나차 캐나다 라이지에나 방문은  나의 스승인 무스조우에 있는 론 관장이 주선을 하게 되었다. 이것이 나에게는 첫번째 그와 만남으로서 세계해동검도연합회의 일원이 된것을 영광으로 생각합니다.

그는 기무수련을 지도하였는데 그것은 몸의 움직임과 호흡과 집중을 통해 내공을 연결시키는 수련이었다.

이것은 우리 몸을 위한 일종의 약과 같은 것이며 정신적, 육체적으로 회복시켜주는 것으로 설명하였다.

또한 그것은 굴러가는 공과 같으며, 느리게 혹은 빠르게 움직이고 멈춤없이 방향을 전환하기도 하며, 힘을 가짐과 동시에  아주 부드럽고 유연하게 움직이기도 하는 것으로 이야기 하였다.

나는 기무 수련을 통해서 두가지 방법에서 기운의 느낌을 경험하였다.

그 중 하나는 자연스럽게 서 있는 상태에서 손바닥을 서로 마주보게 하였는데,

약간의 시간이 흐른 후 나의 양손바닥사이에서 고무풍선을 가진 것 같은느낌을 가졌다. 마치 두 개의 자석이 반발력으로 서로 막 밀어내는 듯이.

좀 더 시간을 가져볼 수록 나의 양손을 멀리가져도 여전히 똑같은 느낌을 가질 수 있었다. 게다가 손바닥에서는 어떤 열기까지도 느껴볼 수 있었다.

그 기운을 항상 느낄 수 있는 것은 아니었으며 항상 변화되었다.

때때로 그렇게 하는 것이 힘들기도 하였으며 또한 집중하기도 힘들었다.

이 기운은 내가 소유할 수 있는 에너지가 아니기 때문에 항상 서로 나누어 가져야 하는 것도 배웠다.

이것은 내 스스로의 호흡을 자연스럽게 끊임없이 계속해서 전자에 느꼈던 공과 같은 기운을 가지고 수련을 하도록 하는 일종의 내 자신에 대한 도전과 같은 것이었다. 내가 다른 무술수련에서 배웠던 것은

느껴지는 기운을 동작의 마지막에서 항상 집중하도록 하였던 것인데

그랜드 마스터 김은 그렇게 하면  빨리 죽는다라고 하는 바람에

본래 배웠던 대로의 방법을 더 이상하지 않았다.

지난 약 6년간 검을 하나만 사용하여 수련을 해 왔는데 그랜드 마스터 김을 만나면서 쌍검을 가진 해동검도 수련을 하게  되었다.

쌍검수련은 기무수련과 마찬가지의 이치를 가지고 있었는데 그것은 언제나 자연스럽게

그리고 끊임없이 그 흐름을 유지해야만 하는 것이었다. 그러한 쌍검수련은

나의 기존 움직임들을 한층 더능숙하게 구사할 수 있도록 하게 해 주었다.

그 뿐만 아니라 항상 몸전체를 사용하도록 하였으며 검은  내 몸의 한부분으로 생각하고 내 양팔이 길어진 것으로 생각하고 수련해야 된다고 하였다.  수련을 하면서 내 몸이 두 개의 검을 움직이게 되는 그와 같은 방법을 좋아하게 되었으며,

그것은 제각기 움직이는 양팔과 함께, 동작들을 멈춤없이 끊임없이 할 수 있도록 수련하는데 도움을 주었다.

지난 약8일 동안, 항상 만나게 될 수없는 한 무술의 창안자인 그에게 직접 배우고 알게된 것들은

나에게는 무척 고무적인 일이었다. 수련 속에서 끊임없이 주어지는 무한대의 지식을 그를 만나 배울 수 있게 된 것은 나에게 영광이었으며,

또한 세계해동검도연합회의 다른 많은 수련생들과도 만나

함께 수련하게 될 것을 영광으로 여기며 다음을 기대해 본다.

Thank You GM Kim Jeong Seong for sharing your knowledge and fellowship with me.

크렉 수석 사범으로 부터

In Spanish

by  Gerardo Iniguez, JSKR-HK  Instructor in Mexico

Canadá se une a la Federación United World Haedong Kumdo GM Kim Jeong Seong visita Regina, Saskatchewan, Canadá

Mi instructor, el Maestro Ron Roy de Moose Jay, Sask., Canadá, invitó al GM Kim a Regina para dar un seminario en Diciembre 1 – 9 del 2014. Esta es la primera vez que platiqué con el GM Kim y tengo el honor de pertenecer a la Federación United World Haedong Kumdo.

