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

It may not surprise you that the two kicks that give people the most trouble in the Kuk Sool under Black Belt Curriculum are Low and Jump Spin Kick. My good friend Andy over at the BlueMoonBlog has been having some trouble with Jump Spin Kick and asked for some input.

I generally teach Jump Spin Kick in 3 steps. However, as with anything else the real way to get good at a kick is to practice it every time you are doing Kuk Sool. Even a couple times a day will help you significantly. These 3 tips will definitely get you started and over that wall that is starting this kick.

* Demo pictures were performed by my Assistant Instructor Brandon JKN here at Purdue.

Step 1

Start in a relaxed Kong Kyuk Jah Seh (Basic fighting stance) and jump up in the air 360 degrees and land exactly as you started. The trick to this part is to bring your knees up and jump as high as you can. Most people jump the 360 degrees no problem but once they try to kick in Step 3 they are not bringing their knees high enough to give them hangtime in the air to kick. Bring your knees up and you will succeed at Step 1.

Do this 10 times

Step 2

Perform Step 1 again by jumping 360 degrees bringing your knees up. But this time focus on whipping your head around to the front to see your target as soon as both your feet have left the ground. This will give you more control in the air, view your target, and a way to lead your body. THIS STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT. As with anything your body follows your head. In ANY spin kick you should start your motion by turning your head and looking at your target. You will notice your spin get faster but you have not decreased your hangtime, which is what we want.

Do this 10 times

Step 3

This is where we add the kick. Only kick after you are in the air and have whipped your head around to see your target. Most people try to start kicking too early. Wait till your body is ready and balanced and then release the kick. You have plenty of time in the air at this point not to panic. Remember you should be pushing your hips out so you kick with your heel and not the side of your foot.

Power Tip: After you master steps 1 - 3 pull with your Glutes (a.k.a. butt) and pull your leg across. This will generate the power you need for breaking.

Vital Point Strikes: The Art and Science of Striking Vital Targets for Self-defense and Combat Sports


Learn how to better use Pressure Points in Self-Defense or Combat sports. This book is written by a Korean practitioner and has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

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

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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.

Fresh release from the Great Lakes Tournament in Troy, MI. Master Gary Evarts does a pretty awesome breaking demo. Short but sweet. Breaking is something that takes a lot of concentration and proper technique to execute. You will hardly ever have a perfect breaking demo so always give it a second go if something messes up.

If you have never seen the website for his schools I think it is THE best Kuk Sool website out there right now and is worth checking out: Kuk Sool Won of Greater Rochester

Get your game face on and spread the word it was another great week on this Kuk Sool Blog.  I am also coming home to Minnesota today, so if you are a Minnesota Kuk Sooler I will see you on Saturday.

Video: The Master Harmon’s (Never before seen video)

- Two Videos. Two Masters Harmon. Same Technique Set. Different Days.

Quick Tip on How to Win at Sparring

- Believe it or not. Small things can help you win at sparring and this is how.

Wrap Your Hands the Muay Thai Way

- Purdue KSW just got hand wraps for our Kickboxing, Pad-Striking Workout and this is how we wrap.

Sa Bum Nim Mike Nebgen and Meyerland Kuk Sool

- Arguably the best Kuk Sool School in the U.S.

Where is this Kuk Sool Boat Going?

- Preview of what is coming up in the coming weeks on this blog. Keep reading and spread the word.

Video: Kuk Sool Sparring Set - Gun Dae Ryun

- Fresh this week from the UK. A demonstration of the Kuk Sool set Gun Dae Ryun

If you have ever tried to find one of the nicest Kuk Sool schools in the U.S. through the website for Kuk Sool HQ (kuksoolwon.com) you may have noticed you can’t find a link. Of course, the school I am referring to is Kuk Sool Won of Myerland in Houston, TX. Run by Sa Bum Nim’s Mike and Kaori Nebgen.

Below I have a link to a demo that has just been updated on their website. Sa Bum Nim Mike and Kaori Nebgen, Kwan Jang Nim Barry and Choon Ok Harmon are also in the video. Check it out:

Video: Kuk Sool Won of Meyerland Demo

* You will have to let the video load all the way first

Great stuff this week, especially the videos, make sure to check it all out. * This Blog is updated Daily and you can subscribe on the right via Email or RSS

Video: Kuk Sool Won at West Point Military Academy

- Just released Fresh on YouTube this week. Kuk Sa Nim, Master Sims, and Sa bum Nim Tim Challans make appearances.

How to Increase Your Flexibility

- Quick Tips and Tricks you can do to Increase Your Flexibility

Form Practice: The Purdue KSW Way

- Great way to practice your forms to focus on getting better.

Video: Kuk Sool Sa Bum Nim Kickin’ It

- If you think you are good at Kuk Sool you may want to watch this video. Prepare to be Humbled.

The Best Kuk Sool Websites on the Internet

- My List of the best Kuk Sool Websites on the net from the US, UK, and everywhere else.

This weeks Blog re-cap for the last five days.

Spread the Word! Let’s try to get this blog out there together. Tell your friends.

We are All Brothers and Sisters!

3 Tips for a Better Spin Kick

Quick post on 3 tips to get your Spin Kick better today.

Kuk Sool World Totals

Statistics and totals for the number of schools in all the countries that have Kuk Sool around the world. There is a secondary list breaking it down by state in the U.S.

Old School Kuk Sool Demo

Thanks to Kwan Jang Nim Gene Gause for putting this video on the web. The end of the video has a long Demonstration by Kuk Sa Nim himself. Quite a sight to see.

What is the name of your Kuk Sool Rank?

Ever wondered what you rank is called in Korean and Kuk Sool? Here is a list of all the rank names from White Belt and Up.

Kuk Sool Links from Around the Web

3 great links to check out about Kuk Sool from around the web.

I went through a limited search of Kuk Sool on Technorati and Google Blog Search to see how many others out there are producing some quality Kuk Sool content. I have not found anything like what I am trying to do here but there are some very good personal blogs that talk about Kuk Sool and life.

BabyPowderBoy Blog

Written by a Pu Sa Bum Nim in the UK with a whole section of posts devoted to Kuk Sool. Started Kuk Sool when she was 19 and is now a Pu Sa Bum Nim. Definite Read.

BlueMoonBlog

Described as Life, Love, and Kuk Sool. Another UK Kuk Sool practicioner.

Be Water My Friend

I wish I could tell you about this one but I think it is in Spanish. There are still a bunch of videos to watch if you don’t speak any spanish.

On a separate note I am proud to say we are listed under the blogs section of the popular magazine Tae Kwon Do times if you would like to check it out. If you click on the link in the previous sentence our blog is listed on the right side under “Martial Arts Blogs” as Twin Cities Martial Arts. Pretty Cool. They also have a nice martial arts Video Gallery and Picture Gallery.