I’ll join in and give my thanks to Max Jo Kyo Nim for getting us started with a great website and blog, plus his helpful instructions and suggestions for keeping it going without his daily, hands-on administration.
I’m Nicki Dahn Bo Nim, a student and assistant instructor at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul, mother to a Dahn Bo Nim and a perpetual Red Belt (he’s six, so I guess I should cut him some slack), and the office meddler here at the school. Apparently, I’m also a blogger, so I’ll steal Steffen PSBN’s idea and interview myself.
When did you start taking Kuk Sool?
October 2005, when Steffen PSBN opened the dojang. I had known Steffen PSBN and his family through our homeschooling group for a couple of years, and I was just being nice and signing up to help out. Two and half years later, I think I can officially say I’m hooked.
Why did you bring the kids?
I started classes with my daughter, who was 7 at the time. I could see adolescence looming on the horizon, and I wanted her to keep physically active, become more aware and confident of herself, and be able to take out any future boyfriend who got out of line. My son was 4 when his sister and I started, and he stood on the sidelines mimicking everything we did. Steffen PSBN took pity on the poor boy and brought him in just before his fifth birthday. For my son, studying Kuk Sool has given him plenty of opportunity to practice focus — there are even days when I can see the good results of all that practice!
What else do you do when you aren’t training?
I mentioned the mothering gig, right? Okay, so in addition to raising two kids, running the household, meddling in the dojang office, training and teaching, I occasionally spend a little time as an editor, writer, and public relations professional. I work from home and homeschool, so working in the same place that I train fits my typical m.o.
Hobbies?
I used to read…and still do occasionally, stealing time from one or another responsibility. I also manage to work in an occasional concert, movie, visit to the indoor climbing wall, or social opportunity. Actually, that’s my hobby, right there — socializing. So, say hi to me, okay?
Whom do you most admire in Kuk Sool?
My instructor, Steffen PSBN. The two other PSBN’s that train at our school. The rest of our instructor corps. And anyone and everyone who gives it a try, sticks with it, and learns to love it.
What’s looming on your Kuk Sool horizon?
Another test, doubtless. The life of a Dahn Bo Nim is full of trials (though my instructor just informed me that that may be a lingering peculiarity of his teaching style. Apparently the rest of you don’t take one or more grueling tests every month for at least a year. Um, are there spaces at YOUR school?).
Of course, what I’m looking forward to the most is Kuk Sa Nim’s visit and the Super Seminar in June. Okay, there’s that picky little test I have to get through, but after that, I’ll be a Jo Kyo Nim and ready to take it easy for a while! What? What do you mean “training begins at black belt”?
Who let you on this blog? When is Max JKN coming back?!
Sorry. Steffen PSBN will be better able to write about the technicalities and finer points of training in Kuk Sool, so he’s the one filling Max’s shoes. They brought me in to work the less formal angles of a martial arts blog. I’m here as a mom, a very novice martial artist, and a writer with a decent understanding of comma usage.
