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Who Studies Hai Dong
Gumdo?
Well, lots of people study Hai Dong Gumdo or other weapon-centered arts. They all do it for different reasons too. Imagine that. I think a better question is, 'Who can study Hai Dong Gumdo?'
The predictable answer is 'everybody' but I'm not going to say that. Why? I don't believe that it is entirely true. There are certain basic requirements to learning any skill and this one is no different. You must have two functional hands complete with thumb and index finger. Many elements of the art require two working legs and feet. You must have the ability to think. You must be responsible. You must be able to separate your studies from your ego. You cannot be too old to study Hai Dong Gumdo but you can be too young. Hai Dong Gumdo attracts students of both genders in equal number from all age categories. You must be capable of appreciating the power and beauty of the skills you will learn. You must be able to respect these skills and learn all the lessons they can teach you.
Hai Dong Gumdo does not require great flexibility. No one will ask you to kick heads or wrap your knees around your neck. It does require that you be willing to develop a level of endurance over the course of your studies which can often exceed the demands of other martial art styles. Hai Dong Gumdo does not require that you be an acrobat willing to fall from any height just to see if you can. It does require that you learn how to safely control falls and learn to tumble safely with a weapon. You do not have to run marathons, learn to levitate, walk on coals or fight anyone. All you have to be willing to do is learn and grow.
The three most important factors in learning Hai Dong Gumdo are speed, power and timing. The good news is that these terms are relative and the curriculum of the World Federation is such that it tailors itself to the needs and abilities of the student. If you find that you just cannot leap your body length, cut and do a dive roll all in one continuous motion do not worry - there is a less dynamic option for you. It is a goal of the World Federation of Hai Dong Gumdo to enable grandparents, parents and children to all study together with no barriers.
