Here's a question for you: do you flat parry or edge parry? That is, do you parry using the flat of the blade or do you use the edge?

I make an effort to flat parry, but when it becomes a conscious effort, it messes me up.

Well, this tends to be a hot topic. In my opinion this is less an issue than gets made of it - particularly in something like Korean martial art [minimal trappings].

Like the stepping discussion above, there is a right time and a wrong time for it. Our blades have a lot of lateral flex in them and learning how to use it can give you a real edge when using the flat for a beat attack/clear. That said, the mechanics for doing so allow a more limited range of motion than you get using the edge. While edge to edge contact will definitely result in blade damage, in my opinion the ability to generate force through correct body alignment takes primacy over preserving a tool.

When I can [ which is when it makes good sense and sound body mechanics] I will choose to make blade-to-blade contact with the flat, but I have no compunctions against using my edge versus the opponent's flat - particularly as it often allows me to simultaneously attack their arms if I am awake. I only have slight reservations against edge to edge contact with a two-handed sabre. In the end, I see the sword as a tool - not an heirloom.

All that theory aside, this is something I don't have the partners nor funds to test with any degree of authority. I have damaged blades and I have done limited tests with jingum and machetes, but that's not enough on which to base a definitive opinion.

One thing that keeps coming to my mind is that the battlefields are littered with the dead. They won't mind if I use their weapons if mine break.

"Daggnabit! I'm not dead! Gimme' my sword back!"

"Oh! Sorry buddy."

"No problem. Check Phil, he's been on the floor for a couple minutes. He might be dead."

"Sweet! Thanks Jeff. Hey, see you on poker night next Sunday."

"Sure thing. Cheers."

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All joking aside, I see where you're coming from. The fighter takes priority over the sword.

"Yeah sure, I have a huge gapping hole in my face, but at least my sword is fine"

Here is a clip of highlights I liberated from a much longer clip sent to me by Master Brian Gihm in Canada. I call it:


Torment in Toronto <<link

Exciting stuff, huh? I'll let Brian fill you in on the details of the fighters.

!? Am I the only one who noticed one of the fighters had his hands switched the whole time? Instead of right hand near the guard, he fought with his left. Interesting. Is this something you guys did on purpose, or did it just happen like that?

Jason likes to fight left-handed.

Wow! Is this something that anyone can do, or does it depend on the teacher?

Back to the topic at hand. I'm noticing a lot more aggression during this match. The stances are more agressive, as are the attacks and juggling for territory. Is it the added comfort of armor, or is that just the way Master Gihm is teaching his classes. I have to say, this match was very exciting to watch. I hope we get more clips from gumdo.ca.

This is something I also just thought of... how does fighting a person with a lefthanded grip change your strategy? I've never faced one, so I couldn't tell. Is it the same thing as fighting a south-paw in boxing?

One thing I noticed and liked while watching the clip is that the fighters are making committed attempts to actually cut their opponent. This is opposed to attacking each other's sword.

Umm...ok..about the participants,

Jason Dudek vs James Kim.

Jason used be learning gumdo from me at Queen's University and he went to Korea for a year to further train Haidong Gumdo. He has a lot of sparring experience and he is a left hander. He won one of sparring matches in Seoul while he was there.

James Kim is a student of mine who recently obtained a black belt. This was his first time doing free sparring with armour and with RSW. At the beginning of 5 minute session, he was tensed and his motions were very limited. (In other word, he was a sitting duck). After about 2:30, he started loosen up and the sparring became bit more interesting.

This sparring session ended in about 5 minutes with a broken RSW.

Well, here is one more clip from the same day.

I noticed that Jason was using a lot of power that night so I decided to do a sparring with him not using any serious techniques but just using power. We were pretty much fooling around.

Jukdo broke after 1:30. Eventually 3 jukdos broke within 4 minute session. This is one reason why I decided that RSW is worth $100. RSW lasts 10 times longer than jukdo. Since a jukdo costs $20~30, you can see which one is more economical in a long run.

I ask again, please keep the files from me within the community only and do not share with outside member. When I see these clips on some other website, that is when I will stop posting them.

Click Here

Were I to spar with you, I suspect I would break before my juk-to...


This clip reminds me a lot of when Jason first came to spar with us. Lots of power and a total confidence in being able to rely on strong personal attributes [speed and reaction time] to get the job done.

Brian, you are the first person I have seen that is able to strike faster than Jason. If we ever get to spar I will have to be very treacherous... and double my medical insurance.

There is a rather interesting sparring clip on rsw site. Check their latest sparring match. Of particular interest is a guy using 2 swords.

That is a pretty big file, good thing some of the dual-sword stuff is first.

The first gent using two blades seems to be experiencing the same basic problem that most people do when they try this: forgetting (or not yet knowing the best way) to use both hands. Sparring this way is absolutely nothing like walking and chewing gum at the same time. Think about writing two different notes on two different pieces of paper at the same time.


He is using a short straight weapon in his left hand and a one-handed sabre in his right. As an exercise in theory, what basic tactics would you plan for using if you had to spar with this configuration of weapons?

From the thunderous silence in this thread I guess everyone would plan to drop at least one of the swords and slip away unseen and unheard...

Well, I know very little about using two weapons at the same time (and, of course, very little about the weapons in question), but I would be inclined to use my left-hand weapon for defence and the right-hand for attack. Of course, given my left hand is weaker, this may make it a pretty weak defence, so it may actually be more tactically viable to do it the other way round. I'd also try to keep one weapon in a sort of Jo-Chun-Se with the other in a block at around chest level.

Not sure how any of this would work out in practice, but it would be interesting to try...

Haidong,
Dean.