Japanese movements and names. The radiant martial arts of the Korean ancestors were not represented by these exhibitions and fortunately the Korean ancestors did not have to see it. Even in these modern times, many people believe that Korean martial arts were imported from Japan and China. This would be a laughing matter if it were not so tragic. Our association head IN HYUK SUH and others were saddened by the ignorance of the world to the rich legacy of Korean Traditional Martial Arts. In an attempt to rectify this situation, they traveled to many places throughout the Korean peninsula in order to research and re-establish the Korean martial art tradition.
Many historical sites were visited, along with hundreds of temples and as many different masters of traditional arts as could be found. The research included close examination of murals, cave wall paintings, archaeological and historical evidence, interviews and practical training. Much time was spent looking at the shape of things, listening, gathering information and getting the ''feel'' of Korea's past traditions.
The first step of this travel was research at locations in the area of the ancient Karak Kingdom. Examples of these martial arts are the Double Sword Dance and Staff arts. Other traditions of historical martial arts were found at Hae In Sa Temple. Tong Do Sa Temple and temples in the Pusan, Kim Hae, Masan, Jin Joo, Yang San, Chung Moo. Chang Myung, Hool San and the Kyung Nam Do area. Information gathered from these sources yielded our current Kuk Sool Won Sword Dancing Form (empty-handed), Double Short Sword Form, Double Long Sword Form and Staff Forms, including short, intermediate length and long staff. From information in the Sam Guk Yu Sa we know that the Silla kingdom's sword technique was well known even in China.
From information garnered in the cities of Kyung Ju, Tae Gu, Yong Chun, Sun San, Sang Ju, Hoe Hong and An Dong, and from trave1 throughout Kyung Bok Do province the weapon techniques of sword, inc1uding long sword movements, reverse sword movements and empty hand forms such as Sam Bang Cho Hyung and Kyuk Pa Hyung were discovered. The ancient kingdom of Paekche martial arts, found throughout the north and south Chulla Do provinces in the cities and areas of Chun Ju, Kwang Ju, Yaw Soo, Kun San. Chohng Up Mok Po, Tae Chun Su Won and A-san, are demonstrated by our Crane Dancing Form, Rope Tying Techniques and other empty hand weapon arts.
From the Seoul area, Chun Chun, Kang Nung Sok Cho, Chol Won, techniques popular during the Koryo Dynasty such as, 108 Torments Form, Fan and Cane Techniques, and Pressure Point attacks were found. These techniques were all invented or developed in the past twenty-four centuries, the Lee Dynasty and particularly during the reign of King Chong Joo.
This accomplishment of research into secret materials took more than twenty years of hard work, hard times and difficulty in survival. The enormous work, while still not completed, has been organised into the present day Kuk Sool Won system which divided into 3608 techniques that are found in 270 divisions.
Although this work was trying it was truly a labour of love to be transported back in time, through the Three Kingdom period (Silla. Paekche and Koguryo) Koryo and the Lee Dynasty. Looking at the murals and the tile designs one could see the empty hand fighting motions, sword, spear, and staff forms, as well as defence and attack postures so lively that the similarities to today’s current Kuk Sool Won movements and postures is obvious.
Through all these trying times Teacher In Hyuk Suh tried to spread the traditional martial arts to his fellow countrymen. Some especially able and talented disciples were sent to Pusan, Seoul, Kuang Ju, Tae Chun Tae Gu, Chun Joo Chun Chun Ma San, Mok Po, Yaw Su, Shoon Chun, Chin Ju, Kun San, and elsewhere. These masters of Kuk Sool were dispatched throughout the country and after twenty years. hundreds of branch schools were established with over a million members passing through the doors of Kuk Sool schools and some fifty thousand Black Belts.
The reputation of Korean historical Martial Arts (Kuk Sool Won) is spreading throughout Korea and in many places of the world. In 1972 Kuk Sool was listed in the World Physical Education Encyclopedia. Around the world, Kuk Sool has been shown in thousands of demonstrations for many years, in gymnasiums, festivals, competitions (national and local), schools, television and newspapers. Because of these extensive works people everywhere recognise the existence of Kuk Sool and its strength. Of special importance, Kuk Sool was recognised by the government and in early 1977; the Korean Cultural Department produced the film ''Ho Kuk Moo Yea'' (Historical Martial Arts for National Defence) which featured forty Kuk Sool Masters in the film. This film was shown overseas to promote Korean Culture and understanding and to educate other countries to the Traditional Martial Arts of Korea. This film greatly uplifted the historical importance of Korean martial Arts. Also in January 1978, of all the martial art groups in Korea, Kuk Sool Won was once again chosen to represent Korean Traditional Martial Arts at a memorial ceremony celebrating 75 years of Korean immigration in Hawaii.
This was a landmark event for the Kuk Sool ambassadors, Chiefmaster In Sun Seo and eight others. They were dispatched to foreign countries and to their native country fourteen times to demonstrate and show the excellence of Kuk Sool. There is much pride within Kuk Sool associated with these events.
The reason Kuk Sool Won is so well recognised is not just because the technique is superb, but because all the members and officers in the association work from one mind and one body. Korea's saying, "White Clothing, Pure Country'' is the same as our association logo. We value etiquette and manners as of utmost importance. It is important to know many techniques, but we value etiquette equally. True martial artists do not desire to hurt people, but strive to serve their fellow countrymen and strengthen society. We strive to be a group associated and known for national prestige and high ideals.
The current Kuk Sool Won techniques are compiled into levels of instruction consisting of beginner, intermediate, advanced and black belt levels. The techniques include arts and skills such as fist arts, leg arts, gathering power for defence, pressure points, escorting techniques for capture, rope tying techniques, staff arts (short. intermediate. long), sword arts (straight, reverse. double, long and short swords), palm striking (open palm. reverse palm, spinning palm, side palm) fan and cane, techniques, circular blocking techniques Internal power techniques, head-butting techniques, lower abdominal breathing techniques (internal and external), under black belt empty hand forms, above black belt empty hand forms and weapons forms.
Many believe Kuk Sool to be the most scientifically developed and organised martial arts to be found anywhere in the world. These techniques and arts left to us by the Korean ancestors, from the scholar's martial arts of pressure points, joint-locking, fan and cane to the warrior's martial arts of sword, staff and spear will continue to be researched and exposed. |
