What is "simgumdo"

Simgumdo, translated as the "mind sword path", is a martial arts system of recent invention, originating in Korea. Simgumdo emerged from the enlightenment of the monk Won Gwang, born as Chang Sik Kim, during a 100-day meditation and prayer retreat at Hwagyesa temple in Seoul, South Korea in 1965. In 1971, Kim Changsik established the Korean Simgumdo Association and began teaching Simgumdo in South Korea. He moved to the United States in 1974, and, in 1978 he established American Buddhist Simgumdo Association. The main temple, Shim Gwang Sa, was built in Boston, Massachusetts, and there the World Simgumdo Association was established as the center of Simgumdo Associations around the world. The central component of the system is a series of 330 forms (choreographed sequences of techniques) using the sword. The system also includes forms using two swords, a long staff, a short staff, and empty hands, as well as a series of 3000 self-defense techniques called Ho Shin Sul.