MBuzzy wrote:
“Wow, I have a while until those! I'm looking forward to learning them.
How do you feel that your gumdo training has integrated with your Tang Soo Do training? The Mi Guk Kwan obviously openly allows the practice of it, how do you feel it has helped or hurt you?”
I have been doing Tang Soo Do for 15 years, Dekiti Siradas Kali for 11, and HDGD for about 2 + years. I believe all systems have made me better at the other. My passion is for the Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan, as that is my “wife” and Haidong Gumdo is my “mistress”.
I believe that since I have a strong grounding in Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan, I am able to learn and apply my HDGD training easier, and that I am able to “switch” between the two arts easily. By “switch” I am talking about stances, power generation, and emphasis. The “front” stance of HDGD (tae-toe-se) and TSD (chung gul jase) are different, same with all stances that look alike at first but are much different, as they are meant for different things.
I believe my Haidong Gumdo training has helped my TSD training on a mental level. While I always train physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, having a tool outside your body that needs your complete control further helps to guide them.
I have grown at lot as a HDGD practitioner since this video is taken. If I get the chance maybe I will try to get some tape of me and post it on there now doing a couple of Yedos or something.
I told my instructor, Kwan Jang Nim Charles Ferraro, that had I been able to practice a sword art when I signed up for karate all those years ago I would be a sword man, not a karate man. But now it seems I am both.
HAIDONG! / TANG SOO!
Michael Tabone