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

I took the opportunity this year of tagging along with Steffen PSBN on his annual trip to Houston for Instructor Training at the World Kuk Sool Headquarters.  Although I wasn’t able to participate in the official Training, there was still plenty to do and learn “from the sidelines” as Mel JKN has put it. 

The first thing I learned was that, despite our grumbling as his students, Steffen PSBN is NOT actually a testing maniac compared to other school owners.  In fact, the word from on high was this:  testing is good practice and we all need more practice.  At dinner with Master Jeff Green and Sa Bum Nim Ben Mitchell, we got the wonderful idea of giving practice tests to black stripe students who aren’t quite ready to test for Dahn Bo Nim.  I got to see our first two students take practice tests on Saturday, and, as an instructor, I’m convinced that they will significantly help.  As a mom, it was a little heartbreaking — one of the practice testers was my son, and his emotional unreadiness was obvious.  But by practicing, I know his readiness to test will improve.  Besides, we came home with testing plans that will be affecting all our black belt testers, and my turn will be coming.  It’s always only a matter of time before testing begins to affect you personally. 

I also had the pleasure of seeing Pu Sa Bum Nims and Sa Bum Nims testing.  It was awe-inspiring, as usual.  It also reinforced the practicing of odd-side forms at black belt.  Master Daniel Jolly emphasized this point during Houston testing in October — as black belts we must practice forms on both sides equally.  And Su Suhk Kwan Jahng Nim Harmon certainly reinforced it during this test. 

I got to meet a delightful group of women from the San Francisco Bay area who have trained under Sun Im Kwan Jahng Nim Suh for years.  These “California girls” are the students who took up the mantle of school owners when their head instructor moved.  None of them went into Kuk Sool with the plan of school ownership, but when the need arose, they jumped into the role.  We swapped ideas and stories, compared notes on training pre-schoolers, and had a great time.  I look forward to next year and the chance to reconnect with them. 

The one thing that I missed that I wish I had been able to witness was Master Daniel Jolly’s speech about loyalty.  There are some organizational changes going on in the big wide Kuk Sool family, and, as with any change, there are some grumbles, worries, and doubts.  Master Jolly spoke about his loyalty to Kuk Sa Nim and the loyalty that is returned to him in kind.  It occurred to me that, ultimately, we are all Kuk Sa Nim’s students.  I know how I feel about my students and the lengths I would go to for each one of them, and I trust the same is true of Kuk Sa Nim. 

* The Video includes all quotes, but we also typed them out below because they scroll a little fast. Enjoy the great advice from Sun Im Kwan Jang Nim.

Kuk Sool Won Practice Basics:

• Memory
• Strength
• Stretch
• Center Balance
• Stamina
• Power
• Connection
• Meditation
• Speed

Kuk Sool Won Practice Principles:

• Stop Leads the Hyung
• Low Stance
• Power Hands
• Look Straight Ahead or At Your Hands
• No Emotion
• No Expectation

Punch is always lower than shoulder. Thumb stays on the outside. Stance is always 90 degrees. Balance is always center. Eye contact is always straight ahead or at your hands.Keep your head level when you connect stance to stance. Your head should remain at the same height, or level.One who connects the stance fast without power looks sloppy, and will have poor results.Practicing with stops refines your power. One who goes fast, and the form still looks good, has been practicing correctly.Without thinking about the principles and technical details during practice, you may have a fun and a good workout, but you will never understand martial art.Stop longer is correct practice. Concentrate on every basic principle and technique and eventually get there fast.Trying not to waste time is trying hard. Concentrate hard so people can feel the beauty. Concentrate on your hands and absorb yourself in your art. Artist concentrate on giving their soul into their art.After your strikes and between each stance, let the connecting movement go. Like dropping a coin from your hand.Do not practice with emotion. People feel your emotion. Lead your hyung technically, following basic principles.Save your emotion for self-defense.Your opponents should feel your stance hard like a rock, and they should be afraid from your force.Because attacking offense has emotion and powerful preperation, if you wait until someone attacks you, you will be in trouble from the force against you. So if you want to defend yourself against that kind of power, you should prepare twice that strength against your opponent.Self-practice and self-motivation is difficult. Think light and try to begin easily without pressure. Then you can practice continuously and consistently. Begin lightly and get going as you sweat. Starting your practice is everything. Without starting, you go nowhere.Before practice, do not make too many plans. If you have too many expectations, you will burn out before you even start. Just think about every stop. Think about principles and techniques. Then you will enjoy practice and time goes fast.Everyone should practice a lot. It is difficult to learn correctly as a white belt because there is not enough muscle memory and mental experience. If you have been practicing for a while in regular class, then Kwan Jang Nim can correct easily.Once you practice over and over again you will feel the difference. Even if you do not have abilities at first, you will find out you do have confidence. As long as you practice with proper techniques and quality principles, you will reach your goals. Everybody has the same chance. As long as you practice correctly, you could be the best.Hard practice surpasses the need to work on patience. You pass patience and are able to forgive anything. You can pass through anything that stresses you. Because you can taste dying, you can forgive anything.With hard practice, you will have a positive, kind mind. You can solve problems. If you have negative mind, practice harder. Practice for dying.

In continuing adventures of Not A Linguist Or Korean Expert, I’m going to keep heading down the road of getting all the Korean that is contained within our Introductory Packet (remember that folder I gave you your first day of class?) up on the blog.  Today’s lesson, boys and girls, is the name of your rank and your form.

