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Yu Shin Gum Bup
(Willow Spirit/Flexible Mind-Flexible Body Sword Method)
The Yu Shin Gum Bup was formally founded in 2008 by Ian A. Cyrus in order to bring accuracy to the Yu Shin Hapkido curriculum. Since the precursor to Hapkido, Daito Ryu Aikijutsu is, for the most part, based on extensive use of the sword, it was necessary to formalize a sword curriculum in order to fully appreciate the depth of Hapkido. The curriculum of the Yu Shin Gum Bup was mostly derived from the the teachings of the Itto Tenshin Ryu as taught by Arvind Rajguru, Sensei and Fredrick J. Lovret, Soke. The following is the Yu Shin Gum Bup basic currficulum:
| I. |
Gi Bon Ja Sae (Basic Stances): |
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a. |
Natrual Posture |
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b. |
Ready Posture |
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c. |
Position of Attention |
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d. |
Triangle Stance |
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e. |
Horse/Sitting Stance |
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f. |
Front Stance |
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g. |
Low Front Stance |
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h. |
Tiger Stance |
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i. |
Twisting Stance |
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j. |
Kneeling Posture |
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k. |
Half-Kneeling Posture |
| II. |
Gi Bon Bal Undong (Basic Foot-work) |
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a. |
Sliding Step (Advance and Retreat) |
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b. |
One Step (Advance and Retreat) |
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c. |
Two Angle Step |
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d. |
90 Degree Step |
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e. |
180 Degree Step |
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f. |
Spinning Step |
| III. |
Carrying The Sword Methods: |
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a. |
Carry-Sword Method |
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b. |
Carry-Ready Method |
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c. |
Wearing the Sword (Belt Positioning) |
| IV. |
Etiquette / Courtesy: |
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a. |
Standing Bow (2) |
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b. |
Kneeling Bow |
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c. |
Hand Bow |
| V. |
Basic Postures (8): |
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a. |
Offensive-Defensive Sword Posture / Middle Sword Posture |
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(Kong-Bang Ja “Sae”) |
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b. |
High Sword Posture |
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c. |
Low Sword Posture |
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d. |
Reverse Sword Low Posture |
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e. |
Right Side Sword Posture |
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f. |
Reverse Left Side Sword Posture |
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g. |
Figure “8” Sword Posture |
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h. |
High Reverse Sword Posture |
| VI. |
Basic Drawing / Sheathing The Sword (4): |
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a. |
Vertical Sword Draw to Kong-Bang Sae |
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b. |
Horizontal Sword Draw to Kong-Bang Sae |
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c. |
Vertical Sword Sheathing |
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d. |
Horizontal Sword Sheathing |
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e. |
Reverse Sword Sheathing |
| VII. |
Basic Sword Cutting Methods (Gi Bon Gum Bae Gi Bup) (12): |
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a. |
Downward Cut from Kong-Bang Sae: |
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i. |
Pushing Cut |
ii. |
Pulling Cut |
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b. |
Upward Cut from Low Sword Posture |
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c. |
Horizontal Cut from Right Side Sword Posture |
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d. |
Horizontal Cut from Left Side Sword Posture |
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e. |
Diagonal (right to left) Downward Cut from Kong-Bang Sae |
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f. |
Diagonal (left to right) Cut from Left Low Reverse Sword |
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Posture |
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g. |
Diagonal (left to right) downward Cut from Kong-Bang Sae |
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h. |
Diagonal (right to Left) Upward Cut from Right Low Reverse |
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Posture |
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i. |
Straight Thrust from Kong-Bang Sae |
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j. |
Straight Thrust from High Reverse Sword Posture |
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k. |
Flowing Cut from Kong-Bang Sae |
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l. |
Staight Thrust from Single Leg Posture |
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m. |
“S” Cut from Kong-Bang Sae |
| VIII. |
Reverse Sword Cutting Methods (Bandae Gum Bae Gi Bup): |
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a. |
Reverse Downward Cut from Kong-Bang Sae |
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b. |
Reverse Upward Cut from Kong-Bang Sae |
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c. |
Reverse Horizontal (right to left) Cut from Kong Bang Sae |
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d. |
Reverse Horizontal (left –right) Cut from Kong-Bang Sae |
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e. |
Reverse Downward Diagonal (right to left) Cut from Kong- |
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Bang Sae |
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f. |
Reverse Upward Diagonal (left to right) Cut from Kong-Bang |
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Sae |
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g. |
Reverse Straight Trust |
| IX. |
Basic Parrying/Blocking (Gi Bon Gum Mak Gi Bup): |
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a. |
High Shielding Parry |
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b. |
Right Middle Parry |
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c. |
Left Middle Parry |
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d. |
Horizontal Parry |
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e. |
Right Low Parry |
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f. |
Left Low Parry |
| X. |
Poomsae (5): |
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a. |
Yu Shin Gum Bup Il Hyung (Eight Sliding Cuts) |
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b. |
Yu Shin Gum Bup Yi Hyung (Eight Direction Cuts) |
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c. |
Yu Shin Gum Bup Sam Hyung: |
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i. |
From Kneeling Posture |
ii. |
From Standing Posture |
iii. |
Four Directions |
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d. |
Yu Shin Gum Bup Sa Hyung |
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e. |
Yu Shin Gum Bup Oh Hyung |
| XI. |
Two Man Exercises: |
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a. |
Wrist Block with sword handle, Butt Strike against Opponent’s |
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Attempt to Draw |
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b. |
Wrist Spin with Sword handle - Against Opponent’s attempt to |
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seize Your Wrist |
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c. |
