Korean Swordsmanship - Shim Gumdo

Shim Gumdo

Shim Gumdo, also known as Mind Sword path, is a style of Korean swordsmanship created by Kim Changsik, a Korean Buddhist monk. According to World Shim Gum Do Association, Kim Changsik was a Buddhist disciple at Hwagyesa temple in Seoul, South Korea. During a 100-day meditation, Shim Gumdo came to his mind when he achieved enlightenment. In 1971, Kim Changsik established the Korean Shim Gum Do Association and began teaching Shim Gumdo in South Korea. He moved to the United States in 1974 and in 1978 he established American Buddhist Shim Gum Do Association. The main temple, Shim Gwang Sa, was built in Boston, Massachusetts, and there the World Shim Gum Do Association was established as the center of Shim Gum Do Associations around the world.