El GM Kim me introdujo a Ki-Mu, un ejercicio para canalizar tu energía interna a través del enfoque, respiración y movimiento del cuerpo. Él describe Ki-Mu como medicina para el cuerpo, una medicina para curarte física y mentalmente. Describe los movimientos como una pelota que se desliza. Una pelota puede moverse rápido o lento y puede cambiar de dirección sin pararse. Puede moverse con fuerza y gracia al mismo tiempo. En Ki-Mu la respiración es natural y la energía proviene de tu centro.

Yo experimenté la sensación de mi energía de dos formas. En un ejercicio me paré de forma natural con las manos enfrente de mí y las palmas una enfrente de la otra. Pasó un tiempo y luego sentí como si tuviera un globo entre mis manos manteniéndolas separadas, como dos imanes en repulsión. Mientras más tiempo pasaba, más lejos podía mover mis manos y aún sentir lo mismo. También sentí calor en las palmas de mis manos. No siempre puedo sentir la energía; varía en cada práctica. Algunas veces intento de más, en otras ocasiones pierdo la concentración. Esta energía no es nuestra así que no podemos tener control sobre ella, sólo podemos canalizarla y utilizarla. No es nuestra propiedad y por tanto es nuestra responsabilidad compartirla con otros. Es un reto para mí el aprender a moverme continuamente como una pelota sin parar, respirando naturalmente. En otros entrenamientos de artes marciales me enseñaron a enfocar mi energía al final de cada movimiento. Al hacer esto pararía el flujo del movimiento y, en las palabras del GM Kim, “moriría rápido”.

He entrenado con una sola espada por seis años y fue durante este seminario que el GM Kim me introdujo a Haedong Kumdo con dos espadas. Las técnicas con dos espadas usan la misma filosofía que Ki-Mu de moverse continua y naturalmente. El entrenamiento con dos espadas me está enseñando a moverme con mayor fluidez. El GM Kim me demostró que no muevo la espada con mis brazos, sino con mi cuerpo. La espada me pertenece y es parte de mi cuerpo, una extensión de mis brazos. Me gusta la forma en que mi cuerpo mueve las dos espadas. El movimiento individual de los dos brazos permite que todo el movimiento sea continuo.

El GM Kim es una persona increíble y un gran instructor. Fue un honor conocerlo y entrenar con él, pues tiene un conocimiento ilimitado que compartir con nosotros. Los ocho días que tuve para conocerlo y aprender de él fueron muy inspiradores. No en cualquier día puedes aprender y entrenar directamente con el fundador del Arte. Espero con ansias la siguiente ocasión en que tenga el honor de estar y entrenar con los muchos miembros de la Federación United World Haedong Kumdo.

Gracias GM Kim Jeong Seong for compartir su conocimiento y compañía conmigo.

Craig Selensky

Instructor Senior Asociación Canadiense de Haedong Kumdo

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canadá

In English

Canada Joins The United World Haedong Kumdo Federation
GM. Kim Jeong Seong visits Regina Saskatchewan, Canada

My Instructor Master Ron Roy of Moose Jaw, Sask. Canada invited GM Kim to Regina for a sword seminar on Dec 1st – Dec 9th 2014. This is the first time that I met GM Kim and I’m honored to be a member of the United World Haedong Kumdo Federation.

GM Kim introduced me to Ki-Mu which is an exercise used to channel your inner energy through focus, breathing and body movement. He describes Ki-Mu as medicine for your body, a medicine to heal you mentally and physically. He describes the movements to be like a rolling ball. A rolling ball can move fast or slow and it can change direction without stopping. It can move with force and gracefully at the same time. In Ki-Mu breathing is natural and is the energy that comes from your inner core.

I experienced the feeling of my energy in a couple of ways. One exercise was standing natural with my hands held in front of me, palms facing each other. It took awhile and then it felt like I had a balloon in between my hands keeping them apart; like two magnets repelling each other. The longer I did this, the further apart I could move my hand and still fell the same. I also experienced heat in the palms of my hands. I can’t always feel the energy; it varies every time I practice. Sometimes I try too hard, other times I loose focus. This energy is not ours and so we cannot have mastery over it, we can only tap into its strengths and use it. It is also not ours to keep and therefore it is our responsibly to share it with others. It’s a challenge to teach myself to move continuously like a ball without stopping and breathing naturally. In my other martial arts training I was taught to focus my energy at the end of every move. In doing this I would stop the flow of my movement and in GM Kim’s words “Die Quickly”.

