Red Nose Day Results!

Halesworth raised £1,340

Lowestoft raised   £1,360

FINAL TOTAL AMOUNT £ 2,700

Well done to everyone who contributed - what a fantastic effort.

Picture of JKN Kyle & JKN Henry from Halesworth

Many of you within the Kuk Sool community have probably heard about the sad news concerning one of our long-standing students. 16 year-old Rory Davies sadly passed away on 12th March 2011. Rory finally lost his long battle against brain & spine cancer.

You may recall KSN Rory was presented with his 2nd Degree Black Belt at Kings Lynn last May by Kuk Sa Nim and subsequently received a standing ovation by everyone present.

As many of you know, KSN Rory displayed tremendous courage over the last year after under-going some intensive chemotherapy treatment. Despite this Rory still managed to visit us frequently at class and was recognised locally by everyone for his indomitable 'Kuk Sool' fighting spirit. Many of his younger friends called him a ' true warrior' and he became an inspiration to many young people.

KSN Rory's dad Andy sent me a reply to a condolence message that I sent to the family, which I'd like to share.

Thank you Martin, Rory loved his martial arts so much so he asked to be cremated in his generals uniform. He was so proud to be a part of Kuk Sool Won.

KJN Alison and myself had known Rory since he was 5 years old, starting his Kuk Sool training in our very first 'Tiny Dragon's class' and like many of our students he became very much part of our close-knit Kuk Sool family.

Last July, we held a Black Belt Extravaganza in recognition of KSN Rory's courage and achievement in being awarded his 2nd degree black belt. Rory was proud to have been the guest of honour sitting alongside, the town mayor and other VIP dignitaries.

At this particular time we were all hoping for some miracle recovery, and at one point later on in the year it looked as if that might happen. However as many people know who have had friends or relatives that have suffered with cancer, things do have a nasty habit of changing very quickly.

Rory came in to see us at Kuk Sool just after Christmas looking really quite well and at that point he had been told that the cancer had nearly all disappeared. However a few days later after another routine scan Rory and his family were informed that his illness had returned and this time it was unfortunately terminal.

Rory's courage in the last few weeks of his life was immense and could be witnessed by the many hundreds of messages that he received by friends on Facebook.

I have included a picture of KSN Rory, which was taken when he was fourteen years old. It's the photo that I personally took for him that would be eventually placed on his 2nd degree black belt certificate.

This is the way that I wish to remember KSN Rory as a vibrant healthy young man.

Kyo Sa Nim Rory, you will never be forgotten in our hearts.

Master Martin Ducker (Kuk Sool Won - Lowestoft)

Comic Relief

 Over the course of two nights (12^th & 13^th March), over 160 students from the Lowestoft and Halesworth Kuk Sool Won Schools, kicked and punched their way through a variety of breaking-boards to raise money for Comic Relief.

All of the students who participated had to break at least one board with their bare hands or feet, using an arrangement of martial art techniques.

There was even a special guest appearance from the infamous and lethal ‘Black-Board’, which has made many a martial artist tremble at the knees over the years.

I am pleased to announce that the total amount raised so far at the time of writing is approximately £1300 with more money expected to come in over the next few days

I would just like to say a big thank you to all students, family and friends for their support in raising money for such a worthy cause.

JIKJN Martin Ducker

KUK SOOL WON ANTI-BULLYING WEEK

 

When faced with the possibility of being bullied

Don’t forget, use the three P’s!

• PREVENT- We can prevent a fight when we are AWARE of a bully before he or she is aware of us. 
• PREPARE- We can prevent a fight when we learn to TALK our way out of a fight BEFORE it happens.  We can stop a bully from hurting us, with out hurting the bully.
• PROTECT- We can stop a bully from hurting us by getting out of the way, by learning martial arts self-defence skills to go along with the Mental Self-Defence used when we prevent and prepare.

The 3 P’s - Prevent, Prepare, Protect.  Say Prevent… say prepare… say protect…  These are 3 ways to defend yourself if you are ever approached or attacked by a bully.

PREVENT - We can prevent a fight when we are AWARE of a bully before he or she is aware of us.  We look at how the bully looks, and what the bully says.

