Sword tip

칼끝 (kalkkeut), the «sword tip», is the end of the bamboo sword (죽도, jukdo) in kumdo. It is also written with the characters 劍先 (geomseon), which a Korean dictionary defines as the tip of the sword used in kumdo; it says the tip always points at the opponent and must not leave the opponent's body.

Where it points:

• The textbook of the Korean Kumdo Association (대한검도회) says the tip may point at the opponent's throat, the space between the eyebrows or the solar plexus, depending on the practitioner's build, temperament and preference. The most common way is to aim at the throat, with the line of the jukdo extending between the two eyes.
• In the middle-level posture (중단세, jungdanse) the tip is held at the height of one's own throat, and its extension points between the opponent's eyebrows.
• When facing an opponent (대적세, daejeokse) the tip should not leave the opponent's center (중심, jungsim): solar plexus, throat or brow.

Uses in practice:

• Pressure with the tip (칼끝에 의한 공세, kalkkeut-e uihan gongse): by handling the jukdo (pressing the opponent's down, sweeping it aside, flicking it or winding around it) one takes the central line (정중선, jeongjungseon) or an advantageous position, creating the chance to strike (격자, gyeokja).
• If the right distance cannot be taken after a strike, the tip of the middle-level posture is placed against the opponent's center (throat), ready for a counterattack.
• In the low posture (하단세, hadanse) the tip is lowered naturally from the middle-level posture.
• The one who receives (받아주는 측, badajuneun cheuk) opens the tip slightly to the right to leave the head free, or raises it a little to show the wrist.

The part of the jukdo used for strikes and thrusts (격자부, gyeokjabu) runs from the tip to about one third of the length of the blade section.