History of the Korean Sword.
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The true traditional Korean art, and science of the combat sword(Han-kuk Chon-t'u Geom-do)Kum-do had great influence, and originates from Northern China, and the Mongolian warriors thousand of years ago. During the Kingdom of Shilla Dynasty the sword techniques were involved in the martial arts system that were past onto Japan during that period of time, the Hwarang Warrior Knights, and the Korean Society of Warrior Knights carried their swords in their left hand just as did the Chinese warriors, and did not placed the sword into their belt, and or sash around their waist as did the Japanese Samurai in feudal days of Japan. The guards for the palaces around Korea during that period of time tied their swords to their belt, and or sash with a three tie lanyard system that hung the sword down from their belt.
The Hwarang Warrior Knights carried their sword in their left hand which was closes to their heart, and or carried the sword hung on their back crossing the sword from the right rear lower waist area to the left rear shoulder covering the heart area from a rear attack with the scabbard, the handle of the sword would be above the rear left shoulder for easy access, and a proper draw. During combat of the Hwarang Warrior Knight would place the sword into their belt, or sash if they were going to use another weapon during a combat situation such as using a bow, arrow system, or a long bong(staff), and or any other weapons from the Hwarang weapons system. The system of the Hwarang Warrior Knights swords combined many different types, and sizes of swords for combat that came from the influence of the Northern Chinese warrior system that they were trained in from the straight sword, butterfly sword, large crescent sword, short swords, broad sword, twin swords, to small twin type dagger swords, to name a few. The female Hwarang Royal Bodyguards for the Royal King, and Queen of the Royal Court of the Kingdom Shilla, they were extensively trained with these small twin daggers that they concealed into their sleeves within their uniform dress similar to the traditional Han-bok dress to protect the Royal King, and Queen.
The traditional Northern Chinese, and Mongolian combat sword techniques, teachings, and carrying the sword in the left hand has been the way of the traditional Korean sword for thousand of years until the Japanese Colonial armies, and government invaded Korea in 1910, the Japanese Government dismantled the Korean Royal Court Armies, and band all traditional Korean martial arts teachings, and training. The Japanese Colonial Army confiscated all Korean military, and martial arts weapons throughout Korea, and prohibited the teachings of any traditional Korean weapons, and martial arts of Korea. The Japanese Government re-educated, and brain washed the Korean people, and their society to the way of the Japanese Regime in their way of the Japanese martial arts, traditions, culture, the process of thought.
During this period the Japanese changed the teachings of the old traditional way of the Korean Sword to the way of the Japanese Samurai, and the art of Kendo training, which is not the true aspects of the old traditional way of the Korean sword of Korean martial arts, and Hwa Rang Mul Sul, and other Korean martial arts weapons of Korea.
We here at The Korean Hwarang Martial Arts Federation® keep to the old traditional way of teachings of the traditional Korean Sword(Han-kuk Geom-do)Kum-do, and weapons of old Korea that were passed down to Master "Hud" from his Master in Korea, who has try to keep this old traditional art of the Korean sword, and weapons alive for the history of Korea, and it's people.
Master "Hud" displaying a live sword called a Red Dragon Sword(Ppal-gan Yong Geom-do)Kum-do with a reverse hand hold draw made famous by the Hwa Rang Warrior Knights.
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