I’ve been training with a single sword for six years and it was during this seminar that GM Kim introduced me to Haedong Kumdo with two swords. The two sword techniques use the same philosophy as Ki-Mu in that you must keep moving continuously and naturally. Two sword training is teaching me to move more fluently. GM Kim demonstrated that I don’t swing the sword with my arms; you move it with my body. The sword belongs to me and it is a part of my body, an extension of my arms. I like the way my body moves the two swords. With both arms moving individually it helps keep the movement continuous.

GM Kim is an amazing person and Instructor. It was an honor to meet and train with him as he has unlimited knowledge to share with us. The 8 days that I had to get to know and learn from him were very inspiring. It’s not every day that you get to learn and train directly from the founder of the Art. I look forward to the future when I will have the honor to meet and train with the many members of the United World Haedong Kumdo Federation.

Thank You GM Kim Jeong Seong for sharing your knowledge and fellowship with me.

Craig Selensky
Senior Instructor
Canadian Haedong Kumdo Association
Regina Saskatchewan, Canada.

■Feedback of 2014 Canadian Haedong Kumdo Events■

Written down by Ron Roy & Jo-Ann McKenna
Place : Regina in Canada.
Date : December 2014

2014년 12월 추운 겨울 그는 웃음띤 얼굴로 이 곳 리자이이나를 찾았다. 다행히 이 곳 날씨는 그를 힘들게 하지는 않았던 것 같았으며. 리자이나 도장으로서는  처음으로 그랜드마스트 김과 함께하는  해동검도 세미나를 가지게  되었다.  그는 기꺼이 와서 지도하여 주었으며 우리 역시 그가 캐나다에 와서 지도한 것에 감사하며, 다함께 즐거웠다.  약 9일 동안에 걸쳐서 캐나다 해동검도 사범들에 대한 그의 가르침은 무술지도자로서 우리가 배우고 가르칠 수 있는 좋은 기회를 안겨 주었다. 우리는 진영쌍검류의 수련시스템을 알게 되었으며 “고정관념을 깨라(내 생각을 바꿔라)”의 중요성도 그의 수련과 함께 이해할 수 있게 되었다.

거기에는 세가지의 주요 단계가 있었는 데 다음과 같다.

첫번째는 리렉스, 기운을 느껴라.

두번째는 집중해서 봐라.

세번째는 깨달았으면 실천해라.

우리 주변의 모든 것들은 상호 연결되어 작용하고 있다는 것을 알 수 있으며, 지구가 태양을 주위로 돌고, 달 역시 지구를 중심으로 다함께 움직이고 있으며 이 우주자연의 모든 것들은 끊임없이 돌면서 움직이고 있으면서 서로 조화를 이루고 있다는 것을 알 수가 있으며,

이러한 간단한 이치를 통해 우리의 삶도 마찬가지이며, 우리 몸안팎의 이치도 똑같은 이치상에 있기에 진영쌍검류 수련을 통해 내 생각을 바꾸면서( 사물의 이치를 깨달아가면서 고정관념을 깨면서)  더욱 더 체력도 강건하게 마음도 충실하게 심신을 수련한다는 것이다.

Subject : 2014 Brasil Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu -HK Seminar

Date : 30th Oct. to 3th Nov. 2014

Place : Santa Catarina in Brasil

Organized and planned by

In 2014, at the Brasil JSKR-HK Events

In fact, we did not have enough time to make many kinds of things for training, but at this time all could have a good chance to learn a very fundamental things in the martial arts such as how to breath & why should do like that ? & what effects come from that? etc. with many questions with all participants under the teaching of GM Kim.

Breathing must be natural just same as we have to do naturally in the martial arts and in life as well.  Because  doing naturally makes harmony and balance very efficiently. Harmony at home or into the company or human social community in the nature shows strength just same as our organ into the body’s harmony makes be healthy. So finally doing naturally is most important thing whatever we do. It is not easy to do so.  we also have to to try to do our best to make it  continuously.

Finally it will make us think out of the box.  So we will come to know many things for our body ‘s harmony and balance etc. through Haedong Kumdo Training with swords or without swords, which have something with realization to get wisdom and with  earning money etc…

After that,  All will make happiness and health in both martial arts and life as we are getting to know the natural energy through JSKR-HK Training and to be closer to Nature by enhancing & purifying both body and mind.

