Budo international Martial Arts Magazine Jul.-Aug. 2014 | Page 71

Traditional Styles
® has been conceived as an art that is specifically
intended to represent harmony, and therefore it
tries to represent the harmony of the natural
universe of things.
The theory is based on the idea of ??Um-Yang
(Yin-Yang in Chinese), which establishes the
existence of equivalent and opposite forces in
nature that have contributed and keep on
contributing to create and make everything work.
Similarly, Gumtoogi applies such principles with
not only linear movements but also circular, which
not only affect the upper body, but also the lower.
The aim is to make the method as complete as
possible and definitively give the students the
opportunity to maximize their human potential in
every way. It must be remembered that,
fundamentally, Hwa Rang Do ® is not a sport, but
a way of life and, in this sense, its sports methods
are not limited to the development of effectiveness,

through weapons. The precision of the execution required
to score in tournaments, the complexity of the viable
techniques and the incredible versatility of possible attacks
are a means of spiritual advancement and awareness.
Winning or losing pass to a second level, as well as the
need to protecting oneself from blows. Everything is
focused on a fast, unique and "theoretically" deadly attack
that doesn't heed one's safety, but with the intention of
always going forward ("forward only").
Gumdo traditional armor is used while awaiting the new
typically Korean armor. Although these armors were
designed for the Japanese kendo, this sports application is
similar to said art, which validates its use. However, in order
to avoid confusion in the public between both armed
combat sports, Hwa Rang Do ® and Kendo (Gumdo, in
Korean), it is used the term Gumtoogi: Gum = sword; Too
Gi = combat technique. Their fighting principles are pretty
much alike at first glance, although Gumtoogi allows blows
to the legs and blows with the body in rotation. In general,
this doesn't happen in Kendo / Gumdo. The Hwa Rang Do

but they seek a full development. The real purpose of man
is to understand all the functions of nature in order to be
able to use his ultimate weapon, the greatest one: his
intellect.
It is important to underline that, in order to allow
attacking safely to the legs, there have been also created
protection devices, specifically designed by Grandmaster
Taejoon Lee (Hache Hogu) that are a true innovation in the
oriental art of combat with sword and patented in the U.S...
The attacks on the legs and spin-attacks (rotation
attacks) are the true pillars of this innovative methodology
of sports fighting (see example in the photos of this article).
These aspects, along with the enormous discipline
required in combat, rich in etiquette and self-control, make
the experience of combat become a moment of
tremendous growth and not only in a competitive trice.
Victory is seen as a confrontation of one's own limits and
defeat becomes a learning chance.
Fights are possible with simple or double weapons. More
specifically, combats (encounters) emulate the using of real