Cut the Wrist – Against a Downward Cut |
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d. |
Horizontal Cut Across the Ticeps – Against a Downward Cut |
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e. |
Horizontal Cut Across the Stomach (right) – Against a |
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Downward Cut |
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f. |
Horizontal Cut Across the Stomach (left) – Against a |
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Downward Cut |
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g. |
Vertical Downward Cut to the Wrist – Against a Downward |
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Cut |
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h. |
Right Flowing Cut – Against a Downward Cut |
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i. |
Left Flowing Cut – Against a Downward Cut |
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j. |
Upward Diagonal Cut (left to right) – Against a Downward Cut |
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k. |
Left Parry and Thrust - Against a Thrust |
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l. |
Right Parry and Thrust - Against a Thrust |
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m. |
Plying The Body Evasion, Turning The Body – Diagonal Cut |
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Against a Downward cut |
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n. |
Sword brace parry, Four Direction Cut – Against a Side Cut |
| XII. |
Candle Cutting |
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| XIII. |
Paper Cutting |
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| XIV. |
Straw Mat Cutting |
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| XV. |
Bamboo Cutting |
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| XVI. |
Straw Mat and Bamboo Cutting |
| XVII. |
Terminology: |
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a. |
Yu Shin Gum Bup: Willow Spirit Sword Method |
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b. |
Gum: Sword |
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c. |
Shin (Jin) Gum: Live Sword |
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d. |
Ka Gum: Practice Sword |
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e. |
Mok Gum : Wooden Sword |
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f. |
Chookdo: Bamboo Sword |
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g. |
Gum Juru Gam Ge: Sword Handle |
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h. |
Ko Dungi: Hand Guard |
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i. |
Hwando Magi: Collar |
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j. |
Gum Dung: Spine of the Sword |
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k. |
Gum Nal: Cutting edge of the sword |
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l. |
Hyul Jo: Blood Groove |
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m. |
Gum Kut: Tip of The sword |
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n. |
Gum Jip: Sheath of the sword |
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o. |
Seogi: Stance |
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p. |
Ja Sae: Posture |
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q. |
Kong-Bang Sae: Offensive-Defensive Posture |
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r. |
Junbe: Ready! |
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s. |
Charyut: Attention! |
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t. |
Kyunge Neh: Bow |
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u. |
Baegi: Cut |
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v. |
Jirugi: Thrust |
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w. |
Bal Do Gum: Drawing The Sword |
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x. |
Chack Gum: Sheathing The Sword |
| XVIII. |
Five (5) Basic Principles of Gum Bup: |
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1. |
Posture (Kong-Bang Sae) |
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2. |
Remaining Mind (Alertness) |
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3. |
Combative Engagement Distance |
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4. |
Ki Hap (Unity of Mind and Body as regulated by breath) |
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5. |
Combative Initiative (timing) |
| XIX. |
XIX. Signature skills of Yu Shin Gum Bup: |
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1. |
Basic downward Cut |
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2. |
Flowing Cut |
Gripping The Sword
The purpose of the grip is produce maximum leverage when deploying the sword. Therefore, careful consideration is given to the placement of his/her hand on the hilt (handle) of the sword:
| 1. |
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The hands are placed widely apart, as far as the handle can |
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accommodate. |
| 2. |
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The left hand must grip the very end of the butt of the handle. The |
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little finger can project beyond the butt. |
| 3. |
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The right is positioned on the handle about the width of a finger |
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way from the hand-guard |
| 4. |
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The web space the thumb and the index finger or the “V” formed |
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by the thumb and index finger must be positioned directly over the |
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back of the handle of the sword. |
| 5. |
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The thumbs must more or less point toward the floor. |
| 6. |
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There should be a golf ball-size space between the right hand and |
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the guard. The thumb of the right hand should not touch the guard. |
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However, the index finger may. |
| 7. |
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The base of the thumbs in relationship to the wrist, the anatomical |
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snuff box, must also form a “V” and not be rounded. Keep in mind, |
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always a “valley”, never a “peak”. |
| 8. |
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Proper grip will allow the pressure of a cut to conduct up the arms |
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while recruiting the brachio-radialis, bicep brachii, pectoralis |
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minor and major and the latissimus dorsi which is critical to |
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mechanically drive the sword from a high to low vertical plane. |
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Whereas, an incorrect (base ball) grip will cause weakness across |
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the thumbs and recruit arm adductors such as the middle deltoid |
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which is counter productive. |
| 9. |
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When cutting, the left hand provides the power, the right hand |
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guides the sword. |
Wearing The Sword (Belt Positioning)
Positioning the sword on the body so that it facilitates effective and efficient deployment is tactically very important. From The carry sword method, bring the sheathed sword horizontally so that the handle to the right and the butt of the sheathed sword with the blade up to the left directly in-front of the body at the level of the shoulder. Seize the Handle with right palm up and the butt of the sheath with left palm down. This constitutes a salutation to the sword.