Finally, we will come to know how to Break and Fix our body through training.

It has to be shared and we should help others with LOVE. Why do we have to help others and love others????

For myself!!

See you all again next year!

이번 브라질 해동검도 행사는 바쁜 일정으로 많고 다양한 수련은 할 수 없었으나, 기본기 강화 수련과 자세한 설명을 통한 교육을 위주로 하게 되었다.

호흡은 어떻게 하는 것이 좋으며, 왜 그렇게 해야만 하는지, 또 그렇게 한다면 무엇이 좋은 것인지 등등 여러가지들을 실제로 체험하면서 무술 수련을 통한 우리 삶과 연결된 여러가지 지혜들도 아울러 교육하기도 하였다.

호흡은 자연스럽게 하는 것이 가장 좋듯이 일상생활에서도 가장 자연스럽게 행 할 수 있는 것이 나도 좋고 상대로 좋을 수 밖에 없다. 그렇게 함으로써 무술에서는 내 몸과 마음의 조화와 능력의 발전을 꾀할 수 있으며, 일상생활 속에서는 안정되고 여유로운 삶을 만들어 갈 수 있으니 그게 바로 무술이 기본이 되는 것이며, 우리 삶의 원동력이 되는 것이다.

수련에서든, 일상생활 속에서든 열심히 최선을 다해 지속적으로 내 자신의 몸과 마음을 순화하고 정화시키고 자연으로부터 주어지는  에너지를 알아감에 따라 좀 더 가깝게 우주자연의 이치와 법, 진리에 다가섬으로써,

그러한 과정 속에서 무술수련을 통한 힘과 기술의 향상, 내 생활에서는 건강과 행복을 가지게 되어 과거보다 더 나은 생활 속 질의 향상을 만들어 갈 수가 있는 것이다.

진영쌍검류 수련을 통해 내 몸 안팎의 여러가지들을 깨우쳐 감에 따라 우리 주변의 모든 것들이 내 자신과 연결되어 있다는 사실도 점차적으로 알게 되고, 내가 배운 것들을 내 주변과 공유하면서 보다 더 나은 삶의 질을 만들어 갈 수 있게 된다.

결국  모든 것들의 원천은 사랑이라는 것을 알게 될 때, 진영쌍검류 수련자로서 자부심과 긍지을 가지는 지도자가 될 수도 있을 것이다.

Seminar Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo, Colombia, Antioquia 2014

written down in Spanish & English and translated in English by Johnnatan Valencia in Medellin, Colombia

Day 1

Today, beginning the seminar, we had a great journey, not only learning and training Kumdo, but also reflection.

After practicing basic moves (stances, cuts, movements) and having learned the form number 1, morning and afternoon of practice and correction, all the attendants had the chance to interact, through questioning and answering, with Master Kim Jeong Seong, who uttered us a reflection about energy through martial arts and its influence on people, the present and future teachers and masters, as a mean to feel others and help them.

Questions had an excellent performance and from the master, very sharp and deep answers. As part of them, the participants brought up that you must know your energy first and then to ask how you can feel the other’s energy, or how to help someone who thinks he has all the knowledge and doesn’t want to be helped, to which the Master emphasized on the following aspects: Whenever you ask “Why do you love your boyfriend/girlfriend?”, generally, people answer because he or she loves her/him, because he or she is a good person, understands, and so on, when actually you should do it because of yourself. You help others because of yourself, teach others because of yourself; if someone doesn’t want to be helped, let it be, and then, do the reflection process until you get the way to help him/her out.

The Master’s reflection about the energy focused on the following:

Energy is in everything, it shows itself in different forms and shapes, but it has 3 stages in martial arts and applicable also in any aspect of life:

1. It must be felt and experimented (feeling is not the same as knowing)

2. Focus and see it (when I focus, I can see energy in others and go on step 3)

3. Do it, use it (when I have already felt energy, I have seen it in others, I can do what I should, use it, to help, to cure)

Master’s teachings dwell in the beginning of the energy as the source to move the world, being the same energy love for the other and this “the right thing” because energy is light, it is proven by modern science, remaining a circle of synonymy of words attached among themselves.

ENERGY = POWER = LOVE = LIGHT Energy is power,

power is love,

and love is light,

power for our life.