Just starting out?  You probably have a white belt.  Been here a while?  Check the color of that  purty sash-thingie at your waist.  It’s your belt, and it’s not just flair.  Your belt represents how long you’ve been training and corresponds to a rank.  What’s your rank in Korean?  Read on:

White belt – Hin dee

Yellow belt  - Noh rahng dee

Blue belt – Chohng dee

Red belt – Hohng dee

Brown belt – Jah dee

Brown/Black belt – Dahn bo nim

If you have a black belt, well, I expect you know your rank in Korean (if not, I suggest learning it quickly).  So, we’ll stick with the colored belts for today.  So, what is your form called?  First of all, learn the word “hyung.”  It means form, and Steffen PSBN will tell you collectively to “Go practice hyung.”  Or you might hear, “Hyung joon bee,” or “Forms, ready (or first) position.”  Either way, impress him by knowing that he’s telling you it’s time to do forms.  For your particular rank’s form, see below.

White belt – Ki Cho Hyung

Yellow belt – Choh Geup Hyung

Blue belt – Joong Geup Hyung

Red belt – Goh Geup Hyung

Brown belt – Dae Geup Hyung

Brown/Black belt – Goh Muh Hyung

Homework this week for students at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul:  learn your rank and form in Korean.  I guarantee it will be asked on a quiz sometime in your future.

Staff Form is the first weapons form we all learn in Kuk Sool Won. We will all practice it countless times throughout our career. Here is a quick video of myself doing Joong Bong Il Hyung at the St.Louis Tournament and some quick tips below:

1. Balance

Especially at the beginning you need to demonstrate good balance with all the spinning techniques. If you do not show proper balance, especially at a tournament, it is immediately known to everyone watching that you have not practiced the form enough.

2. Good Stances

Just because you have a staff in your hands does not mean you get to neglect your stances. Stances will not be as low as empty hand forms because you need some clearance to spin your staff but they should still be proper and low enough to show you actually are a Martial Artist.

3. Power and Precision

This form must be controlled, powerful, and precise. Each movement and strike with the staff must be made with purpose and direction. Practice, Practice, Practice. Especially practice the spins on your own. Don’t just do the form over and over again do the set of 15 spins to get the basics down and sharpened from time to time.

This is definitely my favorite video, of my favorite form, from one of my favorite Kuk Sool Websites. Enjoy the beauty that is this form. Crane Over Cloud.

* Video originally from the Cambridge, Beccles, and London Kuk Sool Website

Most people get really nervous and never feel like they are ready for their belt test. Here are some easy ways to get over that feeling and Ace your next Belt Test while impressing your friends and Instructor.

You can also check out each belts requirements at the Kuk Sool Belt Testing Chart

1. Practice Random Techniques 2 Weeks Beforehand

For the 2 weeks before your belt test work on Random Techniques with your in class partner. Instead of practicing in order forwards or backwards have your partner say a random technique and then quickly do it. You should be able to do each technique within 3 seconds of your partner saying the technique start to finish.

2. 20 Wall Kicks a Day

Wall kicks are an extremely effective way of improving your kicks while working on the proper mechanics of each kick. Find a spot on a wall and put one hand on the wall. Practice 20 front kicks, 20 round kicks, 20 side kicks, and 20 hook kicks. If you do that for a couple weeks before your test you will notice a lot of improvement on your kicking mechanics.

3. Read these Previous Articles

3 Tips to Make your Kuk Sool Form Better Today

3 Tips for a Better Spin Kick

How to Increase Your Flexibility

What is the Name of your Kuk Sool Rank

10 Steps to a Gold Medal Cho Geup Hyung

Martial Arts Exercises to do Outside the Dojang

3 Steps to a Perfect Jump Spin Kick

I am very happy to feature this video from Kuk Sool Won of Meyerland here on the Blog because Sa Bum Nim Mike Nebgen has been helping us out a lot up here in Minnesota and it’s nice to see both him and his students doing so well. This video was just released this week and features these Kuk Sool celebs:

• Chong Kwan Jang Nim Lee
• Kwan Jang Nim Choon ok Harmon
• Kwan Jang Nim Alex Suh
• Kwan Jang Nim Jolly
•  Sa bum Nim Mike & Kaori Nebgen
• Pu Sa Bum Nim David Aue

This video features Sword Sparring Techniques, Cane Techniques, Breaking, Palm Strike Techniques, Long vs. Short Sword Sparring Form, Staff Sparring Form (Bong Dae Ryun), Fan Techniques, and more.

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.

The Korean Kuk Sool Championships just finished and my good friend Stuart, who I trained with in Seoul, was kind enough to release some awesome videos. The top 5 videos (according to yours truly) include fan techniques, sword sparring, sword cutting, breaking, Hyung (a.k.a. Form), and Korean Monk Techniques. My only advice to Stuart would be to get a new Video Camera because he needs one.

Korean Kuk Sool Monk Techniques Video

- This is the first time I have ever seen any Monk techniques. Pretty awesome.

Kuk Sool Sword Sparring Video

- Kuk Sool sword sparring techniques as well as Jung Gum Hyung

Kuk Sool Korean Master Form Video

- Sahm Bang Cho Hyung, this is one of my favorites forms in Kuk Sool

Master Level Kuk Sool Sword Cutting Video

- Cutting Boards with Swords. Don’t try this at home. Unless you are a high rank of course.

Kuk Sool Fan Techniques Video

- I love fan techniques and so should you. Enjoy.

Each belt we are required to not only memorize but to also learn how to do each movement. But how much do you know? How much of the curriculum do you posses in your brain right now? I think you will be surprised on how much there is to learn when you are going for your black belt.

Here is everything broken down by technique set, forms, and weapons. Take the final number you have learned and divide it by the total and that is a percentage of how close you are to black belt. The numbers below are very conservative because I made forms only worth 1 point, but I did add some extra sets to maybe compensate for it a little but.

* If you have a comment or you think there is some discrepancy, feel free to leave them in the comments below