Seondo
In kumdo, the seondo (선도) is the role that leads in the paired bon (본) forms: it applies the techniques first, and the partner, the hudo (후도), learns the correct way to respond and win.
How to say it
- Korean
- 선도seondo
- Spanish
- Quien guía
- English
- Seondo
- Japanese
- 打太刀うちだちuchidachi
Seondo (선도, written 先刀 in hanja) is the name used in kumdo for one of the two roles in the paired practice called geomdoui bon (검도의 본, the kumdo "bon" forms). The other role is the hudo (후도, 後刀).
- The seondo is the side that always initiates the technique and so shows how to win in accordance with sword principle (검리). The hudo, in the position of the pupil, learns to answer the seondo's technique and win correctly.
- A Korean practice video describes it this way: the seondo leads and the hudo responds appropriately, so that the two achieve good harmony.
- The kumdo bon consists of seven long-sword forms (대도 7본, daedo chilbon) and three short-sword forms (소도 3본, sodo sambon). Korean sources note, for example, that in short-sword forms 1 and 2 the hudo must receive and deflect the seondo's sword with the side of the blade.
- A text by an 8th-dan teacher says that examinees must be able to perform both roles, seondo and hudo, well.
A kumdo club glossary also uses the same word for the person in the leading position in applied, continuous-training and basic practice; there the seondo creates the openings that the partner strikes and accepts good strikes without letting poor ones land.
It should not be confused with the homonym 선도 (仙道, "the way of the immortals"), which the Korea Kumdo Association cites as a source of Korean martial spirit, nor with the ordinary noun 선도 (先導, "to lead from the front").
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