Opening

Opening (틈, teum; written 隙 in hanja) is, in kumdo, a vulnerable state in which one can be attacked. This is how the glossary of the Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) defines it.

According to that glossary, it commonly appears when a movement is started, when physical strength and spirit (체력과 기력, cheryeokgwa giryeok) are exhausted, or when a technique (gisul) fails. It can also be linked to breathing (호흡, hoheup), the gaze (시선, siseon) and the state of mind. It may be created by the one who attacks, or shown by the opponent unprompted.

Kinds of opening include:

• 마음의 틈 (maeumui teum): an opening of the mind.
• 자세의 틈 (jaseui teum): an opening of the posture.
• 동작의 틈 (dongjagui teum): an opening of the movement.

A kumdo club source describes the "gap" (빈틈, binteum) as the good moment to strike (격자의 기회, gyeokjaui gihoe). It can come from a mind disturbed by the four sicknesses (사계, sagye, i.e. 경구의혹, gyeonggu-uihok: surprise, fear, doubt and confusion). It also appears when the sword tip (칼끝, kalkkeut) drifts off the opponent's centre, or when the grip rises or drops.

Sources describe how it is used:

• One strikes when the opponent's posture has an opening, when the attacker has created it, or when the opponent is about to move.
• One also strikes when the opponent's technique has run out.
• If any of the four sicknesses is in the mind, one cannot see the opponent's opening and one shrinks and creates one's own.
• When both sides attack, the mind is agitated (calm mind, 평상심, pyeongsangsim, is lost) and an opening appears in that instant.
• In guided practice (지도대련, jidodaeryeon), the guide naturally lets an opening show so that the student can catch it and attack.