Kumdo

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Keomdo (Korean: 검도; lit. the way of the sword) is a modern Korean martial art. It is derived from and has a name cognate to kendo, the Japanese martial art. Despite being accurate,^[1] its name is also spelled Kǒmdo, Kumdo and Geomdo.

As a martial art, Kumdo has become accepted in Korean culture and society since its introduction from Japan to the degree that the term "keomdo" has, in recent history, become a generic label for other Korean martial arts based upon Korean swordsmanship. Therefore, keomdo can apply to the sporting and competitive form of swordsmanship, similar to kendo, or it can be applied to other martial forms of Korean swordsmanship such as Haidong Gumdo or Hankumdo.^[2] Although related to Japanese kendo, minor differences exist in Korean keomdo due to appropriation and acculturation. Such differences include, but are not limited to, the use of native terminology, the use of blue flags rather than red flags for the referees and minor modifications to the uniform.