Gumdo (Haidong Gumdo)

Haidong Gumdo is a modern Korean sword art that gained organized recognition in the 1980s. Its practice centers on solo cutting forms, which are performed against multiple imagined opponents, and test-cutting exercises utilizing rolled straw targets. This approach contrasts with the protected sparring common in kendo. While its proponents assert a historical connection to Goguryeo-era warriors, this lineage is not widely supported by most historians. The art offers a dynamic form of sword training, focusing on precision and control in individual practice.