Black Belt Extravaganza

Our Lowestoft and Halesworth stars were out in full force last Saturday evening at The Lowestoft Sports and Leisure Centre. Both Kuk Sool Schools combined forces to demonstrate to over 150 people our Martial Art, in order to raise money towards The Beach Radios 'help an east coast child' charity.

We were delighted to welcome our VIPs and dignitaries including the Mayor of Lowestoft, our local MPs and Councilors and our guest of honor KSN Rory Davies. As some of you may know Rory is on his way to recovery - and was presented during the night with a pair of short swords.

We also had a special appearance from 'The Beach Bunny' who participated in his own special performance against our black belt instructors as our audience managed to raise over £250 in the buckets that were circulating.

All of our members from tiny dragons to black belts performed wonderfully to wow our audience.

A special thanks to The Bird family (Chris, Angie, Charlotte and Sophie) who made it all the way from Aberdeen, Master Darren Brown and PSBN Dave from Kings Lynn and PSBN Orville Lewis, all past Lowestoft members back to celebrate with us. Also to SBN Jon and PSBN Helen Denny for all of their efforts in helping to organize this event!

We do not have a final count as to how much we have raised yet. But everyone sponsored managed to break a board for an east coast child so we predict we are in the thousands!

Overall not only did the night raise money for charity but it brought us all back together again, one night which will certainly be treasured!

NEWS FROM THE LOWESTOFT AND HALESWORTH DOJANGS (June / July 2010)

On Wednesday June 2nd a black belt grading was held for over forty Kuk Sool practitioners at the Waterlane Sports Centre, Lowestoft.

For at least ten students from the Halesworth Kuk Sool School this was to be there final test before achieving their black belts.

The grading, which incorporated all aspects of the martial arts such as, kicking, punching, pre-arranged forms, self-defence techniques, board breaking and weapons was conducted by several senior Kuk Sool Masters, including the Grandmasters two eldest son's.
 
On Saturday 5th June, the successful candidates from the Halesworth and Lowestoft Kuk Sool School, all travelled to King Lynn, Norfolk to receive their Black Belts, which were personally awarded by the Grandmaster himself in front of a very large audience of family and friends.

A special mention goes to Rory Davies who received an emotional standing-ovation from the audience when being awarded his second degree black belt.

Rory is currently battling a severe illness and was only able to make his promotion after recently coming home after a prolonged period of treatment in Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Special congratulations go to the following people on achieving their first degree Black belts.

 

From Left to right; back row
Jamie Freeman, Jack Robbins, Robert Kemp, Chris Rogers 

Front row
Bilal Bounit, Finn Clouting, Alex Rogers

Also not pictured Alice Colls, Matthew Keal

1st degree Black Belt; Sian Savage, Brendan Harper, Shay Jordan, Ben Norris, Joseph Barber, Laura Gasson, Laura Riches, Andy Hemmings.

2nd degree Black Belt; Michael Garrod, Rory Davies

3rd degree Black Belt; Harriette Goldspink

4th degree Black Belt; Jonathan Denny, Matthew Goldspink

Martial Art Mum Win's Major European Title

A local mother has recently won a major martial art competition at the Kuk Sool Won European Championships at Kings Lynn on Saturday 5th June. The two-day event, is one of the largest martial art competitions in the region, saw over six hundred competitors coming from all parts of Europe to compete.

Janet Small 47, from Reydon near Southwold, had to compete in a variety of different categories, including sword, sparring and board breaking.

Janet won five gold medals and one silver medal to take the overall 1st degree Black Belt Senior Grand Championship title. Her particular division was made up from a large selection of both men and women and witnessed Janet providing the Judging panel with several faultless performances.

When asked about her achievement, Janet said, that she was really surprised and pleased at the same time, and added "I knew I had done well but I wasn't sure if I'd gained the overall Grand Championship title until the end of the day."Janet, who works as a local artist, is also a part-time gardener at St. Felix School, Southwold. She has been practicing the traditional Korean Martial Art of Kuk Sool Won for six years and trains regularly several times a week at both the Halesworth and Lowestoft Kuk Sool Schools.

The married mum, who has an twelve year old son, seems an unlikely candidate to be participating in the martial arts. Janet initially started the martial arts for fitness reasons, however she has already set her sights on her next major goal; to achieve her second-degree black belt, which she say's she'll be taking some-time next year.

Kuk Sool Won meets big red Fire Engine at local demo

Our Kuk Sool Won demo team came out in full force last week to demostrate to the locals of sunny Lowestoft. The demostration went down very well and a fun and enjoyable day was had by all.

All people in this photo are kuk sool won practitioners, including the fireman on the left and right.

In this photo: Cath Ellis, Michael Garrod (photos), Ludo Pery, Ben, Morgan, Darren Barber (photos), Aaron Riches, Elise Pery, Luke Denny, Big Red Hire Engine 2, Matty Gilham (photos), Laurence, Adam Elliston (photos), Shannon Ellis, Gemma Gilham, Matthew Wicks (photos), Charlotte Ellis, Justine Pery, Tom Collis, Pete Garrod (photos), Darren, Freya, Jonathan 'Frenchee' Pasquette (photos), Harriette Goldspink (photos), SBN David Ellis

NEWS FROM THE LOWESTOFT AND HALESWORTH DOJANGS (May 2010)

We are currently looking forward to hosting an event that will see members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in attendance. The Halesworth and Lowestoft Kuk Sool Won martial art schools, are one of only a handful of clubs to be highlighted to represent the traditional Kuk Sool here in the UK.

Tae Kwon Do and Judo are already recognised as olympic (martial) sports, however the traditional Korean martial art of Kuk Sool Won is also currently seeking entry into the Martial Art Olympic organisation, which although seen as a separate event away from the main Olympic games, it still receives similar recognition and funding provided by the IOC.

The event which is to be held at the Waterlane Sport Centre, Lowestoft will include a black belt grading and seminar for many of our students from Halesworth school. Other VIP guests will possibly include members of the Korean Government, KBS Korean News, and several internationally recognised Kuk Sool Won Masters, including Kuk Sa Nim.

More news about this event, including some new black belt promotions will appear in our next report.

In preparation for future involvement in the martial art olympics the Halesworth and Lowestoft Kuk Sool Schools recently hosted a European Championship referee training session. The event which included a written exam, lasted several hours and witnessed several of our Black Belts from the Waveney region successfully qualifying for international referee status.

The following successful candidates are as follows;

Lowestoft - PSBN Orville Lewis, PSBN Matthew Goldspink, KSN Harriette Goldspink JKN Will Pettit, JKN Neil Rodgers, JKN Janet Small, JKN Adam Elliston,
Halesworth - KSN Lee Clewer, KSN Stephen Runnacles, KSN Ben Matthews, PSBN David Fulcher

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)