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Yidan Kumdo essay: Where the sword reflects the state of mind
Posted On: 06/19/2008 07:43:14
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This is the essay that I wrote for my yidan test. The subject, 'where the sword reflects the state of mind' was assigned to us by Grandmaster Kim.
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What is it about the sword that continues to captivate and fascinate us, in spite of its being an archaic weapon which sees little to no modern use? We flock to the movies to see Antonio Banderes flashy blade work as Zorro, Vigo Mortensen’s battles against the orcs with his longsword in Lord of the Rings, and Tom Cruise wield a katana in The Last Samurai. Even in Star Wars, a sci fi movie with laser guns and interstellar travel, the focal point of the movie is the clash between Luke Skywalker and the ominous Darth Vader, each wielding their laser sword. What relevance does the sword have for modern society? Here, in this dojang, we strive to master this archaic weapon, striving for that perfect harmony between swordsman and sword. We seek mastery over a weapon whose military use has long since fallen into disuse. Why? The answer can be summed up in the words, “in ferro veritas”, in the sword is truth. The sword is a perfect reflection of the truth of the mind and spirit. To master the weapon, one must focus their mind and spirit. Without the mind to guide, mastery of the sword is impossible. Without strength of spirit, the physical demands of mastering the sword cannot be overcome. When the mind and spirit are focused as one, the kumdoin and sword go from being a person holding a sharp object to being a single, unified fighter. The sword becomes as a part of the kumdoin, an extension of the arm, not merely something held at its end. Mastery of the sword requires a great deal of focus on small details and can be very tedious and downright frustrating at times. To achieve a perfect cut when cutting the mats is impossible simply through muscle and force. The sword reveals the truth of the unfocused mind in the quality of the cut. The sword reveals a poor spirit when the mat is torn, rather than cut. But when the mind is focused and the kumdoin’s spirit is strong, the cuts are smooth, clean, and straight, the technique and blade doing the work.
And that is the attraction the sword holds for modern society. To focus the mind and spirit and to reveal their potential, that is the attraction. When the mind and spirit are unfocused, the kumdoin is tense and his technique is uneven and rough. With a focused mind and strong spirit, the kumdoin goes from being tensed and uneven to relaxed and fluid, both beautiful and deadly. ‘In ferro veritas’. In the sword is truth. And that truth is the true reflection of state of mind of the wielder.
Tags: Yidan Second Dan Second Degree Kumdo Sword
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