At a recent event at work, the students behind the incredible project were asked, ‘if you had one piece of advice to give to your Year 9 self, what would it be?’. Whilst the question wasn’t for me, it certainly got me thinking – what would my answer be?
On my nineteenth anniversary of training in Kuk Sool Won, I am sharing my Kuk Sool journey so far in pictures.
Soviet era psychologist, Lev Vygotsky’s ideas about a Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) are hugely influential in education, and can also be explored in the context of physical development within martial arts training.
I have been practising Kuk Sool Won for the best part of two decades. After such a substantial period of training the same art, some may conjecture that it might get stale – because there’s only so much you can learn from one art, right?
A key element of Kuk Sool, taught right from beginner level, is Nahk Bup (낙법), or falling principles. Nahk Bup are essentially set ways of exiting a fall which prevent injury and protect the body – both inside and out.
For your movements and techniques to be effective and efficient in Kuk Sool, you must apply the theory of YOU-WON-HWA. Before you apply it however, you must have an understanding of what it is.
To the uninitiated, martial arts training is all about kicking, punching, and self defence. When you begin training for yourself however, you begin to see that there is a lot more to it than this.
Every three months in Kuk Sool, we progress to our next grade at colour-belt level. Whether this is a full belt or just a stripe, it signifies progress and achievement, but what does it mean in terms of your training?
Don’t let the shiny uniforms and masters or instructors sat at the front faze you. If you’re training right, a grading is just another class.
Over the years of training Kuk Sool Won, you will be faced with many magic moments: moments of realisation that you can; moments of inspiration; moments that stick in your head for the rest of your life.
Last year (2015), I promoted to the rank of second degree black belt (Kyo Sa Nim), after five years of practising as a first degree black belt (Jo Kyo Nim). What is the difference between these two ranks though?