Leather tip cap

The seonhyeok (선혁) is the leather cap that covers the tip of the jukdo (죽도), the bamboo sword used in kumdo. The jukdo is made of four bamboo pieces, and its end is covered with this leather. English-language texts on kumdo describe it as the leather cap that represents the tip of the sword.

Inside the seonhyeok is a T-shaped plastic piece that supports the four bamboo pieces. The Korean refereeing rules call it the core inside the seonhyeok (선혁 내부의 심). They do not allow any other object inside the jukdo, apart from that core and the metal piece in the pommel.

Parts of the jukdo named alongside the seonhyeok:

• Kalkkeut (칼끝): the tip of the sword, where the seonhyeok sits.
• Junghyeok (중혁): the leather band tied around the jukdo about a third of the way down from the seonhyeok. It keeps the bamboo pieces from separating when striking.
• Byeonghyeok (병혁): the leather wrapped around the end of the handle.
• Deungjul (등줄): the cord that runs the length of the jukdo and keeps the seonhyeok, junghyeok and byeonghyeok in place. It passes through a hole in the seonhyeok.
• Gyeokjabu (격자부): the area between the seonhyeok and the junghyeok. It is the valid striking area.

English-language sources say thrusts are infrequent in competition, but they are recognized when contact is made only with the seonhyeok.

The rules of the Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) set a minimum seonhyeok diameter by category. For adults and university students it is 26 mm for men and 25 mm for women. The same rules say a jukdo with a torn seonhyeok must not be used.