Example: I walk down the street and notice, in the distance, a tall kid coming my way.  He’s hitting bushes w/a stick, slapping kids on the shoulder, and shouting angry words at them.  I’m AWARE that this bully is walking toward me.

PREPARE - We can prevent a fight when we learn to TALK our way out of a fight BEFORE it happens.  We can stop a bully from hurting us, w/o hurting the bully.  I’m going to talk about 6 ways to do that.  We call them Bully Busters:

1)   Ignore the bully.  Let the bully shout at you.  Tell yourself that you don’t have to get back at the bully.  Ignore the bully as if he/she weren’t there.  And keep walking.

2)   Agree w/the bully.  If the bully calls you names, agree.  When the bully passes, say “Yeah, you’re right.”  Wave and keep walking.

3)   Be nice to the bully.  Treat the bully as a friend instead of an enemy.  Tell the bully you’re upset, too.  Tell him you understand that the world is in a mess, and both of you deserve to be angry.  Then keep walking.

4)   Walk away from the bully.  Don’t get into it, just walk away.  Move to the other side of the room or hall or yard if you can, when you see the bully coming.  Say nothing.  Keep walking.

5)   Refuse to fight.  The winner of a fight is the one who prevents it.  Stick up for yourself.  Just say no to fighting!  I’m not going to fight you.  I don’t want either of us to get hurt.

6)   Call for help.  Call a teacher, a friendly adult, a police officer.  Get other kids to help you find more help.  Or yell, Help! As loud as you can.  Call anyone who can help you stop a fight before it happens.

The 3^rd P is PROTECT - We can stop a bully from hurting us by getting out of the way, however if this is not the case, we are allowed to use our blocks as well as our kicking and punching as a last resort.

Red Nose Day

At Halesworth & Lowestoft Kuk Sool schools we have always been renowned for helping worthy causes and local charities.

In March we our ‘aiming’ to raise money for Comic Relief (Red Nose Day) in the way of a sponsored board breaking session.

The breaking session will take place during normal class time at Halesworth on Thursday the 12^th March and Lowestoft Friday 13^th March.

Make sure you collect your sponsorship forms.

Interview Conducted By Paul Codling On Master Martin Ducker For A UK Martial Art Magazine

• AGE/DOB:  45 years old  15^th July 1960
• PLACE OF BIRTH:   Halesworth, Suffolk
• OCCUPATION: Full Time Kuk Sool Instructor (18 years)
• FAMILY:  Alison children: Rachel (19) Jason (17)
• YEARS TRAINING IN KS:     27 years                                  
• AGE BEGAN: 18 years old
• LOCATION OF TRAINING: Beccles, Suffolk                                        
• OTHER MATIRAL ARTS?  None
• FIRST INSTRUCTOR: KJN Philip Holmes
• INSTRUCTOR NOW AR: Lowestoft, Halesworth, Ipswich,  (Suffolk)                           
• HOW REGULARLY: Every night
• REASON FOR STARTING MA: Self-defence (I got into a lot of scraps when I was 17years old)
• OTHER INTERESTS: Yoga, Art, Music, Reading

How often do you train now, and what does your training entail:

I train and teach everyday in some form or other. I also enjoy running two to three miles every other day and practice meditation and yoga on a regular basis, these additional activities help supplement my regular daily Kuk Sool practice.

What is your motivation to train after xx years of practice:

My motivation is to be more healthier and fitter at the age of 45, than I was at 25 years of age.

How do you perceive that the ma’s have changed since that time: 

In the old days as students we were encouraged to practice mainly for self-defence reasons, things used to be quite brutal back then.  I can always remember my brother-in-law getting his front teeth knocked out by a woman during a sparring bout. Today much emphasis is placed on health and personal development. I recognise that today we are not training our students to go into battle, instead we are encouraging them to become the very best that they can be, in all areas of life.

What if anything do you enjoy most about your training? 

Personally I love practicing forms or hyung’s, this I can do on my own without a partner. For me practising Kuk Sool forms represent a total body workout, as well as a great way of calming the mind. I also really enjoy the traditional Korean archery.

