Share a part of the life of our consultants by discovering their hobbies! This month, let's talk about Aurore Alex (d²X Lyon) and her passion for Haidong Gumbo, a Korean martial art.

What is your double life?

I practice a Korean martial art called Haidong Gumdo.

Haidong Gumdo is the traditional Korean sword martial art. HAI refers to the sea; DONG to the East; GUM the sword and DO the voice or initiatory path.

For more details, I recommend you to watch a very instructive video on the Youtube channel of my instructor, Franck Dominé.

Link to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYPa2FC077PGHhuYhbier4A

The video in question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puCNamgldl0&t=60s

Feel free to like and subscribe to his channel if you are interested.

When and how did you start?

I started in October 2019 following a demonstration/initiation during "Tout le monde dehors", a French summer event that allows you to discover Lyon's cultural and sports associations.

I had been looking for a martial art for a while but I didn't want to do "common things" like karate or judo. I have always been attracted by Asian culture and especially Japanese culture. At the beginning I was looking to practice Japanese sword like aikido or iado but  I found it kind of monotonous; I needed dynamism; a sport that challenges me. It was by chance that I stumbled upon an initiation to Korean swordsmanship and I was immediately won over. In addition to a martial art that I didn't know existed; I became interested in Korean culture in its values and philosophy.

What do you like about this passion?

Haidong Gumdo is a complete martial art that challenges the participant both physically and psychologically.

Let me explain:

We can do different activities in Haidong Gumdo that will allow us to refine our sword technique. There are codified fights, codified sequences of movements, sword dance, paper cutting, candles, bamboo, etc. All these activities will become more complex as we move up the ranks. Nothing can be taken for granted even for a person with a black belt! When you reach blue belt, you exchange the wooden sword called Mogkum for a "fake" sword called Kagum; at that moment everything you thought you had acquired is turned upside down because the change of weapon will require a different practice and therefore it can generate frustration (positive to surpass or negative because you are confronted against yourself and it is never fun).

What I appreciate is that Haidong Gumdo allows you to progress further in understanding yourself and others.

My instructor who manages the association "Lyon Haidong Gumdo" in France has really at heart to transmit his values of surpassing himself but also and especially the values of sharing, collective, solidarity and tolerance especially in this societal context.

And in your daily life, how does your passion fit in?

I usually exercise two to three times a week, which can be 6 hours a week. I am also part of the demonstration club in order to promote this martial art.

I had some expectations about Haidong Gumdo, and it went far beyond it. The people in my club and the martial art in general have made me grow a lot and opened up my horizons.

Have you acquired skills that you use in your professional life?

Totally. Both in my professional and personal life. Haidong Gumdo has allowed me to assert myself in front of my interlocutors. Being introverted by nature, I often tended to stand aside from others. The practice of the Korean sword has helped me to know myself better; to gain more self-confidence and this has been conclusive in my job search.

Finally, Haidong Gumdo taught me to surpass myself and to never get stuck on a failure.

Credits : Master Han Sang-Hyun (Head of the Europe Haidong Gumdo association) and Master Franck Dominé (Lyon Haidong Gumdo)

Thank you Aurore for answering our questions!