Nilla Ice

Who's school is it anyways? Who has the licensing agreement to run the club?

KSW is very dynamic and has much more than just joint locking techniques. Group classes are molded to what the majority of the class needs as seen by the instructor. I've lead classes that do not have hyung or soo practicing...just kicking/punching/falling/stance training/body conditioning/etc...

1) Kuk Sool Won is trademarked. 2) You can not teach "Kuk Sool Won" without express consent of WKSA. You can call it whatever you want, but you can not call it "Kuk Sool Won". You will lose the court case. 3) It clearly states in the licensing agreement that you can not teach anything other than "Kuk Sool Won" in order to protect the integrity of Kuk Sool Won as assembled by Kuk Sa Nym. 4) Stretching is stretching... Mohm Puhlgi is a warm up, not designed for flexibility, but getting the muscles ready for physical activity. With the KSW curriculum, it is hard to set time aside for "flexibility stretching" and still get the necessary repitition to become proficient at all 225 techniques to BB. 5) Sa Mo Nym means "Intructors wife". Kuk Sa Nym's wife just happens to be called SaMoNym by everyone in respect to Grandmaster Suh's title of "National Teacher" and Kuk Sa Nym himself.

I look like him... Ice, Ice Baby....

I've been to Mardi Gras twice and had fun both times...no need to go if you are married or currently spoken for. What's happens in Mardi Gras stays there... Vegas has NOTHING on Mardi Gras in New Orleans. They need to crack down on the begging...it's stopped me from going back.

It sounds like all you need to do is extend the leg. It's mental...don't take it the wrong way. Many students have this issue, as I did. All it took was for me to put it in my mind to extend it. Start lower and work your way up...hopefully this helps. It sometimes is the simple solution. Let me ask though....When you are chambered with your kick is your foot facing the target with the sole or is the sole of your foot towards the ground. If the sole of your foot is towards the ground, then I doubt you'll ever extend it fully at any height over your hips. Non-okinawan sidekicks get the sole/knife edge of the foot facing the target as soon as possible. By the way, the hardest kick to kick high with is....the side kick. Have fun...

Really excellent post and you are right on target with your assessment.

Written like an experienced teacher/school owner. Excellent post. People join from all walks of life, are we to discriminate or embrace who they are and help improve them? The latter is almost always the choice.

Kuk Sool Won...it simply offered more than the other styles. I always wanted to do a martial art, but my parents never embraced it. So, when I graduated college and had plenty of discretionary income, I went looking and found Kuk Sool. I never looked back on that decision!

You miss the point....

Why don't you ask your master/instructor/sensei?

Look at McDojos/McBelts this way. EVERY school has students that frankly don't cut the mustard. They try as little as they can, they have problems remembering techniques and forms, they show less respect, etc. What do school owners call these students? BILL PAYERS! These students pay the light bill, the rent, instructor's salaries, etc. If not for these students, the average tuition would be 200 a month EASILY and there'd be fewer options style-wise. I know it's frustrating seeing slackers keep testing and keep promoting and getting the same prize you are working your butt off for, OR ARE THEY? Are they in the shape you are? Are they capable of representing themselves at tournaments with medals? Would they actually remember what they are taught in a self defense situation? Most likely, not. Are they asked to participate in school demos at public schools or festivals? If they are, it's to hold a sign up clipboard for free lessons. Next time you are in class and that same person isn't cutting it, think to yourself..."Thank you for paying the phone bill, slacker!" Turn the negative into a positive! Also, try looking at it from the school owner's perspective. He/she has a lot of bills to pay and rent AIN'T cheap...even if it is cheap. He/she has to keep as many students around, so he/she can continue doing what they love and that's teach you the martial art they love.

It depends on what earning/having a black belt means. I define a blackbelt as a goal and that goal has nothing to do with defense. Otherwise, there would only be one right? The king of the hill. The goal is improving one's self, one's likelihood of self defense/preservation, one's self-esteem, self respect andrespect for others, plus learning the curriculum. Let's face it, systems are so varied that age limits alone could not dictate it properly. I have several 8 year old students that have been better than some 30 year old students. Who'd win that fight? Martial arts isn't about fighting, that's why the word "art" is used. If I could beat up some of my systems masters. That doesn't diminish their journey or contribution to the system. Remember, Ali was the greatest and he wasn't undefeated.

This book is pretty complete in terms of curriculum. It's a stupid idea to place a whole curriculum like that in one book from a business stand point.

1) The book is called Kuk Sool Hapkido. That, at least, was it's original title. 2) It was intended to be the text book for Kuk Sool Won. Why it isn't, I'm not really sure only to say that this book caused a falling out between Kuk Sa Nym and He-young Kimm. It appears that Kimm did this book for himself, instead of for the WKSA. 3) It is a complete list of all techniques to Kwang Ja Nym in KSW. It is not in the correct order, though. 4) I'm pretty sure you can buy BB magazine or TKD times and still find ads for KSHapkido testbook along with the other HanMuDo textbook. 5) You will find pictures of KSW students in their older KSW uniforms and then you will also see pictures of "hapkido" students in "hapkido" uniforms. This leads me to believe that Kimm had alterior motives behind the book, therefore making me believe bullet number 2 is true. 6) This book is a valuable addition to any Korean jointlocking/throwing student's library. I have very reliable sources...