 

Would you say that you specialise in anything:

From a training point of view I believe that I am reasonably proficient in all aspects of Kuk Sool and tend not to specialise in any particular area, however I do believe that my particular strength is in teaching and helping others understand the unique concepts that Kuk Sool offers.

M: You have, as it were, a martial arts family. Does this change the family unit in any way: 

To answer your question; it hasn’t changed our family life at all, because Kuk Sool has always been part of our life together, we don’t know anything different.

As a family we are exceptionally close, we have a special unity that can only be described as quite unique. I know that Kuk Sool is recognised throughout the world as a ‘family martial art’ and hopefully we represent this image.

My wife Alison has been practising Kuk Sool for 25 years and is a 4^th degree black belt. Both our children, Rachel and Jason started when they were three years old and still practice regularly to this day.

MA and the benefits/effect it has had on your children, and the kids that you teach at KS:

The benefits and positive effects that martial arts has on children’s lives is enormous, what other activity teaches children respect, courtesy, self-discipline as well as adopting a healthy lifestyle.
It has become apparent to me, that the many children that have studied Kuk Sool, including my own kids have gone on to do remarkably well in other areas of life as well. At first I thought this was a bit of a coincidence, but over the years I have to say it has become extremely noticeable and apparent that martial art training certainly gives a person the edge.

To the envy of many, the Lowestoft school has dominated the UK (the now European tournament in recent years) winning the overall winning school on eight consecutive occasions. How have you achieved this:

Well if I revealed the secret to you we might no longer win… however if I told you that generally we are not concerned with winning tournaments, would that surprise you?  In fact our main emphasis is on Teamwork and providing outstanding student service. Following on from this we have developed a fantastic team of instructor’s who work very hard providing excellent tuition in a friendly and relaxed environment.

What would you say are the most important aspects of running a ma school:

Without a shadow of a doubt one of the most important aspects of running a successful martial art school is EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. This must take place on many different levels for example; it all starts with the school owner, communicating effectively with his or her instructors and staff, in turn the instructors must have developed great rapport when dealing with students and parents. Usually I find that when things start to go wrong it can be traced back to lack of communication on all levels.

What part does etiquette play in your school and why:

In Kuk Sool we are reminded that developing correct martial art etiquette is the first step in developing a strong mind. Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh also told me it’s also a very important principal in having a very successful martial art school – and of course he was right!

What is the best thing that you get from KS (abilities, disabilities, ages, sex possibly):

Kuk Sool means many different things to many different people, however personally for me it is a complete system of training for mind, body and spirit, which I find very enjoyable to practice and extremely rewarding to teach.

Tell us about the KS syllabus: The Kuk Sool curriculum is structured similar to that of the school educational system, adopting, primary, intermediate, high and advanced stages of learning.  To my understanding a Kuk Sool Won 1^st Degree black belt is the equivalent of a B.A. (Bachelors Degree).  The 3rd degree is comparable to that of the M.A. (Masters Degree) hence, one reason we get a wider black belt at this stage, and as mentioned, the 5th Degree is the PhD Degree.  As we all know the PhD degree is a level that a person never stops studying and training in ones chosen subject.

What do you tend to focus on and why: I tend to focus on being extremely positive. I also try to see the good in every situation if possible. Of course I do have my moments like everyone else, but these are now becoming few and far between.

What do think is the perception/role of the ma in today’s society: 

Over the years we have had to educate the public to view martial arts in a different paradigm. Typically martial art’s was viewed as an aggressive type of activity. Today many people are beginning to recognise the positive attributes that the martial arts has to offer.

M: you opened a school in Thurso, Caithness Scotland ; tell me about that Why, and what it entailed:

I was originally invited to the North of Scotland, by one of my students SBN Donald Mackenzie, who now lives and teaches Kuk Sool in Edinburgh.  Together we started Kuk Sool Won of Caithness School.
During a period of ten years I had travelled the 700-mile journey up to Caithness more than thirty times, in order to help support the school. I’m pleased to say that the school is still thriving to this day, fifteen years later, under the guidance of PSBN Cathy Smith.

