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

Thanks to Scott Wood Hohng Di for forwarding a link to this site.  Here are some fun facts about Mr. Norris.

• When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
• Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
• There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.
• Outer space exists because it’s afraid to be on the same planet with Chuck Norris.
• Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
• Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
• Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
• Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.
• There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’ beard. There is only another fist.
• When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.

Oh, there’s more.  Go to the site and read. I must confess that my personal current fantasy about the Republican National Convention coming to town does involve “accidentally” meeting Chuck Norris.  Is he coming to Saint Paul, MN for the convention — who knows?  Would he actually ask me to dinner to discuss our differing political views and mutual love of martial arts?  Well, duh.  So if you see me hanging around Rice Park in my do-bahk looking cute and approachable, yet with that indefinable air of “I have a black belt and I know how to use it,” please don’t come over and ruin it by jumping out at me and making me scream like a girl.  Mr. Norris might be watching.

A very special welcome to a guest blogger, Mel Martin Jo Kyo Nim.  Some of you may remember Mel JKN as the woman who beat the snot out of her would-be mugger a couple of Thanksgivings ago.  Well, she is currently recovering from knee surgery, and, given her history, my money is on Mel JKN — that gimpy knee doesn’t stand a chance.  Take it away, ma’am!

Mel JKN writes:  On Tuesday I had knee surgery to repair my left ACL which I completely blew out a couple of weeks ago doing an off-the-wall jump roundhouse. And while I intend to write more later about having a major injury and staying with Kuk Sool, I wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Kuk Sool and all it has given me to help me get through this time in my life.

Dear Kuk Sool,

I am lying on my couch as I write this. My leg is strapped into an immobilizing brace and I can’t get around without the use of crutches. And while you are the cause of this injury and the reason why I am trapped here, I wanted to thank you for a few small things that you have given me that make this experience bearable.

Thank you for giving me a high pain tolerance.

Thank you for teaching me how to balance and use my hands while standing on only on one leg.

Thank you for giving me flexibility so I can still do things like put on socks and paint my toenails.

Thank you for bringing me friends who set me up with entertaining DVDs and who keep me connected with the world through amusing emails and internet chats.

Thank you for giving me a strong body that heals quickly.

Thank you for teaching me that worthwhile things often take longer than we want them too and you can’t rush the process.

Thank you for giving me 350+ techniques to go over in my head when I get bored.

Thank you for teaching me patience.

Those are just a few of the things that I have learned during our 7 years together that I am drawing on now. And don’t worry, I’m healing quickly and we’ll be seeing each other soon.

Your friend,

Mel JKN

In June and July, our Grand Master, Kuk Sa Nim Suh In Hyuk travels the US and Canada on a Super Seminar tour.  He and other Masters speak and teach at the schools along their route, and we here at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul were honored again to host a Super Seminar.

For us, the excitement began on Thursday, when Steffen Pu Sa Bum Nim’s instructor, Tim Seitz Kwang Jahng Nim, arrived.  Master Seitz and Steffen PSBN taught special classes all day on Friday to our most highly ranked students.  The Dahn Bo Nims joined in a very exciting dahn bong (short stick) seminar, and most of them were introduced to this weapon for the first time.  Kuk Sa Nim and Masters Suh and Harmon arrived Friday evening, ready to visit our close neighbor, Mirror of Korea, for dinner.

Saturday was packed.  All black belts, including our frequent visitor, Mike Monahan Kyo Sa Nim, got a special practice time with the visiting Masters all morning.  After lunch, it was test time.  About a dozen black belts and black-belts-to-be sweated and pushed themselves in front of Master Suh, showing what they know and learning new and painful ways to do push-ups.  For most of the testers, this was just one test during the year (or years) of their testing process, but for three students this was the final test, promoting them to the next level of black belt.

Remember when I mentioned the Seminar?  That was Saturday afternoon.  Every student, from white belt to black belt, was invited to come, and the crowd listened as Kuk Sa Nim spoke about his philosophy of martial arts training.  Then, Master Harmon led the school through a kick-intensive seminar, focusing on safe, fast, and effective roundhouse kicks.  It was a hot day, but the kicks kept coming, fast and furious, and our students showed their best etiquette and enthusiasm.  Master Harmon later complimented Steffen PSBN on our students, especially the children, for their attention and focus.

By the end of the day on Saturday, everyone involved was exhausted and exhilarated.  The weekend was a great success.  Thanks to every student and instructor who was involved, especially those students who came for the Seminar.  To continue to attract guests like this, we have to show our school’s best side, and every student who attended helped to show Kuk Sa Nim that we are a school of students eager to learn.  Stay tuned to the blog for pictures, courtesy of our student Audrey Wiley, of the testing, promotions, and seminar.

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