From Ancient Warriors to Special Forces

Kuk Sool Kwan is a comprehensive martial arts system which traces its origins to those that were practiced by the royal bodyguards of the king of Korea. Kuk Sool was later used to train the soldiers of the South Korean Special Forces.

Kuk Sool Kwan was brought to the United States by Huh Mon Gil, the instructor who devised the Special Forces Programme and later went on to teach U.S. Secret Service personnel. As a historical art, it represents the true native heritage of Korean martial arts.

Being a martial regimen intended for the guards of a monarch, Kuk Sool training is thorough and makes use of every aspect of combat -- from both hard and soft aspects of unarmed fighting to weapons and tactical philosophy. Kuk Sool combines striking with grappling submissions, graceful flowing movement with fast kicking, and meditation and breathing exercises with rigorous physical training.

  • WEAPON TRAINING
    Weapon Attack, Defense, and Submissions
    Sticks, Staff, Fan, Sword, Cane, Rope, Spear, Sickles, Nunchaku, Throwing Weapons, Archery & more

  • JOINT LOCKS AND MANIPULATION
    300+ Joint Locking Techniques & Submissions
    Weapon Joint Locks
    Arresting Techniques

  • KICKING TRAINING
    Fast and High Kicks, Combination Kicking, Jump Kicking, Iron Shin Training, Breaking

  • GROUND FIGHTING
    Attack and Defense from Mount, Guard and Side
    Techniques From Seated Positions
    Avoidance of Ground Fighting

  • HAND STRIKING
    Boxing; Clawing, Elbow and Wrist Strikes; Iron Hand Training; Internal Striking; Trapping and Counters; Breaking

  • >BODY CONDITIONING & STRETCHING
    Cardiovascular Conditioning, Aerobic and Anaerobic conditioning, Speed and Agility Training, Strength and Endurance Training, Tendon and Ligament strengthening, Iron Body Resilience Training, Flexibility Training

  • HEALING AND NUTRITION
    Diet Balancing, Stress Regulation, Acupressure, Acupuncture, Massage

  • MEDITATION AND QIGONG
    Energy Breathing, Stillness Meditation, Concentration Training, Ki Development, Awareness Training

  • PRESSURE POINT STRIKING
    Knowledge of Vulnerable Points, Combination Striking, Techniques for Exposing Points

  • THROWING AND GRAPPLING
    Judo Style Throws, Joint Lock Throws, Counterbalance Throws, Counters to Throws

  • TRADITIONAL ROYAL COURT FORMS
    Military Forms of the Korean Palace Guard, Dance Forms of the Royal Court, Traditional Folk Forms

  • ANIMAL STYLES
    Additional Training and Technique Sets Based on: Tiger, Praying Mantis, Crane, Bear, and Snake Styles

  • TUMBLING AND BREAKFALLS
    Floor gymnastics from beginning to advanced: Safety Rolls, Back Falls, Dive Rolls, Cartwheels, Back Handsprings, Flips, Tumbling Passes


What is the training like?

We believe in bringing martial arts back to the way they were meant to be taught. We feel that there has been a tendency in American martial arts to water down and simplify their programs, supposedly to make martial arts more accessible to American students. This usually takes forms such as automatic promotion through ranks, point sparring games, and the elimination of meditation and sometimes of even truly functional self defense techniques.

The end result of all of this is that since the arrival of martial arts in America, a black belt has come to mean less and less, and it's not unheard of to see even 6 year old black belts! In reversing this trend and restoring authenticity, our classes emphasize real, practical instruction intended to create clear and definite development in a student's physique, mentality, and abilities.

In Kuk Sool, ranking is neither arbitrary nor based on "time put in", but is based on the attainment of predetermined levels of prowess as well as proficiency in lore. Instruction is provided in a culminating, graduated process that builds advanced skills on foundational ones. Despite the uniquely themed subject matter, Kuk Sool classes are designed to guide an individual's development from the absolute beginning. Students of all skill levels and physical makeup train together and learn from each other. You will be challenged, but in an engaging, creative way that maintains your interest and keeps you moving forward -- and at the end of a few years, you will have reached a level of skill that will truly "mean something".

Ultimately, however, Kuk Sool provides guidance in not only how to obtain a unique skill set, but how to lead a martial way of life- a way of discipline, self cultivation, and limitless personal unfoldment. Yes, the technique sets and theory behind Kuk Sool are more effective than in sport or recreational martial arts, but it is only in the full development of the mental faculties of the individual that they become extraordinary. To this end, Kuk Sool training still retains more than just the vestiges of those methods of old martial arts training -- we still exercise practices of mental endurance, psychological development, and spiritual insight. The purpose: not to merely practice a sport or an activity, but to come to intimately know the self.