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

The second Ki trick is useful in educating students on the benefits of relaxation and intent.

First have a student place their hand palm up on your shoulder. The crook of their elbow should be facing upward at this point. Now tell them to keep their arm straight while you pull down at the crook of their elbow. The arm should bend fairly easily.

Now have your student do the same thing, but this time have them relax their whole body. Now have them envision their arm as a hose with water flowing through it. Make them aim that water at the wall behind you. Their arm should be very solid at this point. It should take you considerably more effort to bend their arm, if you can at all.

The explanation for this trick is that Ki follows intent. As you relax and let your energy flow, your intent (the mental image of a fire hose) brings our Ki into your arm and lets you “resist” without resisting.

This second Ki trick is much more difficult then the first. I would recommend practicing it until you can do it easily. Then use yourself as the example to the students. Remember to relax your whole body as much as possible. I find that the biggest impediment to understanding this technique is random tightening of muscles. It is really hard to let go and trust yourself.

Once your students have the idea, make sure you tie the ideas back to our techniques. Probably the easiest way to relate these ideas is to the three technique principles: Soft-Circle-Harmony. Another satisfying way to illustrate the use of relaxation and intent is to apply it to a palm strike. You should be able see noticeable results within minutes.

Now any Kuk Sooler can enjoy our favorite Korean specialty in space thanks to the new Korean Astronaut and the country’s research.

Here is an excerpt from the article about the space food breakthrough Read the rest of this entry »

Practicing shiatsu and teaching Kuk Sool Won, I have come across a lot of skepticism concerning the concept of Ki (or Chi).  So I would like to share some tricks I have learned that help demonstrate the concept of Ki. 

For the first trick we will disrupt the flow of Ki in one part of the body to weaken another part of the body.  First have your skeptic stick out their hand directly in front of their body and make a fist.  Push down on the fist.  This is just to give you and your skeptic a baseline.

Now on the opposite wrist, rub up from Lung7 (Maek Chiggi 1) along the lung meridian for a short distance (about 3 or 4 inches).  Do this a few times.  Now have them stick out their original hand in a fist, and push down.  It should take considerably less force to push their fist down.  I usually use just two fingertips. 

The skeptic at this point is usually strongly resisting but completely unable to muster any strength.  Now to convince them further rub the lung meridian on their wrist the opposite way (toward the hand) and try to push down again.  You should find that they have most of their strength back.

So what are we doing here?  We are showing two things, one is the interconnectedness of the body, the other is the flow of Ki throughout the body.  We are pushing against the flow of the lung meridian to disrupt Ki in the body, then we are smoothing the flow of Ki in the lung meridian to give some strength back.  Just imagine the effect of the strong shot to Lung7 in our technique sets.

Want to really make your skeptic a believer?  Try the same trick with a chain of people.  Have a small group of people hold hands, Push down on the hand of the person at one end of the chain.  Now use the wrist of the person at the other end of the chain for the disruption portion.  You should get the same effect.  I generally find that the smaller the chain is the greater the effect.

Once you get people past their skepticism there is another useful trick you can do to educate your classes.  Instead of disrupting their Ki with your fingers, use a packet of sugar.  Have one of your students ingest a sugar packet, and you will see the same weakening. (Make sure you ask the parents if you are using a child).  This is a great segue into talking about the nutrition and the body.

Finally, you will find people with some immunity to this weakening process.  These tend to be the people with the most Ki training experience.  So if you get a chance and a patient instructor, see what the effect is on high level Black belts.

Have fun with this. Next week I will elucidate a more difficult Ki trick you can try.

I’ll join in and give my thanks to Max Jo Kyo Nim for getting us started with a great website and blog, plus his helpful instructions and suggestions for keeping it going without his daily, hands-on administration.

I’m Nicki Dahn Bo Nim, a student and assistant instructor at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul, mother to a Dahn Bo Nim and a perpetual Red Belt (he’s six, so I guess I should cut him some slack), and the office meddler here at the school. Apparently, I’m also a blogger, so I’ll steal Steffen PSBN’s idea and interview myself.

When did you start taking Kuk Sool?

October 2005, when Steffen PSBN opened the dojang. I had known Steffen PSBN and his family through our homeschooling group for a couple of years, and I was just being nice and signing up to help out. Two and half years later, I think I can officially say I’m hooked.

Why did you bring the kids?

I started classes with my daughter, who was 7 at the time. I could see adolescence looming on the horizon, and I wanted her to keep physically active, become more aware and confident of herself, and be able to take out any future boyfriend who got out of line. My son was 4 when his sister and I started, and he stood on the sidelines mimicking everything we did. Steffen PSBN took pity on the poor boy and brought him in just before his fifth birthday. For my son, studying Kuk Sool has given him plenty of opportunity to practice focus — there are even days when I can see the good results of all that practice!

What else do you do when you aren’t training?

I mentioned the mothering gig, right? Okay, so in addition to raising two kids, running the household, meddling in the dojang office, training and teaching, I occasionally spend a little time as an editor, writer, and public relations professional. I work from home and homeschool, so working in the same place that I train fits my typical m.o.

