Need Help With Kuk Sool

[taiji fajin]

In Kuk Sool, on the road to getting my Black Belt, I had to memorize 226 techniques (not including roughly 50 grappling ones), 6 empty hand forms, 4 weapons forms, one weapons sparring form, I have no idea how many "weapons techniques" but a lot, etc etc etc. I probably only mentioned half of the what I learned.

1) With this many things, how do you keep from becoming a jack of all trades, master of none? I know people are going to say "practice a lot" and similar things, but honestly, you could practice for years and years and years and years on pre black belt material and still be deficient. All the while we are suppose to be learning new things.

2) Is there anything in Kuk Sool that you can focus on during everything, that pulls it all together? This is a big, BIG question for me. In taiji, no matter what I do, I know yin and yang pull it all together. I can't find anything like that in Kuk Sool, and it makes it hard, makes many parts seem disjointed. There is no underlying theme that I can find. Please do not just say "The 5 Hyung By Laws for forms and You-Won-Hwa for techniques". The 5 Hyung By Laws are things you have to do during the forms, they are not underlying principles. You-Won-Hwa is a little better, but even it seems more like tips for good practice than an underlying theme.

An answer to these, especially by an experienced/high level Kuk Sool practitioner, would be greatly appreciated.

[ZR440]

KSW is not an easy system and it does take a while for it to gel together without thinking about it. You just haven't gotten to that point. I think that really starts at PSBN level. Possibly at KSN level. All you can do is practice and pick the brains of those who have the experience.

[JKN Dean]

It's funny. Looking back, I got that exact same feeling when I was in college working towards my engineering degree.

How the heck do they expect me to learn EVERYTHING they're cramming down my throat in so short a time. Between the English classes, history classes, political science classes, and my engineering classes, I'm going to end up a jack of all trades, and master of none!

Of course, things didn't end up that way.

I don't know what your expectations are, but attaining a 1st degree black belt in KSW does not make you a master of KSW. You don't become a master until 5th degree! So, it's putting an unecessary burden on yourself to expect yourself to have mastered anything in KSW at just the 1st degree BB level.

As far as focus goes, I don't know. I just have it. Maybe it's because KSW is the only MA I've ever taken and I don't have any preconceived notions of needing something other than trying to become the best KSW practioner I can be to keep me motivated.

I don't know how to help you on #2.

[ZR440]

Very well put, Dean. Mr Harmon would probably agree with you.

And yeah, some of those humanities classes sucked. I still can't figure out how art appreciation is to help me conduct a failure analysis on pre-production sample parts. Maybe paint them an abstract floral pattern.

[Enviroman]

Very well put, Dean. Mr Harmon would probably agree with you.

And yeah, some of those humanities classes sucked. I still can't figure out how art appreciation is to help me conduct a failure analysis on pre-production sample parts. Maybe paint them an abstract floral pattern.

Learning for the sake of learning?

There are technical schools for those that don't want to learn about non-job related stuff, ya know...

[JKN Dean]

True, but you can't get a REAL engineering degree from a non-accredited engineering college.

That's important when getting your PE Certification.

[ZR440]

Even the engineering/tech schools require certain number of credits in the humanities. I'm not saying all are bad, because I liked a few, but it shouldn't be forced on a student who has to use loan money to pay for it. That's horse crap.

[aefibird]

Taiji Fajin, have you talked with your instructor about how you feel? He/She may have gone through the same thing at the pre-BB stage and may be able to give you some spot-on advice.

[taiji fajin]

Thank you to everyone for responding. I'm not assuming that, as only a first degree black belt, I should have an understanding of Kuk Sool. I'm just wondering how you can keep from being only superficial at most things until you've studied for years and years and years and years.

Much, MUCH more importantly, I'm wondering what ties Kuk Sool together. This is the thing no one really commented on. As I said, in taiji, yin and yang pull everything together, and I can go back to them to help me with anything I'm practicing. Everything seems connected. In Kuk Sool, it doesn't yet. What connects everything in Kuk Sool, so it's not just a bunch of techniques, forms, etc, lumped under one art? That's what I need the most help with.

aefibird, my old instructor and I do not talk much, though I do practice with his instructor some. I will see him in about a month and a half. Thank you for the suggestion, I will definitely ask him.

Thank you all again.

[JKN Dean]

Well, help us understand what you mean when you say "yin and yang help pull everything together" for you.

Are you talking about spiritual aspects? If so, then sorry but there is nothing overtly spiritual about Kuk Sool.

As a matter of fact, I've never bothered to consider that the Kuk Sool hyung need to be tied together with Kuk Sool soo. The hyung are not going to help you perfect your soo, since hyung are a solo performance, and soo must be practiced on a partner. What hyung do is help you train your body for strength and balance.

You don't need to be spiritual to do that. You just need focus.