What is Kuk Sool Won?

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO KUK SOOL WON

(by Suh Suhng Sool)

The name Kuk Sool Won is best understood by breaking it down into its three parts. Kuk is Korean, which translates to mean Nation, State or Country. Sool means Martial Art technique, but the implied meaning goes much deeper than techniques. It includes the mental spiritual, cultural and philosophical heritage of Korean Martial Arts. Won means institution. So we can translate Kuk Sool Won to mean National (in this case Korean) Martial Arts Association.

The roots of Kuk Sool date back to the very beginning of Korea with Sah Doh Mu Sool, which means Family or Tribal Martial Art. The next development was Bool Kyo Mu Sool, which means Buddhist martial art. Shortly afterwards came Koong Joong Mu Sool, which means Royal Court Martial Art. These are the three segments of Korean life and history from which the techniques of Kuk Sool derive

Today's modern Kuk Sool is not a style of martial art, but a systematic study of Korea's Martial Art techniques that date from ancient to present time.

Kuk Sool, as organized by Kuk Sah Nim (Korean National Instructor), In Hyuk Suh, has three levels of study: Student level, Instructor level, and Master level. Each level of study has a specific lesson plan, which has been systematically outlined from the basic level progressing upwards. Kuk Sool lesson plans are patterned along the principle of our educational system. A comparison would go as follows: Kee Cho is preschool, Cho Geup is grammar school level, Joong Geup is middle school level, Goh Geup is high school level, and Dae Geup is college level. These are with in the student level lesson plan. Completion of the first or Student level lesson plan is the martial art equivalent of a college degree. The third or Master level lesson plan is equivalent to the university level doctorate (Ph.D.) degree. It's a course of study that can be pursued over an entire lifetime.

The basis of Kuk Sool is the building and use of Ki, internal power. The proper pronounciation is “Kee”' but this term is commonly romanticized as “Ki”. Hence, Kuk Sool is classified as an internal martial art system. However, to classify Kuk Sool under any one name is an error because of its vastness. To be correct, one must say Kuk Sool is: Internal ,External, Hard and Soft Martial Art.

Kuk Sool is kicking, punching, throwing, joint locking, pressure points, falling, choking, physical fitness, mental control, meditation, breathing, acupressure and acupuncture. These are some, but not all of the technique categories contained within Kuk Sool Won. Most cannot be listed because they are still secret.

Kuk Sool leg techniques, Johk Sool, use all types of kicking, sweeping and grappling motions. It has a total of 68 different basic kicks with several variations fore ach and literally hundreds of different kicking combinations. Punching includes open and closed hands, using all parts of the hand, arm and shoulders for attack and defense. Throwing, joint locking, and choking utilizes every part of the body to form an enormous variety of Soo or technique. To be exact, Kuk Sool contains 3608 Soo. Falling and some gymnastics are an important aspect in escape, evasion, and self projection against a variety of attacks.

Pressure points are used in striking and grabbing. Attacking pressure points properly can be painful, paralyzing, or even cause death, depending on strength and precision of the attack. Pressure points are also used in acupressure and acupuncture for healing. Breathing, mental control and meditation are taught to help develop and learn how to control Ki. A strong Ki will mean a healthier and longer life. Learning to control and use a strong Ki will make a superior martial artist.

Kuk Sool weapons date back to the time when a man used stone-throwing as a method of self-defense as well as to kill small animals for food. Over the course of Korean history many different types of weapons evolved. There are 24 different traditional weapons in Kuk Sool. Of these 24 major weapons, there are as many variations as there are masters who used them.

To explain the many different categories within Kuk Sool would take at least one volume for each category. It is the intention of this paper to only to present an outline of some of the types of techniques that make Kuk Sool. Kuk Sool is a martial art of the past, present and future. It contains a benefit for everyone who practices it, no matter what age, background or sex.

NOTE: Due to the power of Kuk Sool, the study is favored among the training of many law enforcement and self-defense programs.


