Kuk Sool Won of St Paul employs a dedicated Martial Arts teaching staff to meet the needs of all of it's students. Classes are run efficiently, no matter the size, by multiple high-ranking instructors to teach each student in a variety of ways.
Heather Bouwman Pu Sa Bum Nim has been training in Kuk Sool Won since 1995. She loves to practice and teach Kuk Sool’s beautiful, dynamic, and complex forms. When not training, she homeschools and hangs out with her 2 sons, teaches literature and writing at the University of St. Thomas, and writes children’s novels (her first novel, The Remarkable and Very True Story of Lucy and Snowcap, came out in 2008).
Heather earned her PhD in English at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
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Mel Martin Kyo Sa Nim started training in the fall of 2001 when Steffen Sa Bum Nim was teaching Kuk Sool as a club at the University of St. Thomas. She had always had an interest in martial arts so when a friend joined it gave her the courage to try it herself.
Mel says, "I practice martial arts because so much of my life is focused on purely mental pursuits. It's a relief to be able to step away from that for a few hours a week and focus on what my body can achieve. It grounds me and pulls me back to the present moment. I appreciate that it's never easy, there's always a new challenge to pursue and new nuances to explore. Plus, the people are some of the best you'll ever meet."
As an assistant instructor, Mel’s biggest challenge of teaching is taking something that she intuitively understands and attempting to break it down so someone else can understand it as well. This is especially challenging when teaching children, but she enjoys the flash of understanding when they finally do get it. The best reward is seeing students who may have less natural talent continue to work and strive and eventually become excellent martial artists in their own right. She says, "As someone who also has little natural talent, seeing this process happen to others reaffirms my belief that Kuk Sool really is something that anyone can do, and eventually be very good at, given enough time and dedication."
Mel has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of St. Thomas and is currently working on a Masters in Public Policy from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Tom Kalil Jo Kyo Nim began training in Kuk Sool Won in 2004 when Steffen Sa Bum Nim was teaching it as a club sport at the University of St. Thomas. He continues to practice to stay in shape and enjoy the fun of the training and the community of Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul. As an assistant instructor, Tom enjoys seeing progressing students enjoying what they are learning more and more; the greatest challenge, he says, is getting students to that point.
Tom has his Bachelor degree in English and Philosophy, and he is completing his third year of law school at the University of St. Thomas.
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Annette Huot-Link Jo Kyo Nim began taking martial arts in high school when she persuaded a group of friends to join National Karate, thanks to the inspiration of Mr. Miyagi of the Karate Kid movies. In college, Annette studied Tai Chi, Feldenkrais Meditations, and Hatha Yoga. Then, in 2005 Annette gathered another group together (this time her four children) and joined Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul.
Annette writes, "I practice martial arts because it encompasses both physical conditioning and mind training. I want this for myself and also for my children. It’s an activity we all can do together. (I’ve never been one for sitting and simply watching all the fun happen.) I like the softness of the meditations and the hardness of the kicking. I enjoy the beauty in the art. The specialized training that goes with being an assistant instructor gives me invaluable information about the finer details of every movement and technique. Remembering it all correctly and, on top of that, passing it on to others can be a challenge."
Annette has a BA in Theater and a BA in Spanish from the College of St. Benedict.
Jenny Edgerton Dahn Bo Nim started Kuk Sool because her son was already taking classes at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul. Like many of our parent/students, Jenny realized she could be exercising and learning with her son, rather than just sitting on the sidelines. The emphasis on fitness is still a big part of why she trains, in addition to the mental workout (remembering all those techniques…) and the chance to participate in learning with her children.
About instructing, Jenny says, "Teaching kids is fun." And learning the details of Kuk Sool techniques and forms so that she can teach them is always a challenge. Jenny has a PhD in Ecology from the University of Minnesota and teaches Biology at Metropolitan State University.
Scott Wood Dahn Bo Nim began classes at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul in June of 2007, joining just a week before the Super Seminar and Kuk Sa Nim’s first visit to our school! He enjoys practicing Kuk Sool for the challenges it presents to growing spiritually, mentally and physically. His training means he is always discovering new challenges and new means to meeting and overcoming them.
Scott is an excellent teacher and endlessly patient with young students. He says that the challenge of teaching is in "learning to accommodate the various and changing needs of individual students in a group setting." But the reward is there, too, when an instructor gets to see the positive changes in students as they grow in their training.
Scott has a BS in Public Relations from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently an MBA candidate at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
Audrey Wiley Dahn Bo Nim found Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul through a Craigslist ad in 2007. She likes the confidence she’s gained from knowing that she can protect herself and the great people in our school community. As she tests for Jo Kyo Nim, Audrey is enjoying being in the awesome shape that the 2-year grueling testing process requires. What’s the best part of Kuk Sool training? Audrey (as do so many of us) says, "Learning new weapons!"
Teaching is always a challenge. As an assistant instructor, Audrey is learning about classroom management, how to teach the manners and etiquette of a traditional martial art, and how to instruct individuals with their own individual needs and capabilities. But Audrey sees the rewards of instruction, too. "I love seeing when kids improve and retain what we’re teaching them. I can watch a child become more respectful and patient as he or she progresses."
Audrey has a BS in Biology from the University of Minnesota.
Will Schuerger Jo Kyo Nim had no prior experience in martial arts before beginning at Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul in 2007. He was looking for a comprehensive martial art and great community to join – "there was no other school that even came close to Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul," he says. After a year of training, Will went to the 50th anniversary celebration and tournament in Houston in October 2008. He competed as a blue belt in the tournament and saw the Masters demonstration – when he came home, he told Steffen Sa Bum Nim he wanted to make black belt before he graduated from high school and was willing to devote whatever time and commitment it took.
Will loves the self-discipline, responsibility and focus that Kuk Sool has taught him. "You can’t find this anywhere else," he says. "It gives me the strength and confidence to be a person I’m proud to be." Will feels it’s a privilege to be able to teach kids as a young adult. "Eight years ago I WAS them. It’s great when it goes well and they get what I’m trying to teach – I’m happy, and then they’re happy." Will graduated from St. Paul Academy and Summit School in 2010 and is attending Occidental College in Los Angeles.
At Kuk Sool Won™ of St. Paul, we invite those Junior and Youth Jo Kyo Nims who have shown outstanding commitment and an interest in teaching to train as assistant instructors. These talented young people go through the same rigorous training as our adult assistant instructors, and you will see them assisting in our Kids and Pre-Martial Arts classes.