The main reason to help and love the significant other is because you do it to yourself and in martial arts we can teach the basic principles of energy as the most important within the knowledge a martial artist must have. In turn, it’s to apply what we were taught any time in life when we were kids: be humble, help others, be kind, respect; being humble the foundation of everything and being always eager to learn.

Day 2

Today, we continued practicing the basic movements, learned the forms numbers 1, 2 and 3 with one sword and forms 1 and 2 with two swords. Practice was tougher this time, and done several times to remember the moves. The participants were very eager to learn, veryfocused, and very dedicated.

Master Kim emphasized on moving the body and with the weight of sword, also moving with it. He recommended to practice low stances, do the movements naturally, by not adding tension and explained when you are relaxed your energy flows, as energy doesn’t stay in one place and moves, we need to flow with it. He compares it with the solar system, the sun and the planets keep moving fluently.

He also taught us, when practicing forms, that some moves are faster and others are slower, but always conscious of them. Sometimes, when using 2 swords, we need to use one hand (when cutting, for example) and then forget about it, so we can focus on the other one. Master says that it is important not to think too much of the movement, but feel it.

Today’s journey was full of physical and mental exercise. Master’s teaching are always combined with great, deep explanation which guided of all the participants to feel the movement and make it part of the body, making the sword an extension of the body. Students did so well, that they are almost ready to advance to a new belt. Master feels very happy to see students learned very fast. 

Day 3

(Final day) of the Haedong Kumdo Jin Young Ssangkum Ryu Seminar Colombia, Medellin (Antioquia)

Today’s training was very interesting, mostly about the KIMASAE KIMU training and cutting exercises, creating a great environment and

performance of the participants. Some of them were really good, some others tried hard and focus.

At the KIMASAE KIMU training, Master’s recommendations were:

1. Body is not yours 2. Energy is also not yours 3. Forget it all and only focus on breathing

Because you need to let energy flow while doing an exercise and if you focus on your body, you can feel pain and you must feel comfortable, but it takes time. Master said this many times as we were practicing how to do KIMASAE correctly and strengthen, so the test was to remain in this position for as long as we could, but by feeling comfortable, if any pain or something uncomfortable, we had to stop.

Other emphasized topics from Master Kim were:

“Be kind, be sincere in saying and doing , even thinking must definitely based on all training. After that, we can probably approach to a certain degree and level. According to person’s effort and passion will be different I am trying to do my best to let my students be able to use even a very tiny and short one in stead of long sword. From 3 dan HK, prepare for training mentally to use a short one like needle, so -called akupuncture From 4 dan…they will be able to use a needle”

Master’s teachings about Kimu may be described as following: Kimu Ki mean energy as it’s known Energy is power It is Light. Love is power and energy… So love is based on human life and all things in universe. It is wavelength. Mu mean martial arts

Love in the martial arts means Kimu

Sinmu:

Sin means “belief” Belief = love

Sinmu also can be expressed as “Love in the martial arts”

Master said:

“It is LIGHT, some probably might be able to see it…

I willl do my best to let my students to see it sooner or later”

At the closure of the event, Master Kim said he felt very happy to see good level and encouraged people, better than last time when he came in 2012, he said he would come back next year and hope to see many students become black belt if dedicated. Also through Jair, there will be a Kumdo championship, and as students did good in this seminar and showed improvements, will be promoted to yellow belts by the end of this week. It was a great event, full of deep teachings, martial arts and physical training, all combined in a marvelous way.

In Spanish

Seminario Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo, Colombia, Antioquia 2014

Día 1

El día de hoy, iniciando el seminario, tuvimos una excelente jornada, no solo de entrenamiento y aprendizaje del Kumdo, sino también de reflexión.

Tras estar practicando los movimientos básicos (posiciones, cortes, movimientos) y haber aprendido la forma número 1, mañana y tarde de práctica y corrección, todos los asistentes tuvimos la oportunidad de interactuar, por medio de preguntas y respuestas, con el Maestro Kim Jeong Seong, quién nos profirió una reflexión sobre la energía a través de las artes marciales y su influencia en las personas, en los presentes y futuros profesores y maestros, como medio para sentir al otro y ayudarlo. Las preguntas tuvieron un excelente desempeño y el maestro unas respuestas muy sagaces y de gran profundidad. Dentro de ellas algunos de los participantes sacaron a colación que se debe de conocer primero su energía y cómo se puede sentir la energía del otro, o cómo ayudar a alguien quien cree tener todo el conocimiento y no desea dejarse ayudar, a lo que el Maestro hizo énfasis en los siguientes aspectos:

Cuando tu preguntas ¿Por qué amas a tu novio/a?, generalmente las personas responden que porque le quiere, porque es buena gente, comprende y demás, cuando en realidad lo debes hacer por tí mismo. Ayudas al otro por tí mismo, enseñas a otros por tí mismo; si alguien no desea dejarse ayudar, déjalo y luego haz el proceso de reflexión hasta llegar al camino para poderlo ayudar.

