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

Tournaments make for a very long day… For the judges.  As members of a traditional martial art that focuses so heavily on etiquette we should really do our best to thank the judges.   Unfortunately, I always hear a lot of complaints.  I even remember doing some complaining myself.  So, in the spirit of contrition, I am going to thank some judges right now.   I’d like to thank Master Seitz, and Master Simms for giving me contact warnings during sparring.  I’d like to thank Master Jeff Green for not being fooled by flashy techniques, and I’d like to thank Master Kunz for making me do above the head spin-kicks without jumping.  For all of you who are not judges I’d like to give you a peak at the judges world.  I’ve heard many different systems by which judges do their judging.  But the main thing I see is consistency.  Remember, even if you do not understand what they are looking for, the judges are doing their best to be consistent.  So without further ado, and in no particular order, here is my list of the top ten things you can do to impress the judges: 

•  Etiquette, Every judge I know will give higher points to better ettiquette or down grade you for bad etiquette.
• You Won Hwa - remember that Kuk Sool is a softer style, so if you do everything hard and jerky you will not score as high as someone who flows.
• Do your techniques - The judges are looking at your techniques; a poor technique ending in a magnificent fall reflects more on your partners falling ability then your technique ability
• Do the techniques in the book!
• Ettiquette: Formal bow (unless injury prevents), speak clearly, use a title, smile, do not turn your back on the judges, thank the judges for your score.
• When doing form - look at your target!  not your hands and feet.
• Hyung By-Whats?
• Control, Control, Control - I see too many students who want to spar hard at tournaments.  Remember, if you want to spar harder,  do it at your home school.
• Weapons:  If you only practice the form and ignore the basic spinnings and meditations, your forms will show it
• Etiquette: Did I mention etiquette?

This Monkey has some scary good spin kicks.

Yes, it’s true. I am moving to Chicago.

I have accepted a job at Leapfrog Online as a Web Producer. My new job is located north of the city in Evanston, IL, but I will be living in the City.

After graduating from Purdue University in December, I retired my instructor position to Brandon JKN and moved back here to Minnesota where I kept this website and blog going. I am happy that PSBN Steffen and DBN Nicki are getting their voices heard by posting on the blog and know they will take care of all of you readers and students from around the world.

I want to say Thank You to all the readers of this blog and I hope that wherever you are, you know someone is practicing Kuk Sool somewhere else in the world. We are all Brothers and Sisters.

I will be training at Sa Bum Nim Hill’s school in Chicago, and I am really looking forward to training there. If there is anybody from there that reads this blog, I will see you soon.

There is also a possibility that I will be in the U.K. this Fall because my girlfriend will be studying abroad in London. I don’t need much more of a reason than that to come across the Atlantic and practice with some of you U.K. Kuk Soolers. So maybe this Fall we will have to arrange a place to meet and train if you are from the U.K.

If you want or need to contact me in the future my personal email is maxkpage [at] gmail [dot] com, I also run my personal website at www.maxkpage.com

In the future, I would like to start another Kuk Sool Blog or my own school so you may hearing from me again on the Net. Until then, We all need more practice. Thanks for reading and keep it up for PSBN Steffen and DBN Nicki.

Every once in a while I see a story about a real-life self-defense incident that just makes me smile. Recently I read a perfect story from Lighthouse Point Florida.

Apparently back belt and marathon runner by the name of Margot Foster, 53, came home and found a man (aged 24) ransacking her house. The surprised thief tried to flee but she tackled him outside her house. The thief was able to free himself and then flee. However, Margot gave chase until the burglar tried to clear a six-foot-high wooden fence. Then, in her own words, she, “grabbed him by the neck, ripped him off the fence, threw him to the ground, and put her knee to his chest.” She then held him until the police arrived.

The image just makes me smile. I can just see this man trying to flee as this woman of twice his age easily keeps up with him, runs him down, and then literally throws him to the ground like the proverbial sack of potatoes.

Margot was quoted as saying, “I was a victim when I walked in. As soon as I walked out he became my victim because I was taking care of the situation.” That is Indomitable Spirit!

We here at Kuk Sool Won of St Paul are so happy for Chuck Norris the inventor and his Action Jeans. They’re pretty much better than your jeans.

* You can see more detail of the jean in the Second image below.

I don’t think the Action Jeans are still on sale but maybe if you contact Century Martial Arts Supply you may be able to get them back on the Market.

Kwan Jang Nim Alex has recently had a professional Video made to promote his 2 new schools down in Texas. Fortunately for everyone else he offers the video to help other schools who would like to use it. So all we had to do was put our school Contact Information on the end and drop it on our Homepage. Click the image below to go to our homepage to watch it.

Kuk Sool Won of Timberhill Master, Kwan Jang Nim Daniel Jolly, is known for his great sparring ability. Also, he is a giant. If you see a really tall Master walking around at a tournament you will know who he is. He is also very nice and talented.
Say Hi and Remember to bow.