M: David Beckham/ Prince Charles. You have also been a key figure in publicising KS. Tell us about that:

I have been very privileged to have been invited to perform Kuk Sool exhibitions as part of a team for some of the UK’s most famous VIP’s including David Beckham, HRH Prince Charles and Prince Edward.  I did take the liberty of presenting each VIP with a Kuk Sool honorary black belt on behalf of the WKSA and received extensive media publicity.

M: Tell us about your business/ Shiatsu:

Today I only teach Kuk Sool as my main profession. Originally I decided to study Shiatsu / oriental medicine as way of learning more about the bodies energy system, which incorporates pressure point knowledge and application. I did have a separate business practising Shiatsu for several years, as well as teaching Kuk Sool but I became overworked and eventually burnt myself out, trying to do both.
I am still a registered practitioner but I only use Shiatsu to a treat a small amount of friends and family, or to help speed up the recovery time for individual students after prolonged illness or injury.

How realistic is it to open a school with a view to making a living, and being self-sufficient on that alone:

When I first stated out as a professional instructor there was no one else around teaching full-time, it was almost unheard of. I always recall my mother telling me to ‘go out and find a proper job’ thankfully I persisted with the venture and ended up where I am today, with what I like to think is a successful business.
Anyone can now start up a career as martial art entrepreneur quite easily, but I would recommend searching out one of the many martial art business management companies here in the UK to give a helping hand through the initial early stages. Like any other business it takes time to build.

Got your Masters when: 

In October 2002 in South Korea.

Tell us about the ceremony:

It was a memorable occasion, as you would expect, receiving your Masters degree in South Korea. But I have to say the ceremony was quite strange, the atmosphere was very subdued, and I had only a handful of close friends including my wife to witness the event, but it was still a very exciting moment.

What does it mean to you to be bestowed with the title master:

Of course it’s a great privilege and an honour. Also for me it personally signifies martial art maturity, becoming an adult in the martial art world. It seems quite Ironic, that when you become a Kuk Sool Master you are presented with a ceremonial white belt, which signifies one journey about to be completed, and another one about to begin.

How do things change for you at master level:

The level of responsibility does increase, everyone expects so much more from you. I have to add that once the novelty wares off I like to think that I am still the same person as I was before. I try to not get too hung up on the title, however I still regard it has a great nonour.

What does the first level (5^th dahn) syllabus entail:

(Not sure yet)
It is said that up till masters level, emphasis is put on hitting points with a view to hurting an attacker, but at master level emphasis is put onto using those same points to heal/ talk about:  As I’ve already mentioned I have concentrated a lot of my time and energy into this particular subject. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my own instructor KJN Philip Holmes for his encouragement and inspiration in myself perusing oriental medicine. KJN Philip is a registered Acupuncturist and one of the highest authorities in Kuk Sool in the UK when it comes to healing, hopefully he will be asked to produce some articles for TKD and Korean Martial Magazine for future editions concerning this subject.

Tell me about the trip to Korea, how the competition compared to the ones that you have been witness to in Europe, and the Korean people. What the trip meant to you.

It was billed as the trip of a lifetime and for me it certainly lived up to all the expectations. From a competition point of view everything is much the same except for the sparring being full contact, as opposed to semi contact in Britain and the US.
I was amazed to see kids getting knocked down during sparring on a hard wooden floor, getting straight back up and continuing on without a complaint, their only objective was ‘to hit the other person back’.
Korea is a rich blend of transition and tradition and a great place to visit. As for the Korean people they are overwhelmingly friendly and have some great customs, which are incredibly good fun and interesting to learn.

Did you learn any Korean: was there a language barrier:

Like visiting any foreign country language can always be difficult, the amount we had learnt as a part of the Masters degree syllabus did help out.

How do you see the structure of KS in Europe and the UK at the moment: 

Everything in Kuk Sool is organised and systemized but the Grandmaster himself, the way I see it everything is going accordingly to plan.

How do you see it growing and what would you like to see Kuk sool achieve in the future (quality/quantity)

I remember Grandmaster Suh saying, that from little acorns big oak trees grow – we are now witnessing considerable growth of Kuk Sool throughout the UK and Europe. Personally I would like to see Kuk Sool expand more extensively into countries like France and Italy.