La reflexión sobre la energía del Maestro se centró en lo siguiente: La energía está en todo, se manifiesta de diferentes formas, pero tiene 3 estados en el entrenamiento de artes marciales y aplicable también a cualquier aspecto de la vida:

1. Se debe sentirla y experimentarla (sentir no es lo mismo que conocer)

2. Enfocarse y verla (cuando me enfoco, puedo ver la energía en otros y seguir al paso 3)

3. Hacerlo, usarla (cuando ya he sentido la energía, la he podido ver en otros, puedo hacer lo que debo hacer, usarla, para ayudar, para curar)

La enseñanza del Maestro radica en el principio de la energía como fuente de poder para mover al mundo, siendo la misma energía el amor hacia el otro y esto “lo correcto” ya que la energía es luz, está comprobado por la ciencia moderna , quedando un círculo de palabras sinonimias anidadas entre sí.

ENERGÍA = PODER = AMAR = LUZ

La energía es poder, el poder es amar, y elamar es lo correcto, la luz, poder que necesitamos para nuestra vida.

La razón principal de ayudar y amar al prójimo es porque te lo haces a tí mismo y en las artes marciales podemos enseñar los principios básicos de la energía como lo más importante dentro del conocimiento que debe tener un artista marcial. A su vez, es aplicar lo que ya alguna vez nos enseñaron cuando éramos pequeños: sé humilde, ayuda a los otros, sé amable, respeto; siendo la base de todo el ser humilde y siempre estar dispuestos a aprender.

Día 2

Hoy continuamos practicando los movimientos básicos, aprendimos las formas número 1, 2 y 3 con una espada y las formas 1 y 2 con dos espadas. Esta vez la práctica fue más pesada, y se hizo muchas veces para recordar los movimientos. Los participantes estaban muy deseosos de aprender, muy enfocados, y muy dedicados.

El Maestro Kim hizo énfasis en mover el cuerpo y moverse con el peso de la espada también. Recomendó practicar las posiciones bajas, hacer los movimientos naturales sin agregar tensión y explicó que cuando estás relajado tu energía fluye, ya que la energía no se queda en un solo lugar y se mueve, se necesita fluir con ella. Él lo compara con el sistema solar, el sol y los planetas se mueven constantemente con fluidez.

También nos enseñó, cuando practicamos formas, que algunos movimientos son más rápidos que otros, pero siempre conciente de ellos. Algunas veces, cuando usamos dos espadas, necesitamos usar una mano (al cortar, por ejemplo) y luego olvidarla, para que podamos enfocarnos en la otra.

Maestro dice que es muy importante no pensar mucho en el movimiento, pero sí sentirlo. La jornada de hoy estuvo llena de ejercicio físico y mental. Las enseñanzas del Maestro siempre están combinadas de explicaciones grandiosas y profundas que guiaron a todos los participantes a sentir el movimiento y hacerlo parte del cuerpo, hacer de la espada una extensión del cuerpo. Los participantes lo hicieron tan bien, que ya están casi listos para avanzar a un nuevo cinturón. El Maestro se siente muy feliz de ver que los estudiantes aprendieron rápido.

Día 3

El entrenamiento de hoy estuvo muy interesante, en gran parte fue sobre el entrenamientoKIMASAE KIMU y ejercicios de corte, creándose un gran ambiente y desarrollo de los participantes. Algunos eran muy buenos, y otros lo intentaron muy concentrados.

En el entrenamiento KIMASAE KIMU, las recomendaciones del Maestro fueron:

1. Tu cuerpo no es tuyo.

2. La energía tampoco es tuya.

3. Olvídate de todo y enfócate solamente en respirar.

Porque tú necesitas dejar que la energía fluya mientras haces un ejercicio y si te enfocas en tu cuerpo, podrías sentir dolor y debes sentirte cómodo, pero toma tiempo. Maestro dijo muchas veces esto mientras estábamos practicando como hacer KIMASAE correctamente y fortalecer, así que la prueba trataba de permanecer en esta posición lo que más pudiéramos, pero sintiéndose cómodo, si había dolor o alguna incomodidad, debíamos de parar.

