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 30th 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 2nd 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 2nd successful country and Australia took the 3rd 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
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