Tell us something that we do not know about you.

I have recently celebrated my 21^st wedding anniversary something I feel extremely proud of.

What is there left for you to still achieve:

That’s a great question Paul. I have to admit that I have exceeded all of my own expectations and ambitions up to now within Kuk Sool, therefore, my future ambition is not for myself but for my wife Ali. I want to see her reach Master’s level hopefully within the next two years. She’s a fabulous martial artist and one of the many unsung hero’s involved in Kuk Sool over the last twenty years.

Anything else you would like to talk about:

I would just like to thank yourself Paul for the interview and of course my colleague and friend Master Steve Issacson for being a great representative and ambassador for Kuk Sool. Thanks.

An Exclusive Interview With Alison Ducker - COMBAT MAGAZINE - December 07

KUK SOOL WON’s Most Recently Promoted Female UK Master!

Becoming a proficient practitioner in Korean Martial arts requires many years of dedicated practice, and that requirement applies to the one of the UK’s most senior female practitioners of Kuk Sool Won, Alison Ducker. Alison was promoted to Master level during 2007.

TKD-KCA - First of all Alison congratulations on your recent promotion to the distinguished level of Master, 5th degree black belt in the Traditional Korean Martial Art of Kuk Sool Won. Let’s begin by finding out how long you have been practising Kuk Sool and old were you when you first started?

AD- I was fifteen years old when I began practising Kuk Sool That was in 1981.  Since then I’ve taken a couple of years out to have my two children.

TKD-KCA - How did you initially become interested in training?
 
I went along to the local martial art school to watch my boyfriend (who incidentally is now my husband) practice. He was a novice himself at the time and I must have sat there patiently watching for about three to four months before the principal instructor, (after several unsuccessful attempts) finally enticed me to join in with a class.

TKD-KCA - What was training like back then?

As you would expect, it was rather challenging back then, and there weren't any special favours or allowances just because you were a girl or a woman. There were only a couple of other females around at the time. These ladies were generally quite masculine and could certainly dish-out as good as they get.

Unfortunately I wasn't very big so my only real advantage was just being very flexible.
In comparison with today's training, generally the overall attitude was much stricter and more militaristic. At times you were literally treated like a solider on parade, you especially weren't allowed to smile or show any kind of emotion, which was considered a weakness.

From a physical point of view it was also very demanding, the drills were often quite regimental. We would practice the same routines and techniques week in and week out without ever questioning the Instructor's motives. However the by-product of this type of training was you became really proficient at performing the basics.

Training methods were tougher back then compared to how they are now and attitudes were a lot different too! Many good practitioners left our club because it was so physically and mentally demanding. These days everyone is much more relaxed and not preparing for battle, so to speak.

TKDKCA  - So what made you stay the course?
 
That’s a good question. My husband would say it's because I’m a Taurian and generally quite stubborn. I rather like to think it's because I have a strong mind and of course I also recognize the positive benefits that martial arts has to offer as well.

Apart from gaining the obvious advantages in learning self-defence, martial arts in particular does offer a complete system of training for mind, body, and spirit. The greatest benefit that I’ve noticed personally has been an overall increase in my levels of self-confidence.

I am now able to perform and speak more confidently in public, where in the past I would have been slightly shy and nervous. I can now demonstrate on most occasions without feeling over-anxious, of course you still require an element of nerves to get yourself initially fired up before a demo.

TKD-KCA  - You and your family have performed lots of exhibitions. Does any one stick out in your mind?

Well, by far the most memorable was the one we did for the 'Beckhams' 2002 pre-world cup party. Members of KSW UK demo team, including my own family were actually asked to perform at that event. Of course that was amazing.

I mean any person in their right mind would have jumped at that opportunity. I literally had to pinch myself at least a couple of times to make sure that the whole experience wasn't a dream.

Another time my family and I were invited to perform the opening demonstration at the 2005 Kuk Sool Masters' Exhibition in Busan South Korea, in front of an audience of approximately ten thousand Korean spectators.

