Sword swing

Hurigi (후리기) is a basic kumdo exercise performed with the bamboo sword (jukdo, 죽도). The Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) describes it as a warm-up or cool-down exercise.

Execution according to the Association:

• From the middle guard (jungdanse, 중단세) the jukdo is raised high without stopping, as if throwing it about 45 degrees upward.
• The left fist is drawn in front of the lower abdomen and the jukdo is swung fully down; both fists wring inward and the tip ends at about knee height.
• The movement should be smooth and large, with the fists always staying on the body's centerline (jeongjungseon, 정중선).
• The aim is to swing with the three lower fingers of the left hand (little, ring and middle), with correct footwork, without swaying the body or bouncing at the ankles and knees.

Variants named by the Association:

• Jeongmyeon hurigi (정면 후리기, front hurigi): the tip and fists stay on the centerline.
• Jwau hurigi (좌우 후리기, left-and-right hurigi): raised high, the left fist stays on the centerline and the right fist swings down diagonally to the left or right.

Other practice sources mention variations such as hanbakja hurigi (한박자 후리기, one-beat), doyak hurigi (도약 후리기, jumping) and a mirrored hurigi with grip and feet reversed. One source says it was always done before putting on the armor (호구, hogu). In class commands the start is called with sijak (시작), for example «상하 후리기 10회 시작» (sangha hurigi, up-and-down hurigi, ten times). An English-language source calls it the first sword warm-up with the jukdo, taking a step with each swing, to loosen the shoulders and coordinate arms and feet.