HAIDONG KUMDO

What is Haidong Kumdo?

Korea Haidong Kumdo (KHKA) is a federation-guided Korean sword discipline that develops timing, focus, and body control through structured forms (검법/gumbub), target cutting, footwork, and controlled sparring. You may also see the art written as Haidong/Haedong Gumdo/Kumdo—different spellings for the same Korean words—but KHKA denotes a specific organization, syllabus, and testing standard.

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Now in the United States

KHKA instruction is expanding to the U.S., bringing Korea-based standards for rank, instructor certification, and events. Our goal is clear, consistent training—so students in the U.S. learn the same fundamentals taught in Korea.

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What you’ll do in class

• Learn foundational grips, cuts, stances, and footwork

• Practice solo and partner forms to build timing and distancing

• Perform safe, supervised cutting drills to test accuracy and edge alignment

• Develop situational awareness and etiquette rooted in Korean martial culture

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Who it’s for

Adults and teens looking for a disciplined, technical sword practice—whether you’re brand-new or coming from another martial art.

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Kumdo or Gumdo?

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Korean sword martial arts has gone through a variety of naming conventions and spellings and has been referred to as Kendo, Kumdo, Gumdo, Geomsul, Debeop, among others.  Prefixes (again with a variety of spellings) have been added such as Haedong, Haidong and Bonguk to differentiate stylistic differences.  The word "sword," in Korean simply translates into "geom," being pronounced as gum or kum being that there is no direct translation for the starting sound that lies in between the "g" and "k" sound which is why it is seen using the "G" or "K".

Originally, China used the "Sul" suffix in martial arts like Geomsul or Changsul, Japan used "Do" as in Judo or Kendo and Korea used "Ye" as in Gungjung-muye and Kummooyeh.  Many Korean martial arts have adopted the Japanese "Do" suffix without hesitation during the Japanese occupation of Korea and still sticks today.

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QUICK COMPARE (to reduce name confusion)

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• Korea Haidong Kumdo (KHKA) — Korea-based federation bringing its standardized curriculum and testing to U.S. programs.
  Current leadership lists representatives Jeong Bok-su (정복수) and Jeong Chang-yong (정창용). haidongkumdo.org

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• World Haidong Gumdo Federation (WHGF) — Large Haidong Gumdo umbrella with a unified syllabus.
  Founder/President: Jeong-Ho Kim (김정호). ushaidong.org

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• United World Haedong Kumdo Federation (UWHKF) — Uses “Haedong Kumdo”; known for the Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu two-sword track.
  Founder/Head (Chong Jae Nim): Kim Jeong-Seong (김정성). 

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• Kummooyeh — Separate art pairing sword with traditional Korean archery; two active federation lines:

  • Founder (World Kummooyeh Federation – Joung line): Ilseong Bouk Soo Joung (정복수). worldkummooyeh.org

  • Founder (World Kummooyeh Federation – Jang line): Hyun Kyoo Jang. kummooyeh.org

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• “Kumdo” (Kendo sport) — Armor/bamboo-sword competition akin to Japanese kendo; governed in Korea by the Korea Kumdo Association (KKA) rather than a single founder. 

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Bottom line: The spellings (Haidong/Haedong + Gumdo/Kumdo) refer to the same Korean term. The organization—here, KHKA—determines what and how you’ll train.

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