Do not miss this one of a kind event!

Location

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh - Green Tree

500 Mansfield Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Directions

Discounted rooms are available at $115/night (25% off)!
Note: The discount expires on July 11.
Booking Link
Be sure to set the appropriate check-in/check-out dates.
There are a few other Pittsburgh Hotels within a short drive of the event. With the general proximity to the airport, Uber and Lyft drivers are generally available and quick to respond.

Saturday Schedule


8:00am - 8:45amRegistration / Warm Up

Get checked in and get warmed up


8:45am - 9:00amWelcome and Introductions

Get lined up, get acquainted, and get ready!


9:00am - 10:30amFundamentals

This session is open to the public and requires no previous experience.

Led by Master Jenko


11:00am - 12:30pmOne-Hand Sword Method ("Oesu Geombeop")

This session is open to the public and requires no previous experience.

Led by Master Laura Clements


12:30pm - 2:00pmLunch / Free time

Recharge and refuel!


2:00pm - 3:30pmCreative Geombeop for Demonstration ("Geommu")

This session is open to practitioners of all skill levels; but aimed at practitioners with previous Haidong Gumdo experience.

Instructor: Master Shirk


4:00pm - 5:30pmGroup Open Training

This session is open to practitioners of all skill levels; but aimed at practitioners with previous Haidong Gumdo experience.

Instructors: Master Jenko, Master Laura, Master Shirk


5:30pm - 6:00pmClosing Remarks

Let's get together one more time as a group so that the instructors can share their appreciation and celebrate your success!


Sunday Schedule


8:00am - 8:45amRegistration / Warm Up

Get checked in and get warmed up


8:45am - 9:00amWelcome and Introductions

Get lined up, get acquainted, and get ready!


9:00am - 10:30amCutting & Sparring - Session 1

This is the first of two sessions where attendees will be divided into two groups.

One group will work on Sparring with Head Instructor Hobbs.

The other group will work on Cutting Skills with Master Laura, Master Shirk, and Master Jenko.

Please note the following:

We are working to make multiple types of cutting targets available (e.g., bamboo, paper, etc.) so that everyone will be able to work on their cutting skill, no matter their level of experience.

Use of a live (sharp) sword will be restricted to individuals aged 18 years and older who hold a black belt in a sword-specific martial art.


11:00am - 12:30pmCutting & Sparring - Session 2

This is the second of two sessions where attendees will be divided into two groups.

One group will work on Sparring with Head Instructor Hobbs.

The other group will work on Cutting Skills with Master Laura, Master Shirk, and Master Jenko.

Please note the following:

We are working to make multiple types of cutting targets available (e.g., bamboo, paper, etc.) so that everyone will be able to work on their cutting skill, no matter their level of experience.

Use of a live (sharp) sword will be restricted to individuals aged 18 years and older who hold a black belt in a sword-specific martial art.


Class Syllabus

Day 1:

Fundamentals - Master Jenko
This session will review the basic techniques of Haidong Gumdo with emphasis on efficient movement and relaxed stability.

One-Hand Sword Method ("Oesu Geombeop") - Master Laura
This session will cover a specific one-handed method of swordwork called "Oesu Geombeop" (pronounced "way-soo"). For many attendees, this will be a rare opportunity to learn a sword method that's no longer part of the standard US HDGD curriculum.

Creative Geombeop for Demonstration ("Geommu") - Master Shirk
This session will explore how one can create a unique and personal sword form demonstration and how the use of music can enhance the performance and pull your audience into the experience.

Group Open Training
You will have learned quite a lot over the course of the day. This is your opportunity to review what you learned with your fellow attendees, compare notes, share insights, or just practice with each other to improve your skills.


Day 2:

HDGD Cutting Skill Development - Master Laura, Master Shirk, and Master Jenko
This session will give you the opportunity to put your cutting skills to the test while learning proper cutting safety and HDGD etiquette. There will be a variety of cutting materials available (e.g., bamboo, paper, etc.) so practitioners of all ages can participate.

Note:
Use of a live (sharp) sword will be restricted to individuals aged 18 years and older who hold a black belt in a sword-specific martial art.

European Longsword Sparring Method - Head Instructor Hobbs
This session will cover the fundamental principles and mechanics of sparring with steel German Longswords, drawing on the methods of Pseudo-Peter von Danzig, Fiore de’i Liberi, and his personal competition experience.


Instructors

Master Eric Jenko Tempered Minds

Master Jenko is a 6th degree black belt with over 20 years of education with the World Haidong Gumdo Federation and a life-long martial artist with over 35 years of experience. He is one of 5 Chief Masters in the United States, an active international competitor, and a member of the demonstration teams for the 1st Haidong Gumdo U.S. Open Championships (AZ, 2009), the 1st and 2nd PanAm Mulimpia (NV, 2016 and 2018), the 4th World Mulimpia (Korea, 2019), the Arnold Battle of Columbus (OH, 2022), the NAKF Battle on the Mountain (PA, 1998-2022), and the 2024 Haidong Gumdo Pan-American Championships (UT, 2024).


