Three

Sam (삼, 三) is the Sino-Korean numeral meaning "three". Korean has two number systems: Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼…) and native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋…). Sino-Korean numbers are used for dates, money and phone numbers, for example, while native numbers count people and things.

In kumdo, 삼 appears inside compound terms:

• 삼살법 (samsalbeop): the "three-kill method". It means "killing" the opponent's sword (검), technique (기술) and spirit (기). This is done by striking or pressing the opponent's sword to the left and right, attacking continuously, and overwhelming the opponent's momentum with full spirit. The Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) describes it as the first step of the principle for subduing an opponent.
• 일안 이족 삼담 사력 (irian ijok samdam saryeok): a saying that ranks the important elements of training. The first is the eyes, the second is footwork (especially the left foot), the third (삼담) is a strong mind that no threat can shake, and the fourth is delivering the technique boldly with the whole body.

By contrast, the Association's textbook (검도 교본) marks the counts of basic movements with native Korean numbers, for example "하나" and "셋", rather than with 삼.