 Nathan Scott (centre), with SBN Caroline (left) and JKN Jane (right) My Kuk Sool Won™ journey began when I was researching martial arts for one to learn. I came across Kus Sool Won, I decided to look in to it a bit more and then decided I would give it a try. I sent SBN Caroline, the owner, an email and I soon got a reply. So, the next day I went along to my try-out class and I loved it and went along to the next class.
After a year of being with Kuk Sool my younger brother also started training, but unfortunately the West Auckland school had to close. I did not want to stop training, so I tried some other martial arts but they were nothing like Kuk Sool. My Dad drove me on the three hour round trip to the Waikato until we moved down to Onewhero. I was able to do Kuk Sool with the same instructors, which was very important to me. I also convinced my parents to join and we now train together as a family. It is great to train with family because we can all learn together and get to spend time doing something which we all enjoy. When we moved to the Waikato I joined the Black Belt Club. This means that I can now train as many times as I like. I am now a Brown Belt and in the first hour of training I help the younger students and in the second hour I focus on my own training. I really enjoy working with the younger students as it helps me to be patient and to be a good teacher. This means that I train for up to 6 hours a week, over 3 session times. My favourite part of Kuk Sool is using the weapons, because it is fun and you can learn the part the weapons have in the history of Korea. I also really enjoy practicing the forms. Forms are a combination of moves made to fit together in a sequence. The reason I like forms is because it is the main part of Kuk Sool, which teaches you strikes and stances easily. I would like to get to at least Ji Do Kwahn Jahng Nim (Seventh Degree) and open a school in Wellington, but my Kuk Sool Won journey will never end. SBN Caroline and JKN Jane are the best and I never want to stop Kuk Sool. Nathan Scott Brown Belt Kuk Sool Won of Onewhero & Pukekohe Copyright © 2018. Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero. All Rights Reserved.
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Teaching children the traditional Korean martial art of Kuk Sool Won™ is a great joy for me. Sure, it can be a bit like herding feral kittens at times, especially when they are tired near the end of the school term. It can also be frustrating when they can’t remember what you have taught them or when siblings fight in class. But these are minor irritations when compared with the overall joy teaching this age group brings.
So why do I enjoy teaching martial arts to children so much?
Teaching martial arts to kids is not easy and does not come naturally to everyone. While there are many factors that make a good teacher, fundamentally an instructor must have a passion for teaching children. If this exists, the kids will be “smiling, sweating and learning” (using the words of Master Martin Ducker of Kuk Sool Won™ of Lowestoft and Halesworth). This makes for a great environment for everyone. JKN Jane Hurst First degree black belt and school owner Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero Copyright © 2018. Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero. All Rights Reserved. 
With so many martial arts schools out there, it can be daunting trying to find a good one that will suit you or your children. If you get it right, you can look forward to years of great training experiences ahead of you. If you get it wrong, it will not only cost you money, but it may also put you off martial arts for life. Here are our top ten tips to finding a good school.
1. What type of training are you looking for? Different styles of martial arts focus on different types of training, so it is a good idea to think about your training goals and aspirations. For example, are you looking for a hard physical workout which emphasizes competitive fighting or sparring or are you more focused on learning self-defence and the personal journey of developing your body and mind? Do some internet research on the types of martial arts offered in your area to narrow down your options. 2. Do they get back to you? A good school owner will get back to your initial inquiry quickly. If they don’t, then they probably don’t have the best communication and people skills. 3. Do they make you feel welcome? A good martial arts school should be a welcoming and friendly place. Does the instructor introduce him or herself when you walk in the door, Are you made to feel welcome, and are the students friendly? 4. Are they upfront about all of the costs? Many martial arts schools will sell you on a low monthly fee, only to hit you later with extra costs for gradings, belts and uniforms. These can be very expensive. A good school will be upfront about all of the costs of training so you can make an informed decision. 5. Do you get to try before you buy? It is important to try some classes before you make a commitment, to ensure it is the right martial art for you or your kids. At our schools (Kuk Sool Won™ of Pukekohe and Onewhero), we offer two free classes, with the first involving a one-on-one session with an instructor to learn the basics. This gives you a good opportunity to see if you like the martial art, the instructors, and the school environment. 6. Is it a respectful environment? A good martial art is built on a platform of respect, irrespective of rank or position in the school. Importantly, a good instructor will treat all students respectfully. There is no place for bullying behavior in a good martial arts school. 7. Is it a safe place? The school and its activities must be safe. Are there well maintained and clean mats? Is the training hall clean? If the students are sparring, are they required to wear safety gear? Are the activities well supervised and controlled by the instructor to ensure no one is getting hurt or becoming aggressive? 8. Is the school part of a regulated international association? Anyone can set up a martial arts school with little training or regulation. When a school is part of a recognized and regulated international association, you have a degree of assurance that the instructor is properly trained and teaching quality is controlled. For example, all Kuk Sool Won™ schools are licensed by the World Kuk Sool Association, which is governed by one Grandmaster. All schools are required to teach to a set curriculum and the Grandmaster oversees black belt testings around the world. This maintains quality and oversight of schools and instructor teaching standards. 9. Have you checked out other schools? We recommend that you check out more than one school before you make a commitment, so that you can make an informed decision on the school that is best for you. 10. What is your gut telling you? Your gut instinct is fundamentally the most important factor in finding a good school. If it doesn’t feel right, you don’t feel welcome, or it doesn’t feel safe, trust that gut instinct and go somewhere else. If though, it feels like a safe, welcoming place, with friendly people who are happy to answer all of your questions, then it is probably the right place for you. JKN Jane Hurst First degree black belt and school owner Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero
Martial arts are great for kids but we are often asked how old do they need to be to start training. Normally, kids need to be 6 or 7 to join a kids class. However, we have developed a specialised programme for 5 year olds which we offer at our Kuk Sool Won™ school in Pukekohe. Here are 5 great reasons why your 5 year old will benefit from our Kiwi Dragons™ programme in the Korean martial art of Kuk Sool Won™. 1. Respect and discipline: Kuk Sool Won™ specifically focuses on creating respectful citizens. We gently encourage our 5 year old students to develop self-discipline and show respect to their instructors, fellow students, parents, and themselves. We do this through individual and teamwork drills and exercises, as well as by role modelling good behaviour. 2, Focus and memory: 5 year olds have a short attention span. By using repetitive exercises and breaking martial art elements into small components, we capture the attention of our young students and gradually improve their memory. We supplement this with various reward systems to keep them focused and motivated. 3. Control and balance: By breaking down martial art elements into smaller components, young students gradually gain control over their developing bodies. They develop co-ordination and balance through exercises that encourage development of the left and right sides of their brain and body. 4. Self-defence: Self-defence is at the core of Kuk Sool Won™. From their first class our 5 year olds learn how to get away if someone grabs them. They consistently practice getting away quickly so that it becomes second nature. 5. Fitness and fun: With plenty of age-appropriate exercises, drills and body conditioning, 5 year olds gain strength and fitness. They also have a lot of fun, which is an essential part of the learning process with young children. 6. Spatial Awareness: Kids spend a lot of time on digital media these days and from an early age. Flat screens and no interaction with others and real objects will not help them learn about depth perception and spatial awareness. By participating in a group activity with real objects, kids get to experience 3 dimensional play. |
Caroline and Jane Hurst
Caroline is a 5th degree black belt and Jane is a 2nd degree black belt in the traditional Korean martial art of Kuk Sool Won™ . They run 2 Kuk Sool Won™ martial arts schools in New Zealand. Archives
March 2019
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