Master Laura Clements Central Ohio Martial Arts

Master Laura is a 7th degree black belt with over 20 years of education with the World Haidong Gumdo Federation and life-long martial artist with over 30 years of experience. She is the senior-most ranking woman in the US Haidong Gumdo Association and has been training in the style since the mid-1990s. Master Laura has competed and coached in all three PanAm Championships, nearly every HDGD World-level Championship in Korea, and is renowned for her skill in bamboo cutting.


Master Susan Shirk North Star Haidong Gumdo

Master Shirk is a 5th degree black belt in the World Haidong Gumdo Federation. She is a frequent instructor at the Headquarters dojang in South Korea and leads Minnesota regional activities. She is best known in the Haidong Gumdo community for her promotion of the art of Sword Dance and developed the curriculum practitioners to learn. Master Shirk has performed on the 2016 and 2018 PanAm Mulimpia demonstration teams in Las Vegas, the USA demonstration team at the 2019 4th World Mulimpia, and the 2024 PanAm Haidong Gumdo Championships in Salt Lake City.


Head Instructor Chris Hobbs Steel City Historical Fencing

Instructor Hobbs is the owner of the Steel City Historical Fencing, a school of historical European martial arts (HEMA) that teaches multiple styles of European swordfighting including Longsword (drawing on the methods of Pseudo-Peter von Danzig, Fiore de’i Liberi), Sabre, Rapier & Dagger, and Sword & Buckler. He is a prolific HEMA competitor, having competed in dozens of HEMA tournaments across the country.


Registration

Age should be 10 or greater as of August 2nd, 2025

This waiver and release (“WAIVER”) is made between the below named individual and/or the individual’s parent/legal guardian (hereinafter referred to as “ATTENDEE”) and Tempered Minds LLC, Eric R. Jenko, his assistants, volunteers, and agents (hereinafter referred to as “ORGANIZERS“) and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh - Green Tree, located at 500 Mansfield Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15205 (hereinafter referred to as “FACILITIES”).

I, the ATTENDEE, certify that I am in excellent physical health and may participate without limitation in strenuous physical activities. I agree that I am personally responsible for my safety and my actions and do hereby accept all risks of injury and assume all responsibility for my participation in the “Tempered Minds Sword Seminar” (hereinafter referred to as “EVENT”). I agree to comply with all EVENT policies, guidelines, signage, and instructions.

I acknowledge and understand that my participation in the EVENT is at my own risk and may result in serious injury to me, including contracting COVID-19, permanent disability or death, or severe social and economic losses due not only by my own actions, inactions, or negligence, but also by the actions, inactions, or negligence of others, or the conditions of the FACILITIES or of any equipment used. I agree that, prior to participating in the EVENT, I will inspect the equipment and FACILITIES to be used, and if I believe anything is unsafe or beyond my capability, I will immediately advise ORGANIZERS of such conditions and refuse to participate. I understand that in order to participate in the EVENT, I must be covered with full and adequate medical/health and/or accident insurance. I certify that I am covered by a medical/health or accident insurance plan, and I will provide proof of such coverage to ORGANIZERS if requested.

With full awareness and appreciation of the risks involved, I, the ATTENDEE, on behalf of myself, my family (including minor children for whom I am a parent or legal guardian), spouse, estate, heirs, executors, personal representatives, administrators, and assigns, hereby covenant to not sue the RELEASED PARTIES and forever release, waive, and discharge the RELEASED PARTIES from any and all claims, actions, suits, procedures, costs, expenses, damages, and liabilities, including legal fees, resulting from personal injury, accidents, illnesses (including COVID-19 and/or death), and property loss I may sustain arising out of or related to my use of the FACILITIES, my participation in the EVENT, or instruction provided by ORGANIZERS. In the event that I am incapacitated, injured, or ill during the EVENT, I authorize the RELEASED PARTIES to act as my agent to seek emergency medical treatment for me. I also agree to reimburse the RELEASED PARTIES for any such expenses incurred.

By registering for the EVENT, I acknowledge and represent that I have read the foregoing WAIVER, understand it, and sign it voluntarily as my own free act and deed, including without limitation the release of liability and indemnification requirements contained in this waiver; I am sufficiently informed about the risks involved in attending the EVENT and factored those risks into my decision to register; no oral representations, statements, or inducements, apart from the foregoing agreement, have been made; I am fully competent; and I execute this WAIVER for full, adequate, and complete consideration fully intending to be bound by the same. I agree that this WAIVER and all matters concerning its interpretation, performance, or the enforcement hereof shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and consent that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this WAIVER shall only be brought in the courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, sitting in Allegheny County. I agree that if any of the provisions hereof are found to be unenforceable, the remainder shall be enforced as fully as possible and the unenforceable provision(s) shall be deemed modified to the limited extent required to permit enforcement of the WAIVER as a whole.


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