Initiative
In kumdo, seon (선) is initiative: taking the lead over the opponent by reading their intention and the movement of their bamboo sword (jukdo), whether by attacking first or by answering their attack.
How to say it
- Korean
- 선seon
- Spanish
- Iniciativa
- English
- Initiative
- Japanese
- 先せんsen
In kumdo, seon (선, 先) is initiative in combat. A Korean kumdo dojo explains that it is not simply attacking first: it means reading the opponent's intention and steering the flow of the exchange. It distinguishes two modes: taking the lead by attacking before the opponent moves, and responding at the moment the opponent attacks, reading the movement and countering to gain control.
The Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) describes seon-ui seon (선의 선) as quickly confirming the opponent's intention to attack, meaning the first sign of movement of their jukdo (죽도, bamboo sword), and getting ahead of it. Korean sources speak of three seon (삼선):
- Seon-ui seon (선의 선): reading the opponent's intention to attack and striking first.
- Dae-ui seon (대의 선): winning by getting ahead of an attack the opponent has already launched, before it takes effect, for example by sweeping the sword upward (seucheoollrigi, 스쳐올리기) and striking, or by dodging and striking.
- Hu-ui seon (후의 선): starting the technique after the opponent, avoiding or blocking the attack and counterattacking at once.
In addition, hubal-seonji (후발선지, 後發先至) means moving the sword later yet arriving first; one Korean source places it above the three seon, since someone whose mind and body are in harmony can use all three freely.
The Japanese equivalent of the term is sen (先).
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