MANY people think that all martial arts are physically demanding. And of course they are to greater or lesser degrees, but a Korean sword art – newly introduced to the UK – takes fitness and skills to new levels, according to one of its members.

With just a handful of members and based in the Midlands, Haidong Gumdo Uk was established about six months ago and founder member John Foster from Worcester says the discipline improves physical fitness and body control as well as hand-eye co-ordination.

John, who has done martial arts for 11 years and still practises Taekwondo - known for its head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques – says it has been developed from a number of different traditional martial arts.

“Up to now the only sword arts in the UK were the Japanese martial arts of Iaido and Kenjutsu. It is a lot more physical than the Japanese sword martial arts which are very ceremonial and artistic and flowing,” says John.

“Most of us have been doing martial arts for years and our instructor discovered it as he already did Taekwundo and knew about Korea martial arts.

“There is a lot more physical training involved with Haidong Gumdo and a lot more variety in what you do. I still practise Teakwundo but I was attracted to the variety and the things you can do with Haidong Gumdo.

“For anyone starting now they can expect to physically train. I have been doing it for three months and it has been a different physical experience because of the sword art. I am all the more precise and my hand-eye co-ordination is better.”

This martial art is also said to help develop a strong mind as well as body through meditation and breathing exercises and is highly beneficial for people with a busy lifestyle.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Haidong Gumdo can visit http://www.haidonggumdo.co.uk/ or email info@haidonggumdo.co.uk

Haidong Gumdo translates to the sword art of the eastern sea, says John, and is suitable for both children and adults. “The kids can enjoy it as much as the adults. They use special foam swords for safety.”

Beginners and people with previous martial arts experience are welcomed. Adults generally use wooden swords called mokgums which John says is the same size and length as a Samurai sword.

Blunt metal swords called kagums can be used for practice to give people an idea of the size and weight of using a metal sword, but students do not go on to use sharp swords until they reach black belt level, says John.

The sharp swords are used for the highest level of techniques to straw, paper and bamboo cutting moves.

“We do not go onto sharp swords until black belt level,” says John. “Students do not do any cutting for quite a while. They need a lot of practice first because the swords are sharp.”