Jan
29
    

Newest Requirement for Black Belt Testing

Posted by Max Jo Kyo Nim
Review, Kuk Sool Terminology, Kuk Sool Won, Requirements, Martial Arts on January-29-2008

Within the last year Kuk Sool Headquarters has started to require every student to learn and verbally recite the Kuk Sool Won pledge at your Black Belt test. So read, learn, and recite the World Kuk Sool Won Association pledge.

Kuk Sool Won Pledge

1. As a member of the Kuk Sool Won, I pledge to obey the rules of the association and to conduct myself in accordance with the true spirit of martial arts.

나는 국술원 회원으로서 회칙을 준수하며 무사도 정신을 발휘할 것을 맹세 한다

2. I pledge to be loyal to my country and to promote the development of a better society.

나는 애국 애족하며 국제간의 친선 도모는 물론 많은 일에 성실 근면하고 내가 살고 있는 지역 사회의 번영과 발전을 위하여 헌신적으로 노력한다

3. I pledge to work together with all classes of people without regard to politics, race or religion.

나는 정치적인 문제에 관여 하지 않으며 종교나 파벌을 초월하여 신의와 우정으로 각계각층의 선량한 국제민들과 협력한다

4. I pledge to promote international goodwill and strive for world peace through the practice of martial arts.

나는 이와같은 정신으로 복지 사회 건설에 적극 참여하고 나아가서 세계 평화 달성에 이바지 할것을 다짐한다



 
Nov
05
    

Knives, Fans, and Monks…Oh My!

I asked Photographer Jason Teale for some of his amazing images for our blog readers and he thankfully said yes. Jason is currently teaching English in South Korea and is also currently testing for Kyo Sa Nim. He took these beautiful images of Knife Defense (Dahn Do Maki), Fan Techniques (Bu Chae Sool), and Monk Techniques that we have turned into Desktop Wallpapers at the Kuk Sool Korean Championships.

We will be posting an interview with Jason down the road but ifyou would like to see some more of his amazing photography just visit his website at: www.jasonteale.com

kuk sool monk wallpaper

kuk sool knife defense wallpaper


kuk sool fan techniques wallpaper



 
Nov
02
    

10 Steps to a Gold Medal Cho Geup Hyung

Posted by Max Jo Kyo Nim
Tips and Tricks, Kuk Sool Terminology, Hyung, Form, How To, Kuk Sool Won, Martial Arts on November-2-2007

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.


 
Oct
25
    

Kuk Sa Nim Demo: Ahn Sohn Mohk Soo Video

Another beautiful release on YouTube from Kwan Jang Nim Gene Gause with Kuk Sa Nim demonstrating Ahn Sohn Mohk Soo. The music is a nice touch.


 
Oct
23
    

5 Best Videos from the Korean Kuk Sool Championships 2007

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.


 
Oct
15
    

Those Pesky Pressure Points - Guide to Korean Names

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
lung meridian pressure point diagram


 
Oct
12
    

Kuk Sool Weekly Blog Re-Cap : 10/8 - 10/12

Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog on the right either by email or RSS. If youknwo somebody who would like this blog please send them an email or IM.

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.


 
Oct
11
    

How Much Kuk Sool Do You Know?

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.

White Belt  
Ki Cho Ja Ki 6
Sohn Bae Ki 8
Ki Bohn Soo 15
Yu Do Sool 8
Ki Cho Hyung 1
White Belt Total 38
   
Yellow Belt  
Sohn Mohk Soo 11
Eui Bohk Soo 13
Ahn Sohn Mohk Soo 6
Cho Geup Hyung 1
Yellow Belt Total 31
Total So Far 69
   
Blue Belt  
Maek Chi Ki 15
Maek Cha Ki 15
Joo Maek Maga Ki Bohn Soo 15
Bong Spins 15
Joong Geup Hyung 1
Blue Belt Total 61
Total So Far 130
   
Red Belt  
Joong Geup Sohn Mohk Soo 7
Ahp Eui Bohk Soo 20
Joong Bong Il Hyung 1
Goh Geup Hyung 1
Red Belt Total 29
Total So Far 159
   
Brown Belt  
Dee Eui Bohk Soo 23
Kwan Juhl Ki 13
Too Ki 13
Dae Geup Hyung 1
Brown Belt Total 50
Total So Far 209
   
Dahn Bo Nim  
Mohk Joh Leu Ki 5
Bahng Too Ki 10
Yahng Sohn Mohk Soo 15
Ssang Soo 15
Dahn Doh Mahk Ki 15
Sword Cutting 5
Guhm Moo Hyung 1
Bong Dae Ryun 2
Dahn Bo Nim Total 68
Total So Far 277
   
Extras  
Meditation Positions 12
Breathing Exercises 4
Nak Bub 15
Kick Defense 13
Ssang Jool Bong 1 14
Ssang Jool Bong 2 11
Ssang Jool Bong 3 16
Extras Total 88
   
Total 556

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


 
Oct
08
    

Dissecting Your Rank

I recently got an email about what we are all supposed to concentrate on at each Belt Rank. Well it turns out each rank has a different idea associated with it.

kuk sool won white belt






White Belt - Fitness

kuk sool won yellow belt






Yellow Belt - Concentration

kuk sool won blue belt






Blue Belt - Right Attitude

kuk sool won red belt






Red Belt - Perseverance

kuk sool won brown belt






Brown Belt - Self Control

kuk sool won brown black belt






Dahn Bo Nim - Indomitable Spirit

kuk sool won black belt






Black Belt and Up - Humility

There you have it. As your progress through rank do not forgot what you learned at your previous belt level. These are all very important characteristics of not only a good Martial Artist but of a Good Person.