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

* True Account by Head Instructor Steffen Kellogg from Kuk Sool Won of St Paul, Minnesota

I have always loved stories of Kuk Sool being successfully used in self-defense. But until recently I had not been in an altercation that went to the extreme of actual physical confrontation. I had always been able to talk my way out of confrontation or just project enough of an aura of confidence to deter attackers. Last night that all changed…

First a little back ground on the philosophy of self-defense that I teach. Seth Hicks Pu Sa Bum Nim (Kuk Sool Won of Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University) and I were once discussing how we teach self-defense. We were both in agreement but he had the better presentation; so I stole his presentation idea. Since then I’ve taught the three pillars of self-defense: Etiquette, self-control, and lastly, the physical techniques of self-defense.

• Etiquette
• Self-Control
• Physical Techniques

I tell my students that 90% of possible confrontations can be avoided with good etiquette. And that of that 10% left over, another 90% can be avoided simply by being able to control our body, breathing, and emotions. Projecting confidence, being assertive, and not letting your anger get the best of you are all parts of self-control. Each one helps to deter potential aggressors. Finally, the physical techniques are used in the last extreme to protect ourselves or others when we have tried everything else and getting away without risk is not an option.

The True Self-Defense Story

I have been apartment caretaking for about 5 and half years. In that time I’ve handled countless complaints, noise disturbances, and belligerents. So last night at 3AM when I was woken by pounding on a door and bellowing in the hall, I was more annoyed than surprised. I quickly put on my dobak pants and went out in the hall to calm things down. What I found was a man trying to kick down the door of one of my tenants. Another of the tenants had already called the police and was trying to get the belligerent to leave from a safe distance away. I could smell the alcohol on this guy from 20 feet away. I quickly interposed myself between the drunk and the door. At this point it had gone beyond caring what the drunk wanted, I was worried for the lady behind the door. I didn’t want this guy getting to her.

So I took up a conciliatory natural stance. I had both hands up feet set beneath me with my knees slightly bent. He backed off from the door, and started making odd squaring off gestures like he wanted to be in a fighting stance but had only seen one in a Bruce Lee movie. That didn’t bother me as long as he was out range and not armed. I started trying to calm him. Calling him sir, trying to tell him the police were on the way (he thought they would help him), telling him that he needed to either leave or calm down, that there was no way he was going into that apartment. Normally this is all it takes. The guy had nothing to lose, he didn’t have friends watching, there was no face to lose, but he still wouldn’t leave.

His next tactic was to mock me. Self-control was the name of the day. I don’t lose anything by accepting mocking (Especially by someone that drunk). He started to advance on me and I dropped my left foot back enough to be in a more defensive stance. Still at this point I did not want to hurt him. I just wanted to stall him until the police could get there. Unfortunately, for me he decided to play with the fire alarm. I pulled his hand away from the alarm, and that is when techniques came into play.

One of the things I especially love about Kuk Sool is the wide range of options we have. We can go for real damage, strict defense, or restraint. I went for restraint.

Kuk Sool Techniques and Armbars

As soon as I removed his hand from the fire alarm he went for me with a wild overhand flail. I blocked his arm and drove him back a couple of steps. I quickly swept his feet (Ki Bon Soo 9), and slid on top. While he was flailing away I slid my leg around his arm and pulled him into an arm bar using my whole body as a fulcrum (a black belt ground sparring technique) I now had him pinned the ground with one leg holding his head down, and the other holding his body down. His elbow was mine to break or not. Still he struggled. Two light heal kicks to the ribs (warning shots), and a verbal threat to increase the kicks until his ribs broke and I was able to completely restrain him until the police arrived.

The whole physical episode had taken less then thirty seconds. When he was properly subdued and in custody, I took stock. My tenant was safe. My heart was pounding but my breathing was completely under control. I could feel the adrenaline rush, but never did the adrenaline control me. I had successfully used what I had learned in Kuk Sool over the years without seriously injuring the belligerent. He was bleeding from a ripped open suture in his hand (he had apparently had an operation on his hand the previous week), and I only had some minor scratches on my calf from his fingernails. And I had managed to do everything within the confines of a 4 foot wide hallway. The mental and physical techniques, that I have practiced for so long in Kuk Sool worked beautifully.

Where can you go Online to find other Kuk Soolers talking Kuk Sool? Well, obviously this blog is a good choice but there are numerous others around. Here is a list of some popular places we Kuk Soolers tend to Congregate:

There are are a couple different ways to join the Kuk Sool Facebook community. One is to join a group and one is to become a Fan. You will either have to login to Facebook or create an account to join.

