Sheathing

Kkoja-kal (꽂아칼, kkojakal) is the Korean kumdo term for sheathing the sword. One source gives it alongside the synonym napdo (납도) and sets it against ppopa-kal (뽑아칼), the draw.

According to the technique page of the Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회), it is performed as follows:

• It starts from the middle stance (jungdanse, 중단세).
• The left hand leaves the bamboo sword (jukdo, 죽도) and goes to the waist.
• At the same time the left foot is brought to the right foot.
• The movement is the reverse of ppopa-kal and ends in heori-kal (허리칼), with the sword held at the waist.

In the association's etiquette page, kkoja-kal is done at the start line (gaesiseon, 개시선) when a match ends. The player then steps back five paces to the bowing line (ibryeseon, 입례선), lowers the sword and bows. Before a match, the player instead advances from the waist position to the start line and performs ppopa-kal.

The match rules, as quoted on a club page, also call for it during a bout. Players do kkoja-kal at the start line when the referees confer or when equipment must be fixed, then withdraw inside the boundary line.

A beginner's account notes that the jukdo has no scabbard, but students practise as if returning the sword to one, repeating it many times in front of a mirror.