Sword at attention

Charyeot-kal (차렷칼) is, in kumdo, the posture for carrying the bamboo sword (죽도, jukdo) while standing in a natural stance (자연체, jayeonche). According to the Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회), the jukdo is held softly between the left thumb and index finger, with its string (등줄, deungjul) facing down, and left to hang naturally.

It is one of the ways of carrying the jukdo (jukdo chakyongbeop), which the association lists in this order:

• Charyeot-kal (차렷칼): the sword hanging down, as described above.
• Heorie-kal (허리에칼): the thumb is placed on the guard (코등이, kodeungi; not needed when wearing the hand protector) and the sword is drawn to the waist, with the end of the grip in line with the navel.
• Ppoba-kal (뽑아칼): from the waist, the right hand grips the sword below the guard and, as the right foot steps forward, raises it diagonally to the middle stance (중단세, jungdanse); the left hand takes the end of the grip.
• Kkoja-kal (꽂아칼): the reverse action, returning to the waist position.
• Swieo-kal (쉬어칼): the sword tip lowered to the right, in a natural stance.

Use in the bow. The association states that before a match the competitor bows to the opponent at 15°, takes the heorie-kal, advances three steps to the start line (개시선, gaesiseon) and performs the ppoba-kal. After the match the competitor performs the kkoja-kal on that line, steps back five paces to the bowing line (입례선, imnyeseon), lowers the sword and bows. The Incheon Kumdo Association (인천광역시 검도회) adds that in practice or matches with the jukdo, one bows from the charyeot-kal with the left hand and then takes the heorie-kal posture.

Other names and cautions. Some dojo pages write «든칼(차렷칼)», that is, deun-kal («sword in hand»), and call the heorie-kal chan-kal (찬칼, «worn sword»). The association asks that the jukdo be treated like a real sword and not planted on the floor like a cane.