To Join a group click this link to join Kuk Sool University (192 Members)

Yesterday Facebook also opened up the ability to make Fan pages. So I made one for the World Kuk Sool Association as well as for this school here in Minnesota. After you click on the links below, on the upper right of the group profile will be a tiny little text link that reads something like “add to my stores” or “add to my services” which are just fancy ways of saying “Make me a Fan.”

So if you are a Fan of the World Kuk Sool Association Click Here

If you are a Fan of Kuk Sool Won of St Paul Click Here

* You will have to log in or register to join these groups too. To create a Fan page for your school, click on the “Advertisers” Link on the bottom of Facebook, and the link to create one will be on the right side of the page

Flickr is also a great place to find some Kuk Sool Members posting photos. So if you take a lot of Kuk Sool photography, join up and share your photos.

Click here to visit the Flickr Kuk Sool Won Group

MySpace doesn’t seem to have a single group for Kuk Sool but if you search for “Kuk Sool” on MySpace a lot of videos and user stuff does come up. You can click here to visit MySpace

One of the most active Kuk Sool communities is the forum on Martial Arts Planet. A lot of Kuk Sool people meet here and discuss. You will have to register to put in your 2-cents but you can read all the posts and discussions without registering

Click Here to Visit the Kuk Sool Online Forum at Martial Arts Planet

With Ski season approaching us here in Minnesota as well as tournament season for our Martial Art coming up I thought it may be useful to list some ways for anyone that needs to get some Quick Money for a trip. Remember, basically anyone can use these strategies except for number 15 and up ( adults only please ).

1. Write for a Blog

Writing for a blog is often times fast and easy. You can find listings of jobs where someone needs a blog post a week from you and you get paid around $15 per post. Now, imagine if you do one post a day for a couple weeks you can get you some nice cash for a trip. You can find listings for blog writers under a lot of job boards including one like this one at freelanceswitch.com

2. Sell your crap on Craigslist or Ebay

You would be surprised how much stuff people will pay to take off your hands. Most of the world has heard of both Ebay and Craigslist unless you have not left your cave in a couple years but make sure you check them out to post and sell items. Think about emptying your garage and making some dough. * Make sure when you are on Craigslist you click on your city to sell locally.

3. Google Street Team

Join Google in indexing all local businesses. Basically, Google pays you to walk around into local businesses, get some info about that business, and then pays you money. They pay you even more money if that business you visited confirms your activity. Quick and Easy walk after dinner or something can result in some serious cash. Here are the details on the Google Local Business Referral Program

4. Garage Sale

Another easy way to sell all that junk around your house. In fact, you can sell junk at your house and advertise by putting a sign on the corner that reads “Garage Sale - 9/20″ and post on Craigslist about it. Why Not? and then if you can’t sell everything put the rest of the junk on Craigslist or Ebay.

5. Bake Sale

Some people have a serious gift in my mind. That gift is the production of delicious baked goods. If you possess this skill, people will pay you for it. Look for local bake sales around your area and if you can’t find any refer to #6 of this list.

6. Organize an Event

Can’t find a Bake Sale around you? Is there a need for a local gathering of some kind? Organize It! Get businesses and other people to buy into your event and charge a registration fee. Tell them to do some marketing to get people to come and you can do some local marketing for the event as well. You get paid and so do they.

7. Paper Route

The classic wake up earlier than you have ever imagined and make money for a couple weeks. Just think, it’s all for that trip to the Bahamas.

8. Scalp Sports Tickets

Got some tickets to an event and you’re not gonna use? Sell them on the street, Ebay, Craigslist, or other ticket sales websites.

9. Make Something and Sell It

Using your skilles to make something can be one of the easiest ways to make some serious dough. Make a Chair, Website, Painting, Poster, Wagon, or anything you like. Then turn around and sell that thing. Rinse and Repeat to you get your target amount for that trip to Europe.

10. Tutor / Private Lessons

If you are skilled or educated at some sort of activity post some fliers up and tutor or give private lessons. Example, if you’re good at Golf teach some people the basics. If you’re good at Martial Arts give a private lesson. You get the point.

11. Do Something for Donations

You know what? Some people might just give you the money. If you’re going somewhere for a good cause you may be able to get some money through donations. Email friends and family or set up a blog or website to collect some donations. Even community members at your church or school may be willing to donate a little.

