Kuk Sool Won

[medic06]

I want to get some thing rolling in this forum.

Let's talk about Kuk Sool Won, its origins, history, philosophy, and concepts.

[kuk sool won]

Oooo pick me!!!

Kuk Sool is a comprehensive martial arts system that is derived from the rich and varied martial arts techniques and traditions that have arisen in Korea through the ages. Kuk Sool is not a sport, nor is it simply another oriental self-defense method. Kuk Sool is a complete martial art that is dedicated to the cultivation of physical/mental strength and well-being, and to the preservation of traditional Korean martial arts.

Although its origin may be traced back to antiquity, the present Kuk Sool system was formally devised only recently by Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh, who has spent more than 50 years in single-minded practice and research in order to learn, compile, master, and organize more than 3,600 techniques that comprise Kuk Sool. He founded Kuk Sool Won (traditional Korean Martial Arts Association) in 1961, and brought it to the United States in 1974 to establish the World Kuk Sool Association, which was headquartered in San Francisco for 17 years and relocated to Houston, Texas in 1991. As of 1998, the Association has grown to include more than 400 member schools world-wide.

For self-defense ideals, Kuk Sool is incredible. It combines kicking, punching, throwing, falling, choking, joint-locking and a myriad of weapons techniques into a beautiful and dynamic 'hard-soft' style, emphasizing speed and fluidity. In conjunction with physical training, meditation, breathing, acupressure and acupuncture techniques are employed to improve health, to develop internal power, and to retard the aging process. Philosophically, Kuk Sool stresses humility, self-discipline, self-control, loyalty and respect for others. Together, these aspects of Kuk Sool provide the means for attaining a long and healthy life.

KSW tries not to focus on one particular area of self defence so that a person can defend themselves whenever and whatever means necessary, now obviously this doesn't mean carrying throwing knifes and swords around but this is to keep the tradition in KSW and not soley make it a means of defending ones self in todays society, these traditional weapon trainings do help to enhance other abilities like accuracy and a controlled mind.

it is a mix of 3 types of styles, royal, tribal and family (to put it bluntly) these were actually very different styles in thier times, royal styles for example were highly effective with royal weapons such as the sword whilst the family style was more of an ancient line of defending themselves without the use of weapons. By in large it is basically a mixture of tried and tested arts that were almost demolished with the invasion of Japan, but with the help of men such as In hyuk Suh's forefathers it has survived and is now making a comeback at a vast rate.

Supposedly there's a big praying mantis kung fu influence on KSW. It is said that Kuk Sa Nim learned praying mantis Kung Fu from his grandfather, since Chinese martial arts had a big impact on Korea and were often passed down as family styles through Korean lines. This would explain the chinese looking techniques often found in higher level sets.

Recently, a dominant figure in KSW named Sun Seo 'disbanded' from Kuk Sool due to certain ultifications of how KSW should be taught. This lead to him starting Ki-Do, a similar system to KSW, although still relatively small, it is growing fast and has a good figure head (Sun Seo) to lead it into the future, if you have any other questions, please do not be hesitant to ask.

[Tom Yum]

Oooo pick me!!!

Supposedly there's a big praying mantis kung fu influence on KSW. It is said that Kuk Sa Nim learned praying mantis Kung Fu from his grandfather, since Chinese martial arts had a big impact on Korea and were often passed down as family styles through Korean lines. This would explain the chinese looking techniques often found in higher level sets.

I've noticed a Chinese influence on a lot of non-TKD Korean MA systems. Korea and China shared a great deal of cultural exchange, since they are neighbors. Even to this day there's a curiosity between the two cultures.

Take the styles Tang Soo Do or Hwa Rang Do.

The Tang of TSD links the style to China's Tang dynasty, when China was at one point the cultural stop of Asia. The Hwa in HWD is the same word as flower in both languages. I do not have a comparitive time line for both systems, but i'd bet its close.

The modern written Korean language looks very similar to the written language used when the Manchurians controlled most of northern China and allmost nothing like the modern day characters used by the Hans.

Oh yeah, look at Yao Ming and Hong Mam Choi.....they could be brothers

Back to the MA techniques, I've noticed that the hand work of non-TKD Korean styles is emphasized as being much more fluid than TKD or shotokan.

What gets me though is why you would teach hard movements to beginning students and then soft as they advance? The reason why I ask is that a years worth of hard training will ingrain stifness in students who may or may not have the best of coordination and find it difficult to train out later.

Anyhow, I apologize for my critique as I am very certain that GM Suh is a physically powerfull man with a huge wealth of knowledge on history, ki training and royal weapons.

[medic06]

What gets me though is why you would teach hard movements to beginning students and then soft as they advance? The reason why I ask is that a years worth of hard training will ingrain stifness in students who may or may not have the best of coordination and find it difficult to train out later.

I think that somewhere down the line someone goofed while teaching these techniques. If you look at older styles of karate, particularly the Okinawain (sp?) styles you will see that they are much softer, flowing and fluid.