Kuk Sool Won of St Paul | Twin Cities Martial Arts with Classes for Kids, Adults, Families, and Workouts

Hyung are hard to do. Practice and proper breathing will make it easier but it will still physically challenging if you do it right. Cho Geup Hyung is no exception. It is a from that goes in a basic straight line from one spot to another.

* Below is a Video for refence of the Hyung, I am not picking on Tony, especially since he got a very good score.

Here some tips that I notice people need to improve on when I am grading or judging at a tournament for Cho Geup Hyung. They may even help some of you win Gold.

1. Your Long Stance should be Longer

Too many people shorten up their long stances which doesn’t allow them to have deep, 90 degree knee bend stances. It’s obvious when your stances are not long enough and a huge improvement when they are long enough.

2. Turn that Foot

This is one of the most common problems with long stance. People like to leave their back foot turned out 90 degrees. Turn that foot towards your target at least 45 degrees. One big help will be turning your upper body and hip toward the target as well, this will make it easier to get that foot right.

3. Ki Hap Louder

You know you should. Not a blood curtling scream, but enough to let everyone know you mean business.

4. Breathe

This is a problem I have sometimes. Everyone needs to breathe during their form. It makes it easier and allows you to fully concentrate on stances and hand movement.

5. Get a Good High Sidekick In

When it’s time for the sidekick make sure and kick head level or a little higher.

6. Work on Your Dragon Stance

Every form has “make or break” movements. Meaning, as a judge or grader there are certain elements in a form that either indicate you have a full grasp of the form or whether you need more practice. The Dragon Stance is a god indicator for the quality of your form. If you have a good Dragon Stance it usually correlates to a better form overall.

7. Punch from the Hip

Every punch you do should come from a fist that is TOUCHING your hip. Not hovering in imaginary space, but physically touching your hip. If are doing multiple punches you hands need to touch your hip before they punch again.

8. Ride that Horse

Work on your horse stances. They should be low and strong. Work on them everyday and you will see a lot of improvement.

9. Don’t hit the Ground with your Fist

At the end of the 3 step forward sequence you will do a rolling back fist as you sit down and back. Don’t hit the ground. It’s not good for you and it looks bad.

10. Precision

Make sure all your strikes are precise. Punches are punches and chops are chops. Get the full range of motion from each block and strike.

Today we’re gonna go through some of the upgrades I have done to the blog today and the last couple weeks.

1. You can now Email a Post to a Friend

I am so happy to announce I have finally added this functionality to this blog. I think you will all enjoy it as well.

To Email a Friend the post you like, just click on the post title from the Blog Homepage, and when you the Blog post is loaded you will see a little icon and text appear underneath the title of the Blog Post that says “Email this Post to a Friend”

So now if you think your friend or an instructor will like a post, feel free to click and email them. You do not leave the page at all, you just click and send right from the post. Go try it yourself!

2. What is RSS?

One of the options to subscribe to this Blog is via the Kuk Sool Blog RSS feed. Now, I know many of you have yet to learn how easy RSS is and so I have added a “What is RSS?” page to this site. You can learn what RSS is by clicking this link: What is RSS? or by clicking on the “What is RSS?” link at the top of the sidebar under the big orange RSS icon.

3. Subscribe via Email

Yes, this feature has been on the Blog for a while, but just to let you know that if you don’t like the whole RSS thing you can still subscribe via email. Just enter in you email at the top of the sidebar and you will receive the posts via email.

When people first start learning Ssang Jool Bong they commit a couple basic Jool Bong Sins. Of course, practice, practice, practice when it comes to Ssang Jool Bong and this can rid you of those sins. However, these tips and tricks can help you on your way.

If you haven’t seen the way we do Ssang Jool Bong here, check this post: Ssang Jool Bong like you Have Never Seen it Before

1. Let the Chain Wrap

Too many people just hit the “stick” part of the Jool Bong off their shoulders, legs, and hips. You need to hold the tip of the Jool Bong right next to your body to let the chain wrap around the body part you are bouncing it off of. This way you will not get a bunch of bruises and you can have a longer, happier life without the pain of whacking yourself day in and day out.

2. Don’t Stop the Motion

Ssang Jool Bong is a weapon where you must continue the motion in a circular manner constantly. If you try to stop the motion in the middle of the air you may have some undesired consequences flying toward you face. Always try to let the motion be smooth and circular letting the chain wrap by bouncing or going around your body to change directions.

3. Use Two Hands

No, this is not baseball. But you need to practice with both hands. When you first learn Jool Bong you will only use one hand at a time. So make sure you practice with both hands, because in the near future you will be doing double and using both hands at the same time. Which can be pretty mind boggling for someone who has only practiced with one hand.

It may not surprise you that the two kicks that give people the most trouble in the Kuk Sool under Black Belt Curriculum are Low and Jump Spin Kick. My good friend Andy over at the BlueMoonBlog has been having some trouble with Jump Spin Kick and asked for some input.

I generally teach Jump Spin Kick in 3 steps. However, as with anything else the real way to get good at a kick is to practice it every time you are doing Kuk Sool. Even a couple times a day will help you significantly. These 3 tips will definitely get you started and over that wall that is starting this kick.

