ImaJayhawk

I'm sure you'll do fine. Enjoy seminar and do your best on your testing. If this is only your second test I'm sure you'll have plenty more. So use this as a learning experience.

Don't know about him, but looks like he is a fifth dahn. http://www.kuksoolwon.com/kuksool04.html http://www.kuksoolwonofgalesburg.com/blackbelts.htm -ImaJayhawk

I've been taking for about 3-1/2 -> 4 years now. Passed my black belt test last summer and now I'm enjoying the new variety of techniques. I was hoping to go to a tournament around these parts, but the one in January was changed to a "Practice Tournament" due to lack of interest and I wasn't told about it till too late.

The Kuk-Sool Hapkido Reference Manual I believe was the precursor to the Kuk Sool book later published by He-Young Kimm. It was available with a training film at the National Seminar of Korean Kuk-Sool Hapkido, which was cosponsored by the American Hapkido Association. Seminar instructors are listed as: “Grandmaster In Hyuk Su, 9th Dan, Master Lee H. Park 7th Dan, Master He-Young Kimm 7th Dan, and Master Young El Park “

Some of controversy resulted from In Sun Seo’s book. Other from the fact that there was a fear of other people taking techniques they saw in Dr. He-Young Kimm’s book and incorporating them into their martial art. Some were not happy that techniques were shown up to 5th degree, and still more controversy from people seeing differences in the way the techniques are show in Dr. Kimm’s book, In Sun Seo’s book, and the way they were taught…… I’m sure there was more to this, but most of the people who were around during that time are reluctant to talk, In fact some instructors do not even want you to own a copy of Dr. Kimm’s book…… The techniques your KJN knows might be more closely related to In Sun Seo’s book since he trained in Korea, One thing to note is that Dr. Kimm’s book doesn’t show the forms in a step by step way. He only has a page describing the form. I think the intention was for the forms and kicking techniques to be in a second volume that was never printed. I wrote an email once to see if there was going to be a second book, but there was no plan at the time. His Kuk Sool book is like his other books, even without the forms detailed it is 760 pages. Originally published in 1978 (I think) In Sun Seo’s book started out with a lot of Korean, but every edition after that more English was used. By the 1987 edition all most all of the text is in English. The pictures of the techniques aren’t as good as the current textbooks or Dr. Kimm’s book, but the historical pictures in the front make this a good book to pick up for anyone involved in Kuk Sool Won. The title is Kuk Sool: Martial Arts Which Were Used to Defend the Korean Nation or more simply Kuk Sool. It’s getting tougher to find and if found you’ll most likely pay more than you did for Dr. Kimm’s book even tough it is only 250 pages +/- depending on the edition. The bio on his website is pretty complete, there have been others in magazines and some of his other books, but that one’s good. Everyone I’ve ever heard talk about Dr. Kimm has the utmost respect for him.

I have a copy of the book. It is an interesting book and was the source of some controversy from a what I've been told. I would only buy it as a reference, since techniques now are practiced different than shown in the book. But if you've got the extra $75-$85 then pick up a copy. I think the easiest way to get one/cheapest is to call his school. Not sure what the number is, but it's been published in Taekwondo Times several times. But for true snapshot of the 80's you need to pick up In Sun Seo's book as well. It is a little tougher to find and out of print. Dr. He-Young Kimm helped Kuk Sool Won become better known in the US in the late 70's. You should read his bio, it's interesting. --ImaJayhawk