This exhibition was also broadcast on Korean TV, and was also shown in many other countries including parts of Southern China.

TKD-KCA - Tell us about your family.

Well, I'm married to Martin, who is also a Kuk Sool Master Instructor. Rachel our daughter is 21 years old and Jason is 18, both are 3rd degree black belt Instructor’s and are currently preparing for their 4th degree Black Belts in 2008. Both have been involved with Kuk Sool for the majority of their lives.

TKD-KCA – Have you ever competed in tournaments?

AD - I really enjoyed competing in the Kuk Sool tournaments, both here and in the USA. They were always great fun and I learnt a lot about my art and about myself as well. Wouldn't you agree that these should be the main reasons for participating in tournaments in the first place and not just about winning?

As for my results, lets just say that I used to do reasonably well, especially as most of the time I had to compete against the men in the various different categories. I do have a few Gold medals hidden away in the cupboard somewhere.

TKDKCA  - Have you now retired from competing.

AD - In KSW you are no longer able to compete in tournaments after 4th Dan. Your role then becomes one of an official.

TKDKCA - Have you experienced any major challenges or setbacks along the way during your nearly 26 years of training.

 

AD - Well as I mentioned earlier I've always been rather flexible, the only problem with this is that my knee joints have a tendency to pop-in-and-out rather easily. I have suffered four dislocations on the same leg during my twenty-six year's.

The worst was after only a few months of starting Kuk Sool, when I was just a yellow belt. I was performing a simple self-defence manoeuvre, when I unexpectedly found myself falling down on the ground. When I tried to stand I realised that my left leg was at a 90° angle, bent in the opposite direction to how it should be. 

I recognized it was just one of those obstacles that life throws at you.  You have a choice, to either quit what you're doing or just to get on with things. Over the last few years I've discovered how to successfully strap and bandage my knee so it doesn't have the option to pop out so easily anymore.  

TKD-KCA - What’s your favourite Kuk Sool weapon?

Well I really like practising with all the traditional weapons, as each has its own unique individual appeal. However I have a tendency to use the double short swords and traditional Korean fans for demonstration purposes, as these generally depict the specific roles used by the female Royal Court bodyguards.

TKD-KCA – What did you think of Korea?

AD- I’ve visited Korea twice, once in 2002 and 2005. Korea is a very, beautiful country and often described as the ‘land of contrast.’ My experience was very similar. I really enjoyed spending time visiting all the Buddhist temples and Monasteries however on the other hand, being a lady of course, I also enjoyed midnight shopping in the vibrant capital city of Seoul. It was very exhilarating, witnessing Kuk Sool performed at the highest levels getting to meet many high-ranking Korean Masters.

TKD-KCA – Name some of those Masters.

Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh, is like a father figure to us all in Kuk Sool. He is very kind and considerate and an exceptionally knowledgeable person to say the very least. I also really admire the Grandmaster's wife, Sa Mo Nim. She works so hard behind the scenes dealing with Association business but she has always found time to look after our family on our numerous visits to the US.
The Grandmaster's two eldest son’s - Master Sung Jing Suh and Master Alex Suh are always a great inspiration and I personally regard Master Alex as my main teaching influence. When Martin and myself visit KSW HQ it is Master Alex who looks after us.

 I also need to mention Master's Barry & Choon OK Harmon in the USA. They have been a major influence in helping us to establish a successful martial art business here in the UK.

Finally, I would like to thank my initial instructor - Master Philip Holmes. He really did persevere in getting me to start all those years ago. I still consider him a great friend and a major supporting influence for us all here in the UK.

 TKD-KCA  - What's next on the cards for you?

AD - Well of course I'm very proud to have reached Master grade but once the novelty of that wears off, it will be very much the same as before, training, teaching, and supporting my family like any good mother does. 

There has been talk of another World Kuk Sool Association trip to Korea within the next year or so, which I’ve heard will be specifically dedicated to training, as opposed to the cultural trips and tournaments that we’ve previously done.

TKD-KCA –Master Alison Ducker - Thank you very much for the interview.
The pleasure was mine. Thank you!

COMBAT MAGAZINE - December 07