* Demo pictures were performed by my Assistant Instructor Brandon JKN here at Purdue.

Step 1

Start in a relaxed Kong Kyuk Jah Seh (Basic fighting stance) and jump up in the air 360 degrees and land exactly as you started. The trick to this part is to bring your knees up and jump as high as you can. Most people jump the 360 degrees no problem but once they try to kick in Step 3 they are not bringing their knees high enough to give them hangtime in the air to kick. Bring your knees up and you will succeed at Step 1.

Do this 10 times

Step 2

Perform Step 1 again by jumping 360 degrees bringing your knees up. But this time focus on whipping your head around to the front to see your target as soon as both your feet have left the ground. This will give you more control in the air, view your target, and a way to lead your body. THIS STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT. As with anything your body follows your head. In ANY spin kick you should start your motion by turning your head and looking at your target. You will notice your spin get faster but you have not decreased your hangtime, which is what we want.

Do this 10 times

Step 3

This is where we add the kick. Only kick after you are in the air and have whipped your head around to see your target. Most people try to start kicking too early. Wait till your body is ready and balanced and then release the kick. You have plenty of time in the air at this point not to panic. Remember you should be pushing your hips out so you kick with your heel and not the side of your foot.

Power Tip: After you master steps 1 - 3 pull with your Glutes (a.k.a. butt) and pull your leg across. This will generate the power you need for breaking.

When you compete in sparring at a tournament a lot of newbies don’t think about the clock. Sparring matches at a tournament are only 2:00 (that’s 2 minutes). So what does this mean for you? You have to remember Point Sparring is not the real deal fighting match you would encounter while you are out-and-about. Point Sparring is a game to see who can score the most points in 2 minutes or less. Here are some tips when dealing with time in a Point Sparring match and how to use it to your advantage.

1. Efficiency

You only have 2 minutes to either win by a 5 point margin or score the most points. How do you do this the fastest? Head kicks. Kicks to head are worth 2 points compared to a kick to the body or any hand strike (1 point). The fastest way to get your five point margin or the most points is to mix in a couple head kicks with your other moves.

2. Signifier

Use the time you have left as a signifier. While you are sparring you can sort of gauge how much time is left in the match, or better yet, if you have a friend or family member timing it you will know exactly how much time is left. If you are down in points with time running out you know you will have to step it up and maybe use some riskier moves. If you are down by a lot you know you will have to start landing points fast or with a bunch of head kicks.

On the other hand, if you are up in points with time running out you want to slow the match down. You want to keep your adversary at a distance and hesitant to come in. Don’t move in straight lines, move around in a circle making you harder to catch.

3. Time Tactics

Some people swear by what I call “Time Tactics.” You will always come across a fighter who will do the exact same thing every time. As soon as your judge says “Go” they have jumped across the line as fast as they can to try and surprise you from the get-go. A lot of people will do this every time in a “sudden death”, “tie breaker”, or “next point wins” scenario. If you have a “Time Tactic” like this I would suggest dropping it. One reason is, if you win the first round, the person you fight in the second round knows exactly what you are doing and you will get destroyed it they have enough skill to stop you. This is especially true once you reach black belt level.

Bonus: Patience

Two minutes does not seem like a long time but it really can be. Don’t be in such a rush where you leave yourself open and make stupid mistakes. Be patient and keep your hands up. Good Luck.

One might argue that the front Handspring is the first advanced Falling Technique in our Martial Art. Handsprings always seem tough till you break your own mental barrier and figure out how to properly do a Handspring. Make sure you have proper padding , equipment, and spotting when first learning how to do Handsprings. A lot of people talk about how easy a handspring is. Remember this, it will only be easy through practice.

Vital Point Strikes: The Art and Science of Striking Vital Targets for Self-defense and Combat Sports


Learn how to better use Pressure Points in Self-Defense or Combat sports. This book is written by a Korean practitioner and has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

Pressure Points have always had a leading role in Martial Arts. It so happens that Kuk Sool Won has pressure point targeting in almost every set of techniques. Emphasis on Pressure Points comes in Blue Belt with Hand and Foot Pressure Point striking (Maek Chi Ki and Maek Cha Ki).

It will always be tough (until you are a Master) to locate every Pressure Point for every technique. However, there are diagrams and and lists to help you locate and name each pressure point. Kuk Sool Won of Burton (Flint, Michigan) has put up a guide to help us a bit. This is a nice guide for both of the Blue Belt Pressure Point Striking sets because the name of each pressure point is listed in Korean. They also supply the diagram of the Lung Meridian below.

