Kumdo Meaning in English: Why Is It Called the Way of the Sword?

Kumdo (검도) means "the way of the sword" in English. The Korean word has two parts: geom (검), which means sword, and do (도), which means way. The Korea Kumdo Association describes that way as a path of human formation, or character building, through training in the principles of the sword.

What does each part of the word mean?

Geom (검): sword.
Do (도): way.

The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture defines 검도 (Kumdo) as a match in which two players wearing protective armor strike or thrust at set target areas of the opponent with a bamboo sword, under fixed rules, to decide the winner.

Why is it spelled Kumdo, Geomdo or Gumdo?

All three spellings come from the same Korean sound. Under Korea's official Revised Romanization rules, the vowel ㅓ is written "eo" and ㄱ before a vowel is written "g," which gives "geomdo." The Korea Kumdo Association uses "Kumdo" in its English name, the Korea Kumdo Association, and in its logo. Haidong Gumdo, a different Korean sword art, spells its name "Gumdo." US Hwa Rang Kwan uses "Kumdo," the same spelling as the Korea Kumdo Association. (The two arts are compared in What Is the Difference Between Kumdo and Gumdo?)

What does "the way" mean in practice?

The Korea Kumdo Association's ideology statement says that Kumdo is "the way of human formation through training in the principles of the sword." It also says that training the mind and training technique have to go together.

That idea shows up in how practice is run. The association's etiquette guide says that Kumdo begins and ends with courtesy (예). The association also lists courtesy as the first purpose of Kumdo and warns that if courtesy is lost, only the fight with swords may be emphasized. More on this in Why Is Kumdo Called "The Way of Human Formation"?

FAQ

What is the meaning of Kumdo in English?

"The way of the sword." Geom means sword and do means way.

Is Kumdo the same word as Geomdo?

Yes. Geomdo is how 검도 is written under the official Revised Romanization rules. Kumdo is the spelling the Korea Kumdo Association uses in English.

Is Kumdo the same as Gumdo?

The words sound alike, but "Gumdo" usually refers to Haidong Gumdo, a separate Korean sword art with its own federation and training.

Is Kumdo a martial art?

Yes. The Korea Kumdo Association describes it as a one-on-one sport and a martial art that trains the body and mind. See What Is Kumdo?

Learn Kumdo near Washington, DC

US Hwa Rang Kwan Kumdo teaches Kumdo to students 7 years and older in Chantilly, Virginia and Ellicott City, Maryland. New students at the Chantilly, VA dojang can start with 3 semi-private lessons for $19.99. For Ellicott City, please contact us before you visit.