Back cord of the jukdo

Deungjul (등줄) is the cord that runs along the back of the jukdo (죽도), the bamboo sword of kumdo. It joins the leather parts of the jukdo: seonhyeok (선혁, the tip leather), junghyeok (중혁, the middle leather) and byeonghyeok (병혁, the handle leather). It keeps them from moving separately and holds them in place. One Korean source describes it as yellow or red.

English and Japanese sources add that it connects the tip and the handle and helps give the jukdo its flexibility. A Korean source says it also marks the back of the blade.

• Position: the jukdo is always held with the deungjul facing up.
• Valid strike: the gyeokjabu (격자부), the striking part, is the blade side opposite the deungjul. A strike made with the deungjul side is not considered valid.
• Rules: if the deungjul is not facing up, meaning the blade is not correctly aligned, the referee stops the match. The competitor is then instructed through the chief referee.
• When laid down: when seated, the jukdo is placed parallel to the body with the deungjul facing outward.
• Assembly: the deungjul is threaded through the hole of the seonhyeok and knotted. The junghyeok is tied over it. To take the jukdo apart, the junghyeok is undone first, then the byeonghyeok and the deungjul.