Middle stance

중단세 (jungdanse), the «middle stance», is the most basic stance in kumdo. The name combines 중단 (jungdan, «middle level») and 세 (se, «stance»). The sword tip (칼끝, kalkkeut) is held pointing at the area between the opponent's throat and the space between the eyebrows.

One Korean source places it between the high stance (상단세, sangdanse) and the low stance (하단세, hadanse), likening it to a human being between heaven and earth. Another describes it as the stance best suited to attack and defence, and as the basis of all stances, since it can respond to any change.

The Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) lists five guard stances (겨눔세, gyeonumse): 상단 (sangdan), 중단 (jungdan), 하단 (hadan), 어깨칼 (eokkaekal) and 허리칼 (heorikal).

• Sword tip: it stays on the centre line of the opponent's body (정중선, jeongjungseon) and points at the throat. Its extension reaches the opponent's left eye or the space between the eyebrows. Its height is kept between the chest and neck of the person holding it.
• Feet: the right foot is forward and both sets of toes point to the front. The left heel is raised slightly, and the weight is spread about equally over both feet.
• Hands: the left little finger presses on the end of the grip. The gap between the two hands is about one fist.
• Body: breathing is abdominal and strength is gathered in the lower belly, which helps relax the shoulders.

A beginner's text puts it this way: after drawing the sword and aiming its tip at the opponent's throat, that stance is the 중단세. Many attacking drills also start from it, such as 스쳐올려 머리치기 (seuchyeoollyeo meorichigi, a head strike after brushing the opponent's sword upward). In the Korea Kumdo Association's grading regulations, it is among the contents for the 9th and 8th grades (급, geup).