…or lack thereof.
I came to Korea with high hopes of practicing kumdo and teaching the deviants a thing or two.
Well…not really. But I did bring tenugi (thank you Kathryn)!
However, the anticipated keiko sessions with the world champions have not materialised.
I got off to a promising start: in the first week I spotted a child in dogi and (a bit short looking) hakama obviously going to training. I was forced to go sight-seeing instead though and, despite lurking around the area, haven’t seen any more kumdoka.
Another day I spotted a guy carrying a bokuto, but had a dodgy looking jacket that suggested “weirdo bringing a wooden sword to play video games” so I decided to let him go on his way.
Finally, THE MOST AMAZING thing related to kumdo happened when I was browsing around my local supermarket and I found….the shinai department! Imagine being able to buy shinai in a real shop! Gadzooks!
I have to admit that I haven’t put a lot of effort into finding a dojang (or whatever they’re called). I’ve asked around but my host family aren’t helpful, they don’t like martial artsy things for girls.
I thought there’d be a class waiting for me on a plate when I arrived as the boy-child cousin Junmo did kumdo. Unfortunately his sensei was killed in a carcrash.
So instead, I see a lot of taekwondo everywhere. Geonmo is quite the little spitfire in the arena and I like watching his training sessions.
In the unlikely event of having free time when college re-starts, I had been considering either taekwondo or boxing (or tennis). Taekwondo is currently at the forefront.
But then I might start reflex-kicking in kendo.
Then who’d be #1? 
Love,
Siobhán xxx