Maek Chi Ki (Pressure Point Striking with the Hands)

1. Yuhl Gyuhl Hyul (lung 7)
2. Soo Sahm Ri Hyul (large intestine 10)
3. Chuhn Boo Hyul (lung 3)
4. Geuk Chuhn Hyul (heart 1)
5. Hohn Soo Hyul (not on a meridian)
6. Gaek Joo In (gall bladder 3)
7. Hohn Soo Hyul (not on a meridian)
8. Dae Po Hyul (spleen 21)
9. Um Kyo (conception 7) or Ki Hae (conception 8)
10. Goo Mi Hyul (conception 15)
11. Yuhm Chuhn Hyul (conception 23)
12. Jahng Moon Hyul (liver 13)
13. Ah Moon Hyul (governing 15)
14. Shin Juhn Hyul (governing 24)
15. Yoo Geun Hyul (stomach 18) or Chuhn Ji Hyul (pericardium 1)

Maek Cha Ki (Pressure Point Striking with the Feet and Kicks)

1. Sahm Um Kyo Hyul (spleen 6)
2. Dohk Bi Hyul (stomach 35)
3. Wee Joong Hyul (bladder 40)
4. Hyul Hae Hyul (spleen 10)
5. Jahng Moon Hyul (liver 13)
6. Geuk Chuhn Hyul (heart 1)
7. Ki Hae Hyul (conception 8)
8. Goo Mi Hyul (conception 15)
9. Yuhm Chuhn Hyul (conception 23)
10. Hohn Soo Hyul (not on a meridian)
11. Yon Geun Hyul (stomach 18)
12. Ah Moon Hyul (governing 15)
13. Gaek Joo In (gall bladder 3)
14. Dae Choo Hyul (governing 14)
15. Yahng Neung Chuhn Hyul (gall bladder 34)

* Click Image to Enlarge

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Poll: What Rank Are You?

- Our first poll here on our Kuk Sool Blog so please vote and if you know anyone else online please send them an email or IM to vote too.

How Much Kuk Sool Do you Know?

- We break every rank down by techniques and forms to give you raw numbers on how many techniques there are, how many you know, and how close you are to knowing it all.

Lose 10 Pounds or More with Martial Arts

- I always get the questions “How do I lose weight when working out?” This post answers how to lose that weight you want with Kuk Sool

Video: Master Gary Evarts Breaking Demo

- Video I released from my personal stash from Troy 2006 of Master Evarts doing some pretty awesome breaking

Dissecting Your Rank

- Stuart Jo Kyo Nim from Texas Tech asked what we are all supposed to concentrate on at each rank. Ask and you shall receive.

Martial Arts is a surprisingly good way to lose a significant amount of weight if you are looking for that magical method. As with any other form of workout it will take hard work and a good work ethic to make it work. Here I list a couple things to think about to help shed those pounds while taking Martial Arts.



Go to the Workout Class

If your studio offers a specific workout class you should go. These types of classes are specifically structured to help you stay in shape, burn some calories, and do it in a fun way using all the Martial Arts you have been learning.

Push-Ups and Sit-Ups every time you practice

I recommend that after every practice you do three sets of a given number of Push-Ups and a given number of Sit-Ups. Maybe start at 20 (higher if you are in good shape) each and work your way up by ten each week. Make sure you do quality Push-Ups only dropping to your knees after your arms are shaking and you have maxed out on your feet. For Sit-Ups, cross your arms over your chest and touch your elbows to your knees each time.

Quality Practice

During your regular Martial Arts class, try your hardest and work it. Classes are usually only for about an hour and happen 3–4 times a week. Working hard should be a standard to get better at Martial Arts as well as get a good workout to burn those calories.

Run or Bike to and from Practice

I actually lost a lot of weight when I was younger just running the 2 miles two and from practice. Given, this becomes difficult when you live farther away (maybe you can use your bike). If you think your bag may get in the way, just strap it on and get joggin’. I advise a good walk when you have to carry your weapons. Same concept as not running with scissors.

Bonus

Eat Right

How do you expect to lose weight eating donuts every morning? Eat healthy needs to go along with losing weight. It is okay to branch out sometimes because we are human but always try to keep a healthy diet as much as possible.

Lift Weights

Find a fitness club and lift weights. Lifting weights actually burns a lot of calories at the gym and at home. When you build muscle it burns more calories to keep that muscle. Plus, lifting weights help fight Osteoporosis (especially in Women) when you age. If you do slow-controlled repetitions with the full range of motion you will experience faster gains and greater flexibility.

Get your game face on and spread the word it was another great week on this Kuk Sool Blog.  I am also coming home to Minnesota today, so if you are a Minnesota Kuk Sooler I will see you on Saturday.

Video: The Master Harmon’s (Never before seen video)

- Two Videos. Two Masters Harmon. Same Technique Set. Different Days.

Quick Tip on How to Win at Sparring

- Believe it or not. Small things can help you win at sparring and this is how.

Wrap Your Hands the Muay Thai Way

- Purdue KSW just got hand wraps for our Kickboxing, Pad-Striking Workout and this is how we wrap.

Sa Bum Nim Mike Nebgen and Meyerland Kuk Sool

- Arguably the best Kuk Sool School in the U.S.

Where is this Kuk Sool Boat Going?

- Preview of what is coming up in the coming weeks on this blog. Keep reading and spread the word.

Video: Kuk Sool Sparring Set - Gun Dae Ryun

- Fresh this week from the UK. A demonstration of the Kuk Sool set Gun Dae Ryun