CyberKwoon

Could anyone possibly outline the main differences and the pros/cons of each art? And possibly some links to documentation or videos pertaining to either art?

I'll try to give an overview. Just as a disclaimer, I'm not a practitioner of Haidong gumdo, but I do have some friends in it, so that (and my own research) is my basis for this.


Haidong gumdo is a Korean art similar to iaijutsu or battoujutsu that focuses on physically cutting with the Korean-style sword. Both wooden swords and live blades are used. As I understand it, practice is driven around either cutting exercises or forms. The techniques were built around fighting multiple opponents (as on a battlefield) and executing a flurry of attacks. This art is still relatively obscure, but quickly gaining popularity.
Pros: Good exercise, teaches precision sword work, strengthens the mind.
Cons: Virtually no sparring, difficult to find a school, tournaments are rare

Kendo is a Japanese martial art who's main focus is on personal development through the use of the sword. The main weapon is a long bamboo sword called a shinai, though solid wooden swords are used for two-man forms. Wood/cloth armor is utilized during sparring to protect the practitioners while still allowing them plenty of mobility. Practice is heavily based around cutting exercises and sparring with shinai. Kendo has ten 2-man forms, but these are usually taught on the side or as a subsidiary to sparring. Kendo is highly competitive and is characterized by its fierce and loud sparring. Kendo is also highly traditional, and elements of traditional Japanese etiquette are ever-present. Techniques are built around fighting a single opponent and making a single, perfect strike that shows the unity of mind, body, and sword.
Pros: Extremely good exercise, practiced by all types of people of all ages, very widespread, tournaments are common, strengthens the mind, teaches precision sword work.
Cons: Too intense for most people, supplies (esp. armor) are expensive, rules are difficult to understand for laypeople.


For further info, I'd recommend Wikipedia. They have links to other sites that you could get detailed information from

Wikipedia's article on Haidong Gumdo

Wikipedia's article on Kendo

Hope this helps

To add to what Eldritch said, this is from a magazine released earlier this year:

Taekwondo & Korean Martial Arts magazine, Vol 10, Issue 1, February 2005, ‘Haidong Gumdo in the UK’ (Interview with Ewan Briscoe, Chairman of Haidong Gumdo UK), pp48-51 wrote:…Haidong Gumdo is a Korean sword art which draws from battlefield tactics and techniques to build a curriculum for mental, physical and spiritual development. Students learn forms, step drills, sitting and moving meditation, sparring as well as bamboo and straw cutting. Unlike Kendo and its Korean equivalent, Kumdo, the focus in Haidong Gumdo is not duelling but on the tactics of outdoor, pitched battles…Hai Dong Gum Do translates best to East Sea Swordmanship. This translation does not carry all of the meaning for all people. Hai refers to the sea but it also refers to the sun. Dong is east and it too speaks of the sun, specifically the light energy meaning. Gum is sword and Do has many shades of meaning. in this instance, Do is used to represent an approach, both physical and mental, to a body of skills which are properly called an art. Most often in English, Do is translated simply as way or path. Gumdo translates directly as the way of the sword…Now the dynamic sword art, Haidong Gumdo, has reached these shores through the HDGD European Technical Director, Han Sang Hyun, and the British Chairman Master Ewan Briscoe, well known as the founder of Panther Taekwondo…

TKD-KMA: What impressed you about the art?
Ewan Briscoe: The circular motions; Master Han is a small chap but the power he wields with his sword is amazing. I couldn’t believe it. I love the fluidity…they’re able to defeat their opponents more quickly, rather than being rigid….It’s got very challenging stances, that’s the main thing I found hard…there’s nothing that’s non-traditional about it [Haidong Gumdo]. The stances are very low…There’s one thing about Haidong Gumdo that I can say and that is that it is style less. Because of the discipline involved there’s not too much politics. Everyone has a place and everyone knows their place – there’s already a set hierarchy from Korean and that is clear…