Otros puntos enfatizados del Maestro Kim fueron: “Sé amable, honesto al hablar y hacer, incluso al pensar, debe estar todo basado definitivamente en todos los entrenamientos. Luego de eso, podemos alcanzar cierto grado y nivel. De acuerdo con el esfuerzo y pasión de las personas, será diferente. Estoy tratando de dar lo mejor de mí para que mis estudiantes sean capaces de usar incluso una corta y pequeña espada en vez de una larga. Desde 3er dan HK, se preparan para entrenarse mentalmente para usar una corta como una aguja, llamado acupuntura. Desde 4to dan, serán capaces de usar una aguja”

Las enseñanzas del Maestro sobre el Kimu se pueden describir así:

Kimu Ki significa energía como es conocida Energía es poder Es Luz. El amor es poder y energía… Así que el amor está basado en la vida humana y todas las cosas en el universo. Es la longitude de la onda, estar en la misma onda. Mu significa artes marciales. significa Amor en las artes marciales Kimu También: Sinmu:

Sin significa “creencia” Creencia = amor Sinmu también puede ser expresado como “amor en las artes marciales”

Maestro dijo con respecto a la energía:

“Es LUZ, algunos probablemente podrán verla… Haré lo mejor que pueda para que mis estudiantes puedan verla tarde o temprano ”

Al cierre del evento, Maestro Kim dijo que se sentía muy feliz de ver buen nivel y personas animadas, mejor que la última vez que vino en el 2012, dijo que volvería el próximo año y que espera ver muchos estudiantes en cinturón negro si son dedicados. También que a través de Jair, habrá un campeonato de Kumdo, y que los estudiantes lo hicieron bien en este seminario y mostraron mejoras, que serán promovidos a cinturón amarillo al finalizar la semana.

Fue un gran evento, lleno de enseñanzas profundas, artes marciales y entrenamiento físico, todo combinado de una forma maravillosa.

Feedback of 2014 Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu AustralianHaedong Kumdo Championship & seminars

■Subject : Feedback of 2014 Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu AustralianHaedong Kumdo Championship & seminars

■Place : Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydeny, Brisbane

■Date : July 3 to 12, 2014

organized and planned by Stuart Campbell.

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■Feedback from 2014 HK Open Tournament and seminar tour■

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In Early July this year Jinyoun Ssangkum Ryu Australia held the first ever all styles Haedong Kumdo Tournament on the Gold Coast.This tournament was open to all styles and associations of Haedong, Haidong, Kumdo, Gumdo in Australia and around the world.

The tournament saw 5 different types of Korean Sword martial Arts associations competing from around Australia and from South Korea. Although the numbers were not large, the competition was fair and enjoyable!We hope that next year we will see more participants from both Australia and from around the world and from many more associations.

The slogan for this annual event will remain “Practice without politics, together we are one!” We hope to bring people of all backgrounds together to share in the way of the sword, Korean Style! And to practice together in the spirit of friendship!

As a part of this historical event, Grand Master Kim Jeong seong, joined us and conducted a series of seminars on the Gold Coast, In Sydney and in Melbourne.The main theme of these seminars was the basics of Korean sword. As always with GM Kims teaching there is an underlying, or many underlying, lessons to learn. Personally for me the message that was clear is that there is no greater power than love!

On the Gold Coast we had mainly experienced sword practitioners for our seminar and so the lesson was a little more advanced and covered topics such as single and two sword Chakumk and Baldo, (drawing and sheathing), also paper cutting as well as tatami and bamboo cutting. There were many black belts from different associations present and in speaking with some afterwards the feedback was that it is the same but different! How? By the correct use of the body and sword (follow the sword….) and the understanding of energy flow (….follow the energy)!

In Sydney the seminar was for Hapkido practitioners mainly, as well as a couple of students that had had some experience with other types of Korean sword associations over the years.

Again the topics were simple, with some basic cutting and stances, then onto some single sword sparring techniques! Overall the message was loud and clear that without the basics, and a long and strong founding in the basics it is all just waving a piece of wood or metal around in the air! The students at complete self-defence showed the true dedication to the Martial arts, they listened and participated with courtesy and respect and it was so nice to meet such loyal and dedicated students and their Master! Thank you to Grand Master Geoff Booth for your warm welcome and hospitality!

