After more than 20 years of training, 2005 will be the year that Sa Bum Nim Philip will be promoted to the rank of 5th degree black belt in the traditional Korean Martial art of Kuk Sool Won. He will join the ranks of only a handful of people within the U.K. to have achieved the rank of Master within Kuk Sool.
In this regard Master Philip will be embarking upon another beginning within his martial arts journey. It can be said that there are 3 stages within the study of martial arts. The beginning of the first stage is when a student first steps into the training hall and puts on a white belt. The second stage is the attainment of the coveted black belt, many people see this as the stage at which you truly begin to learn how to be a martial artist. The third stage begins when you are deemed to have studied long and diligently and to have shown loyalty and commitment to your chosen art and are considered worthy of the title of Master. Within Kuk Sool this title is awarded at the rank of 5th degree Black belt and represents a minimum of 20 years of training and commitment.
As mentioned above when a student first begins training within Kuk Sool they wear a White belt so it is interesting to note that when 4th degree Black belt instructors are promoted to the rank of Master, they are once again presented with a White belt by Kuk Sa Nim the GrandMaster. Until 2005 there were only six Masters of Kuk Sool resident within the U.K. So Master Philip and the other Kuk Sool instructors promoting to Master level this year will become part of a very small and very select group of extremely accomplished martial artists.
Having been a student of Master Philips for over 5 years I have witnessed Master Philip's dedication to Kuk Sool and his ability within the art on numerous occasions. He has proved himself in countless demonstrations and was awarded the title of U.K. Grand Champion at the 1983 U.K. Kuk Sool tournament as well as being a Gold Medallist at the World Championships in Houston. Master Philip is not just an excellent exponent of Kuk Sool, he's great teacher as well. He always seems to know how to deal with any situation in class and can put his point across in a direct and easy to understand manner. He has taught many students to 1st Degree black belt and beyond. Many of Master Philips students have gone on to open up clubs of their own.
In this regard Master Philip has helped the development of Kuk Sool within the U.K. as well as having spent time living with the Grand Master in America and helping to teach Kuk Sool at the World Kuk Sool Won headquarters. So in finishing I and all the students of Kuk Sool Won in Cambridge, Beccles and Loddon would like to offer our congratulations on the promotion to 5th degree black belt of a consummate martial artist, Master Philip Hinchliffe.
JKN Lee Martin Patterson |