12. Bike Path Stand

This is the new Millenium. Lemonade stands are too old school. Set up an all inclusive “Spend your Money right here Stand.” Plop a chair down and a cooler full of water, Gatorade, granola bars, Nutrigrain bars, or snacks right next to a bike path and sell at a decent price. You will make some cash just for going to the store and then sitting in the sun all day.

13. Yardwork

Do yard work for your area. People need stuff done and you are healthy enough to do it. If you work one day of the weekend for a couple weeks you may get your plane ticket money back. Plus, you are probably doin’ some serious work and losing that weight for the beaches.

14. Hand Stuff Out

Businesses need stuff handed out. You may be able to go into a Dominoes or some local place and ask if they need any help passing fliers out on the street or around the neighborhood. In fact, you may be able to produce and hand out fliers for local businesses.

Warning: Risky Strategies Ahead

15. Good at Sports? Challenge your friends and put your money on the line.

You better be good, cause if you lose a bet your pride and money go together.

16. Fantasy Sports

May take a little longer to get money, but if you’re dominant at Fantasy Sports you may want to try this one out. I recommend doing this with work and friends rather than online because the pools are smaller and more manageable, but if you are really good you may be able to do a little money making online.

17. Casino

Make sure to Establish limits to how much you want to win and lose a night before going to a casino.

Going to a casino may be a great place to win some quick cash even while you are on the trip if you are good at Poker or Black Jack. It is also a gret place to lose all your the money you have saved forcing you towards that paper route.

18. Get a Part-Time Job

Ahhh the classic. Need money? Go get a job.

One of the other blogs I read for my Small Business Marketing interests is by another Minnesota Blogger named Patrick Schaber. His Blog The Lonely Marketer has just posted an “8 Random Facts about…” post and I thought we here at Kuk Sool Won of St Paul should participate. So here it goes, 8 Random Facts about this Kuk Sool Blogger:

1. Started Martial Arts when I was Five years old. I did that style which was basically Tae Kwon Do mixed with Kickboxing for 13 years getting my Second Degree Black belt. I then joined Kuk Sool Won at Purdue University as an Extra Curricular and have never looked back.
2. My degree at Purdue is Web Design with a Minor in Business
3. I have worked for USBank HQ, as well as Space150, and TopRank Online Marketing for Lee Odden who writes one of the most popular Blogs on the net Online Marketing Blog
4. My whole family has been in Martial Arts. My Dad, one of my younger brothers, and I all have Black Belts.
5. I am currently finishing my last semester at Purdue in Indiana. While I am here I am Head Instructor of our Purdue Kuk Sool Won Club. When I am at home in Minnesota I am Assistant Instructor under Pu Sa Bum Nim Steffen Kellog (3rd Degree Black Belt).
6. I lived in Korea for four months while studying abroad. I did Kuk Sool everyday except Sundays, and we practiced for 3 - 4 hours a day. Loved it.
7. Favorite movie ever is The Village
8. I would love to go to Venezuala and Iran to practice Kuk Sool with them just to see how different there style is. I would love to go to New Zealand and try Kuk Sool there just cause it’s New Zealand.

If you have a blog and want to do a response and have your own 8 Random Facts about yourself post, feel free to leave a comment to your post and I will ping you back.

Here are the first two desktop wallpapers we are putting on the web (Scroll down to bottom of this post to download). We will be periodically adding other desktop wallpapers from everything Kuk Sool and not just Kuk Sool Won of St Paul. If you would to stay notified of new content we produce and wallpapers we upload subscribe to the write via RSS feed or Email. We respect your email.

The wallpapers below are from a demonstration we did at the St Paul Dragonfest in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Taken by a professional sports photographer available for hire. You can visit his website here: www.LoveofTheGamePhoto.com. More images from this Kuk Sool demo can be found on our previous post: Best Kuk Sool Pictures…Ever. Download and enjoy.

If you have any Kuk Sool pictures from you or your school you would like made into desktop wallpapers send us an email at stpaulksw@gmail.com and we would be happy to make and post them.