Here is his schools website where you can learn more about Kwan Jang Nim and his history: Kuk Sool Won of Timberhill - Texas Martial Arts

“Functional conditioning” is THE buzzword in the fitness industry right now, though, like most ideas, it isn’t exactly new, just newly repackaged and marketed.  It seems that the billion dollars worth of exercise machines filling fitness centers across the country really don’t do all that much for our health.  Machines (as any fourth grader who has studied basic physics can tell you) do work for you, making your workout easier and, therefore, less of an actual workout.  Add in the potential for real injury even from using the machines correctly, and you’ve got a bunch of expensive, gleaming, and fairly useless pieces of equipment.  Oh sure, you might be able to do 45 minutes on the stair machine, but can you actually climb that many stairs in real life?  Go ahead and try — I did, and (once I stopped wheezing in agony) that was when I stopped using the stair machine and started running stairs and hills instead.  ‘Cause I actually NEED to climb stairs in my life, and a stair machine doesn’t do a thing to prepare you for the 152 steps up the Highland Park Watertower with a two-year old in a sling.

 So, how do we wean ourselves off of exercise machines and into real, functional fitness — the kind of fitness that leaves us able to run without gasping, jump without injury, slip on the Minnesota ice without falling or at least without breaking?  Get the heck out of the typical fitness center and either a) find a personal trainer who uses free weights, resistance bands, medicine balls, or heavy stones and tree limbs or b) start taking a comprehensive, well-taught martial art.

 I will admit that there are aspects of Kuk Sool that do NOT (in my mind at least) fall under the banner of “functional.”  God help me if I ever actually NEED to use a spear, for instance.  But I need all the help with balance that I can get, and I get plenty of practice with that when I do forms.  The cardiovascular conditioning that comes with a 1000 kick workout translates into running with kites, chasing a dog, and racing my kids on their bikes.  Real-life flexibility?  After 6 months of Kuk Sool, I found I could prop my foot up on the HIGH ledge in the shower when I shave.  Do I adore my well-muscled shoulders, arms, and back?  Oh yeah, baby.  And I love them all the more for the way they can haul a kid, lift the groceries, pull me up on the jungle gym, dig a garden, and climb a tree.

 Get out of the gym.  Get off the elliptical trainer.  Don’t brag to me about how much you can lift on the Seated Leg Press.  Come on over to the dojang and train for real flexibilty, balance, and strength.  Then enjoy a body that functions as well as it looks.

Kuk Sool uniforms come in all shapes in sizes, but people new to Kuk Sool sometimes don’t get to see that higher level uniforms are segmented and earned through rank. In this post we will go through all the uniforms and ranks (with awesome pictures) from our Comprehensive Korea Style of Kuk Sool Won.

Regular Training Uniform

This uniform is worn by everyone that practices Kuk Sool no matter your rank. It is a plain black that has Korean writing on the back that reads “Kuk Sool Won” or something of the like. This uniform also requires you to have a patch of the Korean Flag and the Association Logo. You may also have your countries flag on the sleeve. There are some differences depending on what country you are in. In America you are not allowed to have a patch that signifies what Dojang you are form but in Korea you are allowed to have a patch that has your Dojang name on it.

The only way to distinguish rank is to look at the belt of the individual in this uniform. Colored belts are easy to determine rank. Black Belts it gets a little harder. Jo Kyo Nim and Kyo Sa Nim Ranks (1st and 2nd Degree Black belts) have the same thickness of belts. Pu Sa Bum Nim, and Up all have a thicker belt. There is a special thick white belt given to you when you promote to Kwan Jang Nim but usually they do not practice in this belt.

1st - 3rd Degree Black Belt Generals Uniform (Jo Kyo Nim, Kyo Sa Nim, and Pu Sa Bum Nim Ranks)

This uniform is formal uniform attire for tournaments and special events (ex. Demonstrations) that resembles old time Korean Generals Uniforms. At these three ranks the trim will be Silver only.

4th Degree Black Belt Generals Uniform (Sa Bum Nim Rank)

This is one of three Generals Uniforms that does not share colors with multiple ranks. The others that do not share colors across multiple ranks are 9th Degree Black Belt (Chong Kwan Jang Nim) and 10th Degree Grand Master Rank (Kuk Sa Nim). It will always have Red and Silver trim.

5th and 6th Degree Black Belt Generals Uniform (Kwan Jang Nim Rank a.k.a. Master)

Only does this uniform finally signify Master level in Kuk Sool Won. All ranks above fifth degree are referred to as Kwan Jang Nim or Master until you get up to 9th Degree and 10th Degree. The Red trim only signifies Master level achieved as years and years and years of training.

7th and 8th Degree Black Belt Generals Uniform (Kwan Jang Nim Rank)

Still called Kwan Jang Nim or Master, these Masters are the elite of Kuk Sool Won. Only those truly dedicated and passionate about Kuk Sool Won can achieve these ranks through constant practice and teaching. The uniform has Red and Gold Trim.

9th Degree Black Belt Generals Uniform (Chong Kwan Jang Nim a.k.a. Chiefmaster)

Chong Kwan Jang Nim or Chiefmaster are only second to our beloved Grandmaster Kuk Sa Nim. Their Uniform has only Gold Trim for those who taught many to Master level.

10th Degree Black Belt Uniform (Kuk Sa Nim a.k.a. Grandmaster)

The Founder and head of the World Kuk Sool Won Association is Kuk Sa Nim In Hyuk Suh. Kuk Sool!

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