When I hear the words “martial arts,” I imagine boards breaking, self-defense, Bruce Lee movies and fighting.

Sunmudo is pretty much the exact opposite.

 

Meditation is an integral part of Sunmodo
Meditation is an integral part of Sunmodo

What is Sunmudo?

If I had to sum it up, I would say Sunmudo is a combination of Zen Buddhist monks flying through the air, kicking their way up stairs while doing pushups, performing a wheelbarrow race and meditating the whole time.

 

High-kicking is a key part of sunmudo martial arts
High-kicking is a key part of sunmudo martial arts

 

These monks would make amazing Rockettes
These monks would make amazing Rockettes

 

The monks do a series of pushups as they crawl down stairs. Once at the bottom, they perform a series of high leg kicks
The monks do a series of pushups as they crawl down stairs. Once at the bottom, they perform a series of high leg kicks

 

Walking up the stairs by hand is no easy task

 

This is a form of jumping meditation
This is a form of jumping meditation

The official Golgul Temple Web site describes Sunmudo as:

“Sun (禪), also spelled seon or son, refers to meditation. It is the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese word “chan;” it is perhaps best known as “zen”, its Japanese pronunciation. These words are derived from the sanscrit “dhyana”, which literally means ‘meditation’, or ‘meditative state’. The essence of this state is profound stillness.

Mu (武) means martial art in Korean (pronounced “wu” in Mandarin Chinese, as in “Wushu”). Do (道) means discipline, or the way of doing something; the method.

Sunmudo, then, literally means “the way of doing meditative martial arts”. It is both meditation and martial art. It is a unique in that it contains a variety of different elements that complement each other. It envelopes the dynamic and powerful movements of a martial art into the peaceful practices of meditation, yoga, and chi qong exercises.”

 

One of Golgulsa's monks demonstrates a flying kick
One of Golgulsa’s monks demonstrates a flying kick

 

Three Golgusa monks demonstrate Sunmudo

Sunmudo is More than Jumps and Kicks

On Day 7 of filming Lost in Korea, Jesse and I found ourselves in a Zen Buddhist monastery that specializes in Sunmudo.

While Golgulsa offers daily short public demonstrations of the acrobatic portion of Sunmudo, our affiliation with National Geographic Channel meant we were treated to the whole show.

 

Watching the monks do wheelbarrow meditation made me think of field day as a schoolboy
Watching the monks do wheelbarrow meditation made me think of field day as a schoolboy

 

Balance is a key part of Sunmudo at the Golgusa Zen Buddhist Temple in South Korea
Balance is a key part of Sunmudo at the Golgusa Zen Buddhist Temple in South Korea

Tomorrow, I Try Sunmudo

Jesse already has experience with Sunmudo, having filmed another Korean travel show in this exact location.

I, however, will be trying out this ancient martial art for the first time tomorrow; bright and early, as the monks wake us up at 4am!

Now, it’s time for bed.

 

Something tells me that this monk has taken the advanced class
Something tells me that this monk has taken the advanced class

 

The entrance to Golgulsa - a Zen Buddhist Temple in Gyeongju, South Korea
Even the statues at Golgulsa practice Sunmudo

 

Monks at the Golgul Zen Buddhist Temple are experts in the ancient martial art of Sunmudo
Monks at the Golgul Zen Buddhist Temple are experts in the ancient martial art of Sunmudo

Have you ever practiced martial arts?

GET LOST IN KOREA


In 2013, I was hired by National Geographic to film a TV show in South Korea … following my adventures as a travel blogger and photographic storyteller.

The single-episode show offered a mix of humor, tradition, adventure and stunning imagery; as I teamed up with Jesse Day: a Canadian entertainer who lives in Seoul and raps in Korean.

Here are the highlights from filming Get Lost in Korea