• 800 x 600 Resolution
• 1024 x 768 Resolution
• 1152 x 720 Resolution (wide)
• 1280 x 800 Resolution (wide)
• 1440 x 900 Resolution (wide)

• 800 x 600 Resolution
• 1024 x 768 Resolution
• 1152 x 720 Resolution (wide)
• 1280 x 800 Resolution (wide)
• 1440 x 900 Resolution (wide)

* Desktop Wallpapers are organized by the resolution of your desktop. For PC computers, right-click the current desktop background, click “Properties”, and find out your current Resolution setting in the Display or Monitor tab. Mac users go to “System Preferences”, click “Displays”

An article we wrote on “3-Reasons Why Your Kids Should be in Martial Arts” has been published on the Twin Cities online Parent and Family Resource “Be Family.” The Full Text is Below as well as Link to e Family Online:

The Full Article can be read below or at “Be Family Online” and is titled 3 Reasons Why Your Kids Should Be In Martial Arts

1. Discipline

Every parent that thinks about putting their kid in Martial Arts thinks about the benefit of Discipline. It is well known that Martial Arts teaches kids strong lessons in discipline. These lessons will help them respect themselves and others throughout life.

When practicing Martial Arts kids learn in a very structured manner. An instructor will teach and the students will listen. Often times responding “Yes Sir” or “Yes Ma’am.” This helps the instructor manage a large group of kids as well as teaching them to listen. When a child begins to lose focus or gets distracted the instructor will grab their attention and tell them to pay attention or maybe even have the child do ten push-ups. Push-ups are often used as a disciplinary measure in Martial Arts because doing ten Push-ups is hardly a physical punishment. This is because ten push-ups will only re-focus the child’s attention on Martial Arts not tire them out. This is an old trick I am sure parents wish they could use everyday.

Having Kids learn Martial Arts in a structured discipline oriented environment will help them focus and have discipline for school, family, and life in general. In fact, kids learn a form of discipline that will potentially help them their whole lives which is Exercise.

2. Exercise

Between TV and Video Games, it is harder for kids to find a regular form of exercise. Martial Arts offers a consistent schedule to come practice and get in some good exercise for kids.

Martial Arts schools incorporate both aerobic and strength training activities for all classes. Most Martial Arts schools teach kicks, punches, stances, and acrobatics, mixing in some exercise activities. For example, doing some Jumping Jacks in between kicks and punches. Having a regular form of exercise helps kids stay healthy both physically and mentally everyday.

Of course the benefit of having your child doing a form of exercise should be enough right? Well, maybe for you but what about your child? That is why Martial Arts classes for Kids are geared toward having fun. Kids classes always incorporate fun games and activities to help kids do all the exercises and learn Martial Arts.

3. Fun

Kids usually come to Martial Arts and have the time of their lives. Classes for kids are tailored to teaching children with fun and exciting exercise and drills. All schools I have been at teach kids with games, obstacle courses, and team building activities. It’s always great to see a kid go through an obstacle course for the first time because by the end they have a smile that extends from ear-to-ear.

Fun is not one of the ideas most people initially think about Martial Arts but when you are in Martial Arts it is always on your mind.

We have done an update to our Media Gallery page on our main website. We are now displaying all our Videos and Pictures from our Martial Arts Dojo and Studio serving the Twin Cities.

Click Here to see our Martial Arts Media Gallery

Why is it so hard to find a Karate class for 3 year olds in Minneapolis? Why is it so hard to find a Tae Kwon Do class for 3 year olds in St Paul? Why is it so hard to find any Kids Martial Arts classes that actually teach Martial Arts to 3 year olds?

Most Martial Arts studios do not offer classes for 3 year olds for a number of reasons: Read the rest of this entry »

The last of our first 3 videos we have produced for our first self defense series. This videos covers how to defend yourself if someone is not taken some hardy hints to leave you alone and it is escalating where you don’t want it to go. Remember, as with nay self defense situation do anything you have to to get away safely. Some ideas beyond this video are to poke / gouge the eyes, aim for the groin, and cave in the knee. Enjoy the video and here are the links to the previous two videos in this series:

How to Defend Yourself Against a Grab from Behind (Bear Hug)

How to Defend Yourself Against Someone Grabbing and Trying to Strike You

Video 2 of our 3 part first-time self defense series. The first video from yesterday can be found here about Defending Against a Grab from Behind. Today’s video is a basic defense against someone grabbing you and trying to strike you with a punch.

Remember, in regards to self defense, do anythign possible to get away. Including but not limited to scraping/gouging the eyes, groin strikes, yelling and screaming, stomping the foot, etc…

We teach self defense classes right along with our regular Kuk Sool Won style classes for the people of Minneapolis and St Paul and the entire surrounding Twin Cities area.

Previous Self Defense Video: Defending Against a Grab from Behind