First Off, I would just like to give a huge Thank You to Kwan Jang Nim (Master) Thomas Brewer for answering our interview questions. Kwan Jang Nim was sent our interview questions because his student, Cynthia Dahn Bo Nim, won our birthday challenge.
Q: What is the Name of your school?
A: Kuk Sool Won of Berkeley
Q: Where is your school Located?
A: Berkeley, California
Q: How long has it been open?
A: The school opened in 1980 under Master In Joo Suh (now Chiefmaster). It is the oldest location in America.
Q: What is Your Kuk Sool Rank?
A: I am a Fifth Degree (Kwan Jang Nim)
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I am originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of Kuk Sool?
A: At the moment my hobby is rock climbing. It is great cross training for martial arts.
Q: Any other basic background info you would like to share?
A: I started Kuk Sool on 1983. I moved from Michigan in January and started working on the Pacific Stock Exchange. I had taken Tae Kwan Do and so when I came out to California I started asking around about the different Martial Arts. I figured San Francisco had to have the best MA because of the large Asian population. At the Stock Exchange a couple of guys were black belts so I asked them. One asked me what I had taken and when I answered Tae Kwan Do he said that Kuk Sool Won was the best Korean Martial Art and I should check it out. He told me the other Black Belt that worked there had taken Kuk Sool and I should talk to him. I did and he told me that Kuk Sool was too hard and I should find a Tae Kwan Do school. That was all it took for me. I headed directly for the closest Kuk Sool school and signed up. I worked in San Francisco but lived closer to Berkeley so I signed up there. Master Byung In Lee was the main teacher. After five months I moved to San Francisco and switched to that school.
Q: When Did you Start Kuk Sool Won? Why?
A: At the San Francisco school I had a couple of different instructors before Kuk Sah Nym started teaching in the class again. In 1986 I earned my Black Belt and Master Sung Jin Suh came over from Korea shortly after that. I taught Kid’s classes and helped around the school for the next few years until Kuk Sah Nym asked me if I wanted to purchase the Berkeley school. I had been thinking about opening a school so it was good timing. I had tired of the Stock Exchange and thought I could train more if I ran a school. I took over Berkeley in December of 1989.
Q: What is your favorite Hyung? why?
A: My favorite hyung at the moment is Oon Hak Hyung. I have only known it for about a year so it is still new and still really, really challenging. I have never practiced a form that I couldn’t do 5 times in a row.
Q: What is your favorite technique or technique set (Ho Shin Sool)? why?
A: I don’t really have a favorite set of techniques. If pressed I would have to say Ki Bon Soo because that set is the keys to the kingdom.
Q: What is your favorite thing to teach?
A: My favorite thing to teach is techniques. Maybe it was my years of being around Kuk Sah Nym (when he taught, it was mostly techniques) but I like to see people’s faces when they see how a technique can work.When they get it!
Q: Where has Kuk Sool taken you in the world?
A: I went to Korea twice in the 1980’s. The first time by myself on a semi lark and the second time on a Kuk Sool trip. By coincidence Masters Jay Lee and Marlin Sims were in Korea at the same time on my first trip and I met them and went around Korea with them. Other than that I am mostly a homebody.
Q: What one thing would you tell any Kuk Sool student to be successful in Kuk Sool?
A: The one thing I would tell any Kuk Sool student to be successful is patience. Be patient with yourself and your practice. At the San Francisco school on Ellis Street there were newspaper clippings of the Grandmaster on the wall as you left. One of them was headlined something like “Grandmaster of Martial Arts says key is patience”. The Korean masters who taught then were not known for their support and encouragement. Many a class I left with my tail between my legs. But seeing that clipping reminded me that this was a long term process and if I quit I would not see the rewards of that process. For me that patience has paid off.
Q: Who has inspired you in Kuk Sool?
A: My biggest inspiration in Martial Arts has been Kuk Sah Nym. He is in another world when it comes to the martial arts. He exposed me to what Martial Arts can be. Not that I will ever get there but to know that is what I am working toward is enough for me.
Q: What is your favorite Kuk Sool memory?
A: I will always be fond of when the San Francisco school was in the Mission district and after class we would have dinner and Kuk Sah Nym would tell stories.
Q: Why Berkeley?
A: I ended up in Berkeley because it was meant to be. That might sound airy-fairy but it was the right place for me.
Q: Is the California lifestyle as laid back as they say it is?
A: The California lifestyle is not so much laid back as it is live and left live. People work just as hard if not harder than elsewhere (it’s soooo expensive).
Q: Have you ever been to Minnesota? and if you haven’t, why not? (it’s the Home of this Blogger)
A: Never been to Minnesota. The only thing I know about that area is what I read in the John Sandford novels. Boy, you sure got a lot of serial killers up there! I do hope to go on the seminar tour one of these years and if it reaches your area I would love to visit. *Which it does, just FYI for everyone
