Training
From the time of Kim’s enlightenment, training in Shim Gum Do sword techniques has focused on the use of a wooden practice sword, commonly called a ‘mokgum’ in Korean. After achieving the rank of black belt, Shim Gum Do sword students may use a Korean style steel sword, which has a single-edged blade and is closely related to the Chinese Tang dynasty single-edge swords or the Japanese katana.
Shim Gum Do sword training is broken down into a progression of several series of forms. New students learn a series of basic forms and then move onto beginning defense forms before attaining their yellow belt. After learning 15 of these forms a student may test for a first dan (degree or ‘star’) black belt. Progression may continue through the beginning attack series and on through 14 different series of sword forms. In addition to sword forms, students may learn up to 330 empty-handed forms called Shin Boep (‘body dharma’). Advanced students may study Ssang Gum Boep (‘two-sword dharma’), Dan Bong Sul (‘short staff art’), or Jang Bong Sul (‘long staff art’), consisting of 50 forms each.
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