Next, insert the butt of the sheath directly between the abdomen and the inner-most belt fold at the left-front side using the left hand to guide the sheath into your belt. The blade edge must be up. Push the sheath deep into your belt and position the sword so that the handle is pointing forward and inward in such a way so that the inner right edge of the rim of the handle guard is in line with the navel. The sheath must slant backward, down and outward to the left rear corner.
Drawing The Sword
From kneeling or standing position, grasp the sheath with the last three fingers of your left hand. The thumb must more less be positioned at “three O’clock” and the index finger at “nine o’clock”. The sword is rotated a little to the left (counter-clockwise) in order to keep the left wrist straight. The right arm is positioned at the side just forward of the axillary line.
| 1. |
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Swing the right hand, turning the palm upward, in a circular motion |
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toward a point about four (4) inches above the butt of the handle of |
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the sword. |
| 2. |
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Push the sword forward with the left hand until the “metal sleeve” is |
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under the little finger of the right hand |
| 3. |
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Invert the right hand (dropping the wrist) and grasp the handle. At the |
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same time twist the sheath a little counter-clockwise and push forward |
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against the handle guard with the thumb and index finger of the left |
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hand to free the blade (cutting the opening). |
| 4. |
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Drawing the sword begins at this point. The right elbow is tucked into |
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the side so that the right hand is pushing, not pulling the blade forward |
| 5. |
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Continue to push the blade forward until the tip of the sword has |
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cleared the opening of the sheath while pulling the sheath to the rear |
| 6. |
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Draw the blade completely out of the sheath before beginning any |
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cutting action. Failure to observe this detail may result in cutting |
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through the sheath and possible injury |
| 7. |
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Draw the sword completely before releasing the sheath with the left |
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hand |
| 8. |
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The back of the blade should glide smoothly along the inside of the |
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(back) of the sheath. Blade angle changes will shred the inside of the |
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sheath and can prevent a clean draw |
| 9. |
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After practice, remove the and gently tap the mouth of the upright |
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sheath against the floor to remove any loose wood chips. |
| 10. |
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The easiest way to determine the skill of a swordsman is to look at |
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the opening of the sheath. There should be no marks from the edge of |
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the blade. |
Cleaning The Sword-Large Swinging Motion
Before sheathing a sword, it must be cleaning (of blood). This action is called “Cleaning” and there are many varieties.
| 1. |
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From a finishing cut (Basic Downward Cut), Snap the right wrist |
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turning the sword to the left. The left hand relaxes and the right |
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wrist has a feeling of thrusting upwards slightly. |
| 2. |
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Bring the left hand to the left hip with fingers together and thumb |
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extended, while swinging the sword to the right. |
| 3. |
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Allow your right wrist and elbow to bend and your hand to invert |
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so that the tip of the sword continues to swing to the rear. |
| 4. |
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Keep the upper arm close to the body and allow the elbow to bend |
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further so that the blade passes upward past the right ear. |
| 5. |
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Cut strongly toward the right outside diagonal |
| 6. |
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When completing the cut, snap the blade to a stop so that it points |
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forward with edge slightly forward. The right wrist must not bend. |
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This action is somewhat because of the potential to cut the right ear |
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or knee if mindfulness is not maintained. It is also easy to ruin the |
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blade if you relax the wrist enough to allow the tip of the sword to |
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strike the floor. |
| 7. |
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Actions 2-6 should be done in a single whip-like slash action of the |
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blade with a feeling of flinging something off the blade. |
Sheathing The Sword
The action of sheathing the sword is one of the most difficult and dangerous parts of basic training. Although there are some styles that allow practitioners to slide the back of the blade across the web-space of the left hand in order to position the tip of the sword into the opening of the sheath, in Yu Shin Gum Bup the tip of the sword must be placed directly in the opening of the sheath at the onset. This must be accomplished without looking.
| 1. |
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From step number 6 of cleaning the “sword-large swinging |
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motion” above, fold the right wrist so that the tip of the sword |
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touches the opening of the sword. The blade is horizontal and the |
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edge forward. As the same time the left hand grasp the sheath and |
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rotates it to a horizontal position. |
| 2. |
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Swing the handle of the sword forward and insert the tip of the |
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blade in the opening of the sheath. Simultaneously rotate both the |
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sheath and the blade to an edge up position. |
| 3. |
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Twist the body to the left, allowing the left foot to pivot 90 |
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degrees left. The right foot should more or less remain pointing |
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forward. The butt of the handle of the sword should be pointing |
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toward the opponent and the edge of the sword rotated upward |
| 4. |
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Slide the back of the blade along the inside of the sheath |
| 5. |
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Sheath the sword slowly and precisely. Be careful not to allow the |
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sword guard to slam against the opening of the sheath. |
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