Big Congrats, Dahn Bo Nym Thanks, but don't go giving me TOO credit. I only supplied a little knowledge here and there and ya'll did the rest. Hey, easy on my 'Horns! I foresee PUSH-UPS in your very near future... Tuesday night sound good? KSN Tony

I have used ankle/wrist weight training to develop arm/leg strength. I used them in Forms and did very careful kicks and punches. MAke sure you "focus" at the top of your kicks and that focus needs to be shy of straightening out the joints. You will not notice the gain, until you stop the weight training. Got to allow the muscles rebuild. It only takes about 5 weighted kicks every 2 days over a 2 week period to strengthen your muscles for sharper higher kicks. Another good method of kick development is to kick from a deep horsestance and to return to that horsestance in between kicks. This is a lot safer than weights. If you are not using your lowest stances between kicks, then start... Good Luck!

Points that I am not arguing... 1) Japan influenced Korea 2) China Influenced Korea 3) Some "Korean Styles" really are Japanese with just a korean name. TSD literally can be read as Karate-do. The Characters of both languages are used, but only pronounced different. English, Spanish, French, German all use some of the same alphabet. Right? Point I am debating. Just because TKD may or may not be "Japanese" in it's application as we see it in the USA today, that does not translate that Kuk Sool is also Japanese. It simply means TKD may or may not be truly of Japanese roots. Fajita is a mexican food, right? Pizza is Italian, right? Well, I've heard they were both "invented" here in the US. May or may not be true, but it shows what I am debating. The atomic bomb was designed by Jews, does that make it a product of Israel? Nope, the USA.

Obviously, you didn't read "But, TKD was around before Japanese oocupation and saying TKD is like saying 'martial Arts/kick boxing' in english or 'karate' in Japanese." IOW, it's a generic term for karate martial arts, kickboxing, kung fu. I never responded with "suh said" for the simple fact I have respect and show respect for Kuk Sa Nym. All I have to do is keep practicing Kuk Sool and see what "other styles" do to know that Kuk Sool has YET to look like ANY OTHER Japanese style. How about this, you PROVE to me that Kuk Sool is Japanese. That short occupation period couldn't have erased everything Korean. You do know that the Japanese occupied China as the same time? Are you now going to say that all Chinese Martial arts derived from Japan? LMFAO! *IF* anything, China would have a bigger influence on Kuk Sool or any Korean Martial Art than Japan would for the simpl fact of geographical location in respect to all three countries involved in this discussion. China is backing communist North Korea presently and has been since the 1950s. This is going in circles for the simple fact you won't show me another Japanese martial art that's semi-identical to Kuk Sool.

This is probably the most accurate statement you have made IN LAYMEN terms. Which goes to show which country had the biggest influence on Korea and still does. The Koreans developed fighting styles/techniques solely for the purpose of defence mostly against the Chinese invaders and each warring kingdom in Korea. Ever heard of the Hwarang warriors? Yes, Kuk Sool uses a "praying mantis" block, but it by no means a "mantis" style. We also use a tiger palm, aka palm strike, a spear hand, aka crane technique, a Dragon stance, aka dragon style, so what's the point? Does that mean Kuk Sool is now a Chinese derivative? No, it means Kuk Sa Nym put together techiques practiced by Koreans for centuries or for a short period of time. Kuk Sool is traditional in the fact we do things traditionally, ie, standard uniform, protocal, heirarchy, etc that are all found in any traditional martial art.

*IF* Kuk Sool is truly rooted in Japanese martial arts, then which Japanese martial employs OUR forms, OUR Joint Locking techiques, OUR falling techniques, OUR pressure point striking, OUR kick, punching, OUR stances, OUR meditiational techniques, and OUR weapons all wrapped in a hard soft combination? Yes, the Japanese did have an influence on EVERYTHING in Korea, but that in and of itself is NOT enough evidence to say ALL Korean Martial Arts Systems originated in Japan or are truly Japanese. Why does TKD look so much like Japanese styles? Because that was all anyone could ever hope to see or learn in that period on a mass basis. They could watch the Japanese military workout and take that home with them at night and train in secret. That's why TKD looks so much like "karate". But, TKD was around before Japanese oocupation and saying TKD is like saying "martial Arts/kick boxing" in english or "karate" in Japanese. Again, which Japanese martial art is like Kuk Sool? Trust me, KSW is successful enough - the WORLD'S LARGEST PRIVATE MARTIAL ART - that if it was "Japanese" for sure those vertically challenged business geniuses in Tokyo would figure out how to make billions, like they've done with the microwave, tv, car, computer, camcorder, etc. You get my point. As I read the thread, I figured out one thing, you just can't stand the fact that some people might be happy with their choice of martial arts even if that choice is different that yours. LOL...The Kuk Sool Cult... I LIKE THAT! What a wonderful cult to be in!