Hobbies?

I used to read…and still do occasionally, stealing time from one or another responsibility. I also manage to work in an occasional concert, movie, visit to the indoor climbing wall, or social opportunity. Actually, that’s my hobby, right there — socializing. So, say hi to me, okay?

Whom do you most admire in Kuk Sool?

My instructor, Steffen PSBN. The two other PSBN’s that train at our school. The rest of our instructor corps. And anyone and everyone who gives it a try, sticks with it, and learns to love it.

What’s looming on your Kuk Sool horizon?

Another test, doubtless. The life of a Dahn Bo Nim is full of trials (though my instructor just informed me that that may be a lingering peculiarity of his teaching style. Apparently the rest of you don’t take one or more grueling tests every month for at least a year. Um, are there spaces at YOUR school?).

Of course, what I’m looking forward to the most is Kuk Sa Nim’s visit and the Super Seminar in June. Okay, there’s that picky little test I have to get through, but after that, I’ll be a Jo Kyo Nim and ready to take it easy for a while! What? What do you mean “training begins at black belt”?

Who let you on this blog? When is Max JKN coming back?!

Sorry. Steffen PSBN will be better able to write about the technicalities and finer points of training in Kuk Sool, so he’s the one filling Max’s shoes. They brought me in to work the less formal angles of a martial arts blog. I’m here as a mom, a very novice martial artist, and a writer with a decent understanding of comma usage.

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.

First I’d like to Thank Max JKN for all the wonderful work he has done getting this blog up and running and keeping it interesting.

We are adding two new bloggers this week to give a broader scope to our writings. I’d like to acquaint the readers with who we are. I am Steffen Kellogg, a Pu Sa Bum Nim, and head instructor at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul. The other is Nicki Jones, a Dahn Bo Nim and assistant instructor at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul. This week we’ll both spend a little time introducing ourselves.

I’m going to use Max JKN’s interview as a basic template.

What is the name and location of your school?

Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul

How long has it been open?

This location opened up in October of 2005.

Where are you originally from?

I am originally from Northern Illinois (The Rockford area)

What are your hobbies outside of Kuk Sool?

I spend a lot of time outside of Kuk Sool homeschooling my two boys. I also love rock climbing, biking, and “helping” my kids with legos.

What is your background in Kuk Sool?

I started training with Sa Bum Nim Tim Seitz at University of Illinois in December of 1993. 4½ years after that I moved to Lubbock, Texas and started a club at Texas Tech University. I stayed there for three years, just long enough to pass it on to fresh black belt. The club is still going strong 7 years later. After leaving Lubbock, Texas, I moved to the wonderful city of St. Paul, Minnesota. In Minnesota I started another club at the medium sized University of St. Thomas. After four more years of teaching a club, I made the jump to a professional school in October of 2005. Since then I have been working hard trying to grow my student base and create an awesome learning experience for my students.

When did you start Kuk Sool? Why?

I started Kuk Sool Won in December of 1993. I started because I saw a white belt practicing in the hallways during a break in our Spanish class in College. I just thought Ki Cho Hyung was so awesome I wanted to see more. So I went and witnessed a testing. I got to see first hand the incredible diversity of techniques in Kuk Sool, and I was immediately hooked. Since then I haven’t looked back.

What is your favorite Hyung? Why?

Kyuk Pah Hyung has always been a favorite of mine. I just love the way it looks, and the way it feels when you really nail it.

What is your favorite technique set?

That’s a very hard one for me. It changes with new understanding. Right now I’m loving Too Ki and Pyung Soo. However, KJN Brewer said it best when he said Ki Bon Soo is “The keys to the kingdom”. I’ve always loved Ki Bon Soo.

What is your favorite thing to teach?

I could not pick a favorite thing to teach. For me teaching is all about getting to see that flash of insight when a student picks up on something.

Where has Kuk Sool taken you in the world?

Kuk Sool has taken me all over the continental US. I’m looking forward to the Korea trip in 2010 and to getting a chance to visit England and see some of the schools over there.

What one thing would you tell any Kuk Sool student to be successful in Kuk Sool?

Be patient, persevere, and smile.

Who has inspired you in Kuk Sool Won?

The list is endless. I am inspired by the Kuk Sa Nim and the masters. Just seeing the possibilities is amazing to me. I’m inspired by all the instructors out there like me who get jazzed up just watching the light go on in their students’ eyes. I’ve gotten so many great ideas just from talking and sharing with other instructors. And I’m inspired and humbled by the students. Especially those students who do not have natural advantages and have to fight and struggle every step of the way.

What is your favorite Kuk Sool Memory?

I have great memories of going as a group to San Francisco Tournament when I was a red belt. The tournament was great and afterwards, I got to train in San Mateo. I just remember how nice everyone was there.

What is your experience Blogging?

Before this I wrote one post about a recent encounter I had with a drunken assailant. And that is it!

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.