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.
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