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

Video of the Two Instructors at Kuk Sool Won of Walzem down there in San Antonio, Texas. Sa Bum Nim Lawson and Kyo Sa Nim Jen doing some great demos.

I’ll also pass on a little link love to help them rank a little higher in Google.

Here is there Web Page: San Antonio Martial Arts - Kuk Sool Won

This post will be for all of you who know or have ever been taught some grappling. Here in Minnesota we have grappling seminars once every two months or so.

I just got done traveling to my Alma Mater, Purdue University, and taught a grappling seminar there, so I thought I would write on how to practice what we teach. * In the coming days I will post a list of what was taught at the seminar with some videos

Positional Practice

1. Position Change

You both start in a given position (Mount, in-the-guard, etc…). Start grappling and when one or both has changed position start over. This practice is to help you learn skills, escapes, and counters in a certain position. You can still get someone to tap out. It just has to be from your starting position.

2. Tap Out

Same as Positional Change but instead of stopping if positions have changed you go until someone taps out due to a choke, lock, or technique.

Take Down *more advanced/dangerous

1. Start from the Wrestlers Clinch

Start from a Wrestlers Clinch and go till tap out.

2. Start from Sparring

This is the most advanced way of starting and involves starting from sparring. If you watch Mixed Martial Arts on TV that is what I am talking about. Obviously, very dangerous. Only do this way of practice when you are an advanced student practicing with another advanced student.

Great Video of Kings Lynn Black Belt Demonstration at the Dojang. Nice job.

Getting better at Martial Arts is something that is easy for instructors to express but yet so hard for students to grasp. Obviously going to practice is the number one way to get better. If you don’t practice you will not get better. However, somebody that practices everyday will not necessarily be great.

So here I will give ways that I strive to get better with examples so everyone has something easy they can work on every practice.

Do a Little Every Practice

• Stretch a little further than last time in warm-ups
• Kick a little higher
• Jump a little higher
• Cartwheel a little faster
• Do your techniques from Memory a little faster
• Lower your stances just a little bit
• Do one more push-up
• Punch the pad a little harder
• Do a combo every time you attack during sparring

Get in Shape

• Do four way forms with low stances
• Do every kick
• Do every push-up, crunch, sit-up that everyone else is doing
• Fast staff spinning with drops meaning push-ups
• Do extra special workouts outside class (weight lifting, bike,swimming)

Above your Ability

• Try a special kick that you have never tried (Helicopter kicks or 540’s are always a good start)
• Do a handspring, conquer that, then a back handspring, then a backflip, etc… push yourself
• Spar someone who is better than you, but learn from it (better foot movement, “I need to use more combos”, “I need faster kicks”)
• Watch your instructor or Kuk Sool Videos and emulate their abilities
• Meet someone from another school and learn from what they know (a.k.a. Kuk Sool Networking)
• Ask for help, we all need it

I have just found out, which a lot of you may already know about, but the Kuk Sool Won Great Lakes Tournament will not be in Michigan this year. It will now be in Cleveland, Ohio. As a former Purdue Kuk Sool Won Instructor that is definitely good news for them and anybody else in that area that doesn’t live too close to Michigan. Here are the full details of the tournament.

Great Lakes Tournament

April 5, 2008

Cleveland Heights Community Center

One Monticello Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, OH

Well, practice up and I may see you there or at the MidWest Tournament in St.Louis. Living in Minnesota makes it a little difficult to get to a tournament but I do it every year and so does Pu Sa Bum Nim Steffen. Make sure you get a picture with me and I will post it on the blog.

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

Kwan Jang Nim John Ives is Chief Instructor of all the UK schools and one of the top Masters in the World. Whenever I see him I am always surprised how tall he is (6′2″).

Big Thank You to Kwan Jang Nim John Ives for taking time to answer our questions. Also, Thank You to his Student and my friend, newly promoted, Pu Sa Bim Nim Stuart.

Q: What is the name of your school?

A: Kuk Sool Won of Norwich

Q: Where is your school located?

A: Norwich, UK

Q: How long has your school been open?

A: Since 1975

Q: What is your Kuk Sool Rank?

A: 6th Dahn Kwan Jang Nim

Q: Where are you Originally From?

A: Norwich, UK

Q: Why Did you Start Kuk Sool?

A: For Fitness and Self-Defence

Q: When Did you Decide to Become and Instructor? Why?

A: I didn’t decide. I was told to teach. However, over the years I have found it valuable and rewarding. It is a pleasure to see my students progress.

Q: What is your Favorite Hyung? Why?

A: Guhm Moo Hyung, because it is an ancient traditional form with advanced techniques. I really enjoy this form.

Q: What is your Favorite Technique Set (Ho Shin Sool)? Why?

A: Bu Chae Sool (Fan Techniques) because it is a very versatile weapon.

Q: What is your Favorite Thing to Teach?

A: Jok Sool

Q: Where has Kuk Sool taken you in this World?

A: All over the world. Europe, Asia, Canada and North America.

Q: What One thing would you tell any Kuk Sool student to be successful in Kuk Sool?

A: Practice!

Q: Who has inspired you in Kuk Sool?

A: Kuk Sa Nim

Q: What is your favorite Kuk Sool memory?

A: My first visit to Korea.

Q: How would you say Kuk Sool in the UK is different from schools in other countries?

A: Kuk Sool Won schools in the UK are very close knit.

Q: What do you think the future holds for Kuk Sool in Europe?

A: Growth.

This is one you will probably email to all your friends. Adapted from a recent video interview that got a lot of bad press for Scientology. However, he was apparently Hilariously talking about Kuk Sool! Who woulda thought?!?!

* Big Thank You to AirNick productions for puttin’ this video out there. Hilarious job.

As you know I offered an unbelievable Web Site Critique offer to Kuk Sool Instructors everywhere this last Holiday Break. So I thought I would list them here and give them some link love.

Kuk Sool Won of Menlo Park (California)  // Pu Sa Bum Nim Kristin Quintana

Kuk Sool Won of Costa Rica // Kwan Jang Nim Dickson Kunz

Kuk Sool Won of Muncie (Indiana) // Jo Kyo Nim Ken Ring

Kuk Sool Won of Burton (Michigan) // Pu Sa Bum Nim Kenneth Wright

I was surprised no international people tried to take me up on this offer as a lot of the UK Kuk Sool Schools have good websites but may be a little lacking in the Search Engine Optimization. Oh well. I hope that everyone I gave critiques to finds some time to implement them and have them work out for their school. Best of luck!

Awesome Video explaining the significance of our Martial Arts history of Open Hand Techniques, Fan Techniques, Cane Techniques, and Korean Rope Techniques.

* You gotta love the “Supermanesque” Music they have going on in this movie.