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Steffen PSBN and I were talking business the other day — an activity that we call a “meeting” and that usually involves large quantities of bubble tea. We were talking about demographics: who is our market? what are they like? what DO they like? how do we reach them most efficiently? And we stumbled upon a great truth: martial artists read. Looking at our current student population, former students and instructors, we determined that Kuk Sool apparently appeals to bookish word nerds, ourselves included. (Yes. It’s a fact. Any conclusion reached under the influence of a strawberry kumquat black tea with pearls is an idea of great wisdom and undoubtedly true.) So we decided to make our upcoming Open House that much more fun by sharing some of our favorite martial arts books with our students and guests. We’re going through the bookshelves and hauling out, among others, The Art of War, The Art of Peace, Varjak Paw, and The Miracle of Mindfulness. We’ll set them out on tables, give folks a chance to see some of our recommendations for good martial arts reads, and, we hope, learn about some new titles to go check out ourselves. Do you have recommendations? Throw your comments out there — we’d love to hear what you think of as a good book about or relating to martial arts. And if you’re in the area, come by and visit: Saturday, September 13 from 11am to 3pm. In addition to the books, you’ll find us playing games, teaching mini-classes, and eating treats. Nothing like books, martial arts, and cookies for a good time.
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Thanks to Scott Wood Hohng Di for forwarding a link to this site. Here are some fun facts about Mr. Norris.
When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.
Outer space exists because it’s afraid to be on the same planet with Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.
There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’ beard. There is only another fist.
When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.
Oh, there’s more. Go to Continue Reading…
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Once again, our guest blogger, Mel Martin Jo Kyo Nim:
Two weeks after surgery I finally returned to Kuk Sool classes. It was great to be back in the dojang and to see everyone, but at the same time it was very frustrating. For the next five months I am prohibited from running, jumping, bending, or twisting. So I took a deep breath and told myself that this is the perfect time to work on my weapons skills. When I got home I started doing the math and I figured out that I only have to worry about being benched for about 50-60 classes, and really that’s not that bad. I smiled and thought to myself, “Now that’s the right attitude to have.” And that phrase, right attitude, brought me up short. I thought about it for a moment and I realized that I am back on the path that Continue Reading…
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A very special welcome to a guest blogger, Mel Martin Jo Kyo Nim. Some of you may remember Mel JKN as the woman who beat the snot out of her would-be mugger a couple of Thanksgivings ago. Well, she is currently recovering from knee surgery, and, given her history, my money is on Mel JKN — that gimpy knee doesn’t stand a chance. Take it away, ma’am!
Mel JKN writes: On Tuesday I had knee surgery to repair my left ACL which I completely blew out a couple of weeks ago doing an off-the-wall jump roundhouse. And while I intend to write more later about having a major injury and staying with Kuk Sool, I wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Kuk Sool and all it has given me to help me get through this time in my life.
Dear Kuk Sool,
I am lying on my couch as Continue Reading…
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In June and July, our Grand Master, Kuk Sa Nim Suh In Hyuk travels the US and Canada on a Super Seminar tour. He and other Masters speak and teach at the schools along their route, and we here at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul were honored again to host a Super Seminar.For us, the excitement began on Thursday, when Steffen Pu Sa Bum Nim’s instructor, Tim Seitz Kwang Jahng Nim, arrived. Master Seitz and Steffen PSBN taught special classes all day on Friday to our most highly ranked students. The Dahn Bo Nims joined in a very exciting dahn bong (short stick) seminar, and most of them were introduced to this weapon for the first time. Kuk Sa Nim and Masters Suh and Harmon arrived Friday evening, ready to visit our close neighbor, Mirror of Korea, for dinner. Saturday was packed. All black belts, including our frequent visitor, Continue Reading…
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Tournaments make for a very long day… For the judges. As members of a traditional martial art that focuses so heavily on etiquette we should really do our best to thank the judges. Unfortunately, I always hear a lot of complaints. I even remember doing some complaining myself. So, in the spirit of contrition, I am going to thank some judges right now. I’d like to thank Master Seitz, and Master Simms for giving me contact warnings during sparring. I’d like to thank Master Jeff Green for not being fooled by flashy techniques, and I’d like to thank Master Kunz for making me do above the head spin-kicks without jumping. For all of you who are not judges I’d like to give you a peak at the judges world. I’ve heard many different systems by which judges do their judging. But the main thing I see is consistency. Remember, even Continue Reading…
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Once again I have gone to St. Louis for the midwest Kuk Sool Won Tournament. I have only missed this tournament once, and I truly enjoy it. KJN and SBN Harvey do an amazing job of organizing, and St. Louis is a great city. Also, this year I got the pleasure of seeing my own instructor promote to Master. Congratulations, KJN Seitz! Of course, for me the capstone is always the Master’s Demonstration. This year, I especially enjoyed watching SBN Ben Mitchell do a cat roll higher than his own head, and then proceed to do a flip over a stack of people. Also of note was Sun Jin Suh Kwan Jahng Nim’s Crane on the Cloud form. He performed it slow and low. It was absolutely gorgeous. So while the St. Louis Demo form is not up yet, I thought you might enjoy an older video of Sun Jin Continue Reading…
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This Monkey has some scary good spin kicks.
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Yes, it’s true. I am moving to Chicago.
I have accepted a job at Leapfrog Online as a Web Producer. My new job is located north of the city in Evanston, IL, but I will be living in the City.
After graduating from Purdue University in December, I retired my instructor position to Brandon JKN and moved back here to Minnesota where I kept this website and blog going. I am happy that PSBN Steffen and DBN Nicki are getting their voices heard by posting on the blog and know they will take care of all of you readers and students from around the world.
I want to say Thank You to all the readers of this blog and I hope that wherever you are, you know someone is practicing Kuk Sool somewhere else in the world. We are all Brothers and Sisters.
I will be training at Sa Bum Nim Hill’s school Continue Reading…
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Every once in a while I see a story about a real-life self-defense incident that just makes me smile. Recently I read a perfect story from Lighthouse Point Florida.
Apparently back belt and marathon runner by the name of Margot Foster, 53, came home and found a man (aged 24) ransacking her house. The surprised thief tried to flee but she tackled him outside her house. The thief was able to free himself and then flee. However, Margot gave chase until the burglar tried to clear a six-foot-high wooden fence. Then, in her own words, she, “grabbed him by the neck, ripped him off the fence, threw him to the ground, and put her knee to his chest.” She then held him until the police arrived.
The image just makes me smile. I can just see this man trying to flee as this woman of twice his age Continue Reading…
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