Many potos will be shown at the below site; http://blog.daum.net/haedongkumdo/16260732
http://blog.daum.net/haedongkumdo/16261009
http://blog.daum.net/haedongkumdo/15761944
http://cafe.naver.com/2001uwhkf/140
Haedong Kumdo Ireland
Thursday, 13th of March saw Grandmaster Kim travel to the most westerly part of Europe to present the first of two seminars for Haedong Kumdo Ireland.
Making his first presentation in Carrowmore-Lacken, an area famous for its rugged coastline, high cliffs, and many famous legends, including St. Patrick’s defeat of the devil at Downpatrick Head (fitting for the St. Patrick’s festival time in Ireland).
As the Atlantic wind howled outside,
Grandmaster Kim presented Haedong Kumdo to a wide eyed audience, who stayed intensely focused on his grace and ease of movement, and his teaching methodology which had not been experienced by many present before.
Though the class was mixed between children as young as 5, and adults as old as…..they asked me not to say….., and though the grades present ranged from absolute beginner to 6th Dan Black Belt in styles from Shotokan Karate, Shito Ryu Karate Kobudo, Kickboxing and MMA, everyone was in awe of this amazing master of the sword.
Beginning with a brief explanation of Haedong Kumdo, and proceeding directly to practicing the primary cuts of Haedong Kumdo, everyone was amazed at how simple the basics of Haedong Kumdo were to learn, and yet how difficult they were to get correct.
Following on from learning the cuts, Grandmaster Kim led the class through Ssang Su Number 1, and on to partner work with one sword. This seminar ended with paper cutting and projected target cutting.
It was Saturday 15th before Grandmaster Kim made his second seminar presentation in Manulla, Co. Mayo, and while there were a number of people who had not previously experienced Haedong Kumdo, many had trained under Grandmaster Kim on his previous visit to Ireland last October.
The excitement was overflowing from the start as the young children asked Grandmaster Kim if they would get to paper cut today, or if they would be extinguishing candles.
The excitement could be felt flowing from them as Grandmaster Kim revisited the basic cuts, and Ssang Su Kumbup, before proceeding to two sword partner work.
As promised to the young children, and much to the delight of the parents watching, this seminar ended with paper cutting and candle extinguishment.
As one parent told us after the seminar, she had never seen her son ‘so focused on one thing before, this is the best kind of training for any child to be involved in’.
However, it wasn’t just the children who enjoyed the seminar, Leo, 6th Dan of Shito-Ryu declared that ‘next time Grandmaster Kim is in Ireland I will have 200 people to participate.
This has been the most enjoyable experience in my years of Martial Arts Training’. The most important statement however came from 7 year old Louic Guillot who simply said to Grandmaster Kim, ‘this has been the best day ever’.
Martin O’Malley, Haedong Kumdo representative for Ireland said that ‘we must all thank Grandmaster Kim for the gift of knowledge he has given to us, and for the enjoyment he brings to everyone at every seminar he presents.
He is a true Martial Artist and an example for all instructors to follow.
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