	What is Kuk Sool Won? BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO KUK SOOL WON (by Suh Suhng Sool) The name Kuk Sool Won is best understood by breaking it down into its three parts. Kuk is Korean, which translates to mean Nation, State or Country. Sool means Martial Art technique, but the implied meaning goes much deeper than techniques. It includes the mental spiritual, cultural and philosophical heritage of Korean Martial Arts. Won means institution. So we can translate Kuk Sool Won to mean National (in this case Korean) Martial Arts Association. The roots of Kuk Sool date back to the very beginning of Korea with Sah Doh Mu Sool, which means Family or Tribal Martial Art. The next development was Bool Kyo Mu Sool, which means Buddhist martial art. Shortly afterwards came Koong Joong Mu Sool, which means Royal Court Martial Art. These are the three segments of Korean life and history from which the techniques of Kuk Sool derive Today's modern Kuk Sool is not a style of martial art, but a systematic study of Korea's Martial Art techniques that date from ancient to present time. Kuk Sool, as organized by Kuk Sah Nim (Korean National Instructor), In Hyuk Suh, has three levels of study: Student level, Instructor level, and Master level. Each level of study has a specific lesson plan, which has been systematically outlined from the basic level progressing upwards. Kuk Sool lesson plans are patterned along the principle of our educational system. A comparison would go as follows: Kee Cho is preschool, Cho Geup is grammar school level, Joong Geup is middle school level, Goh Geup is high school level, and Dae Geup is college level. These are with in the student level lesson plan. Completion of the first or Student level lesson plan is the martial art equivalent of a college degree. The third or Master level lesson plan is equivalent to the university level doctorate (Ph.D.) degree. It's a course of study that can be pursued over an entire lifetime. The basis of Kuk Sool is the building and use of Ki, internal power. The proper pronounciation is “Kee”' but this term is commonly romanticized as “Ki”. Hence, Kuk Sool is classified as an internal martial art system. However, to classify Kuk Sool under any one name is an error because of its vastness. To be correct, one must say Kuk Sool is: Internal ,External, Hard and Soft Martial Art. Kuk Sool is kicking, punching, throwing, joint locking, pressure points, falling, choking, physical fitness, mental control, meditation, breathing, acupressure and acupuncture. These are some, but not all of the technique categories contained within Kuk Sool Won. Most cannot be listed because they are still secret. Kuk Sool leg techniques, Johk Sool, use all types of kicking, sweeping and grappling motions. It has a total of 68 different basic kicks with several variations fore ach and literally hundreds of different kicking combinations. Punching includes open and closed hands, using all parts of the hand, arm and shoulders for attack and defense. Throwing, joint locking, and choking utilizes every part of the body to form an enormous variety of Soo or technique. To be exact, Kuk Sool contains 3608 Soo. Falling and some gymnastics are an important aspect in escape, evasion, and self projection against a variety of attacks. Pressure points are used in striking and grabbing. Attacking pressure points properly can be painful, paralyzing, or even cause death, depending on strength and precision of the attack. Pressure points are also used in acupressure and acupuncture for healing. Breathing, mental control and meditation are taught to help develop and learn how to control Ki. A strong Ki will mean a healthier and longer life. Learning to control and use a strong Ki will make a superior martial artist. Kuk Sool weapons date back to the time when a man used stone-throwing as a method of self-defense as well as to kill small animals for food. Over the course of Korean history many different types of weapons evolved. There are 24 different traditional weapons in Kuk Sool. Of these 24 major weapons, there are as many variations as there are masters who used them. To explain the many different categories within Kuk Sool would take at least one volume for each category. It is the intention of this paper to only to present an outline of some of the types of techniques that make Kuk Sool. Kuk Sool is a martial art of the past, present and future. It contains a benefit for everyone who practices it, no matter what age, background or sex. NOTE: Due to the power of Kuk Sool, the study is favored among the training of many law enforcement and self-defense programs.