Additional Information About Kuk Sool Won™

Arrival of Kuk Sool Won™ in the United States

Establishment of the World Kuk Sool Association, Inc.

Just as the establishment of the Kuk Sool Won™ made 1961 an historic year for the martial arts of Korea, likewise, 1975 was an historic year for the birth of the traditional Korean martial arts (Kuk Sool) in the United States. In 1973, Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh made the decision to endure all of the paperwork and bureaucratic red tape in order to immigrate to the U.S.A. Accompanied by two assistants, he finally arrived in Los Angeles on September 11, 1974, bringing with him his lifelong endeavor, Kuk Sool Won™

Upon his arrival, Grandmaster Suh was met by his sponsor and first American student, Kenneth Duncan, and after a brief stay in Los Angeles, they proceeded to New Orleans where the first official Kuk Sool Won™ school in America had been opened prior to the Grandmaster’s arrival. After a short period of observation and study, during which time he familiarized himself with the American people and their culture, Kuk Sa Nym (an honorific title for Grandmaster Suh) moved to San Francisco. There he established the World Kuk Sool Association, Inc. and opened it’s main school and headquarters in February of 1975.

After fifteen years of teaching ONLY instructors and masters, Kuk Sa Nym began teaching ordinary students again (i.e. students below the rank of black belt). Because there were only a few Kuk Sool Won™ instructors in the United States at that time, Kuk Sa Nym once more set about the task of training students to instructor and master level. Since first opening the World Kuk Sool Association Headquarters in San Francisco, Kuk Sa Nym has traveled extensively throughout the United States and other countries. He has conducted lectures, seminars and demonstrations, as well as personally testing each black belt candidate (who must be tested before the Grandmaster in order to receive their black belt ranking).

In Hyuk Suh is not one to denigrate other martial arts or the practitioners of other styles. It is his belief that the practice of any type of traditional martial art is beneficial. In fact, he has worked closely with martial artists of many different genres, inviting them to participate in promoting all martial arts as personal and cultural forms of expression.

In October of 1991, the World Kuk Sool Association, Inc. relocated it's Headquarters from San Francisco, CA to Houston, TX. This move was undertaken because of the rapid proliferation of Kuk Sool Won™ schools and clubs throughout the United States and elsewhere. Grandmaster Suh felt that a more central location would make it more convenient for Kuk Sool Won™ Instructors and students from all over the United States, Canada, and Europe, to have access to training at the Headquarters school.

In October of 1991, the World Kuk Sool Association, Inc. relocated it's Headquarters from San Francisco, CA to Houston, TX. This move was undertaken because of the rapid proliferation of Kuk Sool Won™ schools and clubs throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Grandmaster Suh felt that a central location would be more convenient for Kuk Sool Won™ Instructors and students, from all across the globe, to have access to training at the Headquarters school.

Presently located in Tomball, an outlying district of Houston, the WKSA headquarters is equipped with traditional training grounds covering over 20 acres of land. The facilities include a spacious dojang (training hall), outdoor training area, knife-throwing and sword-cutting areas, three different archery ranges, a meditation center, as well as the capability to practice some of the more advanced martial art skills from horseback.

It is our hope that Kuk Sool Won™ will continue to grow and prosper, so that one day everyone will have the opportunity to experience and practice this vital and exciting martial art.