Q: What is the Name of your school?
A: Kuk Sool Won of Walzem
Q: Where is your school located?
A: San Antonio , Texas
Q: How long has your school been open?
A: I’ve been teaching in San Antonio since 2002, before that I had a school on McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey for 4 years.
Q: What is your Kuk Sool Rank?
A: Sa Bum Nim (Fourth Degree)
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: A small town named Oldhams , Virginia
Q: What are your hobbies outside of Kuk Sool?
A: Music, Sports, Hanging out with family and friends
Q: Any other basic background info you would like to share?
A: I’m a down to earth, fun loving guy. I love to train hard, but I believe that in all training, there should be some fun.
Q: When did you Start Kuk Sool Won? Why?
A: I started Kuk Sool Won in the early 90’s at Ramstein Air Force Base under the instruction of then Kyo Sa Nim Daniel Jolly, who is now a Kwahn Jahng Nim. I had visited several schools on base before viewing a Kuk Sool Won class. But after talking to Mr. Jolly for a while, I was threatened. He told me that I BETTER be in class Monday and not to make him come looking for me, because the base was not that big. So I have been in Kuk Sool Won since that day….LOL…
Q: When did you decide to become an instructor and why?
A: I mentioned as a white belt that I wanted to teach one day. So I asked KJN Jolly what rank I needed to be to help him with the children’s class? He said. “Just show up and everything will be fine.” That was the start of me being a helper which turned into an assistant and now a school owner and instructor.
Q: What is your favorite Hyung? Why?
A: My favorite Hyung is Gum Moo Hyung, I love the fact that is a deceptive form. If you don’t know the history of it, you would think that it’s an empty hand form, but it’s actually a weapons form. This fact alone makes it special, and the movements are absolutely amazing.
Q: What is your favorite technique or technique set (Ho Shin Sool)? Why?
A: I don’t actually have a favorite technique, I love them all. As a whole, techniques are my favorite part of Kuk Sool Won. But if I had to pick, I would go with the combination of Maek Chi Ki and Maek Cha Ki. I like those sets because they can be used in any capacity and are very effective.
Q: What is your favorite thing to teach?
A: Sparring and Techniques
Q: Where has Kuk Sool taken you in the world?
A: Not too many places; did most of my traveling through the military but trained everywhere I could.
Q: What one thing would you tell any Kuk Sool student to be successful in Kuk Sool?
A: Be patient and learn to examine the little things just as much as the big things. An example of that would be, when you watch your instructor or someone do a back step and punch, don’t just look at the punch but everything that led up to it, such as proper stepping, body alignment, center of gravity etc.
Q: Who has inspired you in Kuk Sool?
A: Kwan Jang Nim Jolly. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be in Kuk Sool today. Over the years I’ve watched him deal with injuries and always bouncing back through training and healthy living. His attention to detail is a great asset that he instilled in me and a lot of his students. Being a student of his and learning from him on how to run a school and teach are lessons that I will never forget.
Q: What is your favorite Kuk Sool memory?
A: Being promoted with my daughter on May 19th 2007
Q: Do you Teach Military Kuk Sool Practicioners in a different way? If so, How?
A: For the military personnel that I have taught, it was nothing different just more intense. I may have altered a technique here and there but it was based on different scenarios versus just standing in a dojang. However, I teach my students to give 100% every time they practice. If they practice at 100% they will perform at 100% when need be. This world is not getting any safer, so training with intensity could be the difference between life and death if we are ever caught in that type situation.
Q: If you could change one thing about Texas what would it be?
A: Well I can’t speak for all of Texas but for San Antonio , I would like to turn the temperature down just a bit. It’s hot almost year- round, but at least it’s not terribly cold.
Q: What has been the biggest hurdle in teaching your own child Kuk Sool?
A: Understanding that she has to be herself and not what I want her to be. I had to back off and treat her like a student that was coming through the ranks versus coming in as a black belt. Once I backed off and let her be the belt she was, she became one of the best students in the school. To often as parents that teach or coach our own children we think they should be the best and over-train them. This hurts them more than helping them. That was my biggest hurdle and best lesson.
Q: Have you ever been to Minnesota? and if you haven’t, why not? (This dojang’s home)
A: I haven’t been to Minnesota. I never had a reason to go there, but who knows what the future has in store for me.
Thank You Sa Bum Nim for granting us the interview. If you would like to see Sa Bum Nim in action check him and his other instructors out in their Promo video: San Antonio Martial Arts Promo Video - Kuk Sool Won of Walzem
It is the Holiday season and with the season comes gifts. So I thought I would give away some of my knowledge.