With a very busy schedule we then travelled to Melbourne, to the Mudo Dojang in Roweville. Under the guidance of Victorian Representative Sabrina Teodorowski, and the assistance of Instructors Derek Upward and Justin Dodd we had an enjoyable two session seminar in Melbourne.

Many of the participants had attended previous of GM Kim’s seminars, so with the basics out of the way participants turned their attention to the finer points once again of two sword Chakum and baldo, paper cutting and throwing cutting techniques. Again the overall message of correct use of body and sword, the understanding of energy was at the fore! It was then my privilege to participate together with Sabrina sabomnim in some personal instruction, covering the higher level Ssangkum kumbup or two sword patterns.

I think we both struggled initially in processing the movements of two hands independent of the rest of our bodies but GM Kim reminded us that the hand/arm movements are not independent from the rest of the body, and that in following the energy it is almost possible (or as he said, it IS possible) to know the next movement in the flow of the form!

Simple, he said! Suffice to say that regardless of Dan level or experience we are always students, always learning and even that which we think we know has a deeper and underlying truth, which in turn hides more answers….. but then again are the answers really hidden or as human beings we are just not looking or perhaps we are looking too hard….

I would like to personally thank our Victorian representative, Sabrina for her outstanding performance and for all her help. Not only did she come to Qld for the competition, but then met us in Sydney to give her help at that seminar and then personally picked us up and chauffeured us around Melbourne. Thank you for all your efforts!Lessons learnt……

On a personal level, I was able to “sit at the feet of the master” yet again during GM Kim’s short and hectic trip the land down under. I feel I am beginning to gain a better understanding of the universal energy that not only surrounds us all but of which we are indeed made.

I go back to my earlier statement that the greatest power is love. It is this love that is the universal power. Even as I have typed this I know that these words do not exactly convey the true meaning, nor can we truly understand the principal as it is written.As a young man, I studied traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and massage, the use of moxa etc.

My mother was always a willing patient for my treatments, and I always had terrific results. Why? With little knowledge, but with great love, I treated any number of ailments from shoulder and back pain to arthritic hands with great success…… the secret is love!

To go one step further, if we open ourselves to this universal love, then the things we call intuition, gut feelings or hunches can be seen as an innate or inbuilt knowledge of the universe, of our “soul” interpreting naturally the universal energy. Open yourself to In Yun, destiny… follow your upright spirit and perhaps we can begin to see our true purpose.

Don’t be mistaken, there are negative influences and energies as well, but with openness and great love we can learn to almost literally see these for what they are.Can you love all that you do in such a way?

Given our “western” or even, ”modern ” understanding and use of the term love, then this thing is not possible. We need to open ourselves to the universal love, love of humanity, love of all “gods” creations, love of ones self…. Perhaps then we can truly follow the energy.

The words I have used to give feedback on the lessons learned, are not adequate, but I hope they are understandable. I start each day now with a meditation. Not the typical “empty your mind” stuff that is all the rage, because as I have learned,

a man with an empty mind is dead!

The human mind is a wonderful creation, it is not meant to empty!My daily meditation is one of thought, one of love, one of thankfulness!I am learning to open myself to feel the energy,to feel the love and in so doing am learning to make this a part of all the things I do.

Before using the sword, I am thoughtful and open to what it is I am about to do.

Before eating I am thoughtful and open to what it is I am about to do.

Before teaching I am open and thoughtful about what I am about to do.

My friends,

be open

and thoughtfulin all that you do!

From   Sabrina Teodorowski ,

Haedong Kumdo 3 Dan,

HK Rep of  Victorian HK Association in Australia

Learnings from GMK Visit

It was a great honour to spend time with Grand Master Kim during his visit to Australia.  There is a great deal to learn from the man and the Master.

As an instructor I was inspired by the subtle manner in which Grand Master encouraged students to excel and try harder.  The patience and calm with which Grand Master taught while still sparking passion among the students is something that I will try to emulate as I continue to teach Haedong Kumdo.

Grand Master Kim had a natural way of speaking about the flow of energy that made the concept accessible to a wider audience.  It was great to see students connect with messages about the flow of movement and use of body.

I came away from my lessons with Grand Master Kim with a renewed sense of confidence in my ability to perform and continue teaching Haedong Kumdo.