cool!  so I hope that everyone is planning an exciting break!

as promised, here is the information for the order of the Ssang Jool Bong!  Enjoy and practice hard over break!!

Wow!  Very cool, guys!  I think apart from this interview, everyone should talk to Chris and Dave.  Connect with them & find out more about them both if you have similar interests.  It is also very important that you continue to encourage each other now that you are getting to know each other better.  Have a good week and keep checking back for more updates!

P.S.  There is one final note I must mention.  Next week is Thanksgiving!  w00t!  Tuesday, November 25 we will NOT be having practice so everyone be safe over break and enjoy the delicious food!  I will post more information on this later.  Have fun and thanks again, Chris!!!

Name:
Dave Skrivan

Year at Purdue:
Super Senior (Due to graduate in December ‘08)

Major/Minor(s):
Economics major with a minor in History

Kuk Sool rank:
Red Belt

What drew you to join Kuk Sool Won?
I had friends in Kuk Sool Won and wanted to try something new.

How many years have you been in Kuk Sool Won?
I have been in for a year and a half, since January ‘07

What is your favorite technique set/form?
My favorite form is Cho Guep Hyung, don’t really have a favorite technique set.

Interests outside of Kuk Sool Won?
I’m into the following:  Tabletop Wargaming (Warhammer 40k & Flames of War), Swing Dancing, Computer gaming, Xbox Live (Gamertag: Skrivus), Da Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, and Top Gear.

Where is your hometown?
Naperville, Illinois (A suburb of Chicago and I refer to it as Naperthrill.)

Have you been to other Kuk Sool schools?
Which?
Nope

100 push-ups or 100 sit-ups?
100 sit-ups, mainly because I struggle to do 10 push ups.  Though this question is a parallel to asking whether I’d rather be stabbed or beat across the face with a tire iron.

Think about this one before you answer.  How many techniques do you know up until now?
I’ve been instructed on I believe 98 techniques (15 white belt, 30 yellow, 45 blue belt, and I’ve learned 8 in the red belt), but I remember and have memorized less than 1/3rd that I currently know.  I also know them to the level that I can do them, not to the level of being done really well.

Alright well,  I got a good bit of responses for volunteers which is awesome.  My first guest is Chris.  I won’t say much more than that.  Alright, here we go…!

Name:
Chris Tuley

Year at Purdue:
Sophomore

Major/Minor(s):
Computer Graphics technology

Kuk Sool rank:
Yellow Belt

What drew you to join Kuk Sool Won?

An extracurricular fest freshman year. I saw the Kuk Sool booth which
showcased a variety of different weapons, and was immediately intrigued. Then
Max JKN explained what Kuk Sool was and I was even more interested. so I came to
the call out and the rest is history.

How many years have you been in Kuk Sool Won?

1 & 1/2

What is your favorite technique set/form?
Ooh this is a tuffie. My favorite techniqe set so far is probalby Sohn Mohk
Soo. It builds on the principles of Ki Bohn Soo but is for more defensive
purposes like how to counter wrist grabs and the like. My favorite form so far
is Ki Cho Hyung. Its a really good workout and is fun to do.

Interests outside of Kuk Sool Won?
Well lets see. I like movies and film, especially movies heavy with animation
and special effects. I also enjoy heavy metal music and play drums occasionally.
Where is your hometown?
Evansville, Indiana

Have you been to other Kuk Sool schools?  Which?
No. not too many that I know of in the Evansville area.

100 push-ups or 100 sit-ups?
Oooh. another toughie. Hmm, I think I could do 100 sit-ups easier but I like
to build upper body strength too. Probably the sit ups though since it works
your core which is pretty much essential for anything.

Think about this one before you answer.  How many techniques do you know up
until now?
47
Ki Bohn Soo- 15
Sohn Mohk Soo- 11
Eui Bohk Soo -up to 11 but i only need to learn 2 more for that set

Well there ya go!  I hope this helps you and encourages you to get to know your fellow Kuk Sool Won-ers.  After all, and I say this a lot, we are almost one big giant family.  Once you have joined the martial art of Kuk Sool, you are integrated into a group of people that have similar interests.  Having said that, I think it is really important that you get to know each other well and encourage each other to do their best in everything not just Kuk Sool.  Have a good week everyone and thank you Chris for being the first up in this exciting series of Kuk Sool Won interviews!!!

I decided to steal an idea from fellow bloggers at St. Paul KSW and interview some of our members here at Purdue.  I thought it would be cool to get to know each other better since we are only together between 4 - 5 hours per week.  Some of the questions that I will include, but not limited to are as follows:

• Name(haha, of course!)
• Years at Purdue
• Major/Minor
• Interests(outside of Kuk Sool, because we all know you love it already)
• Rank
• Time in Kuk Sool Won
• Hometown
• Favorite Technique/Form/Kick/Hand Strike/Fall/etc.

Purdue members:  If you are interested in participating, then send the club an email expressing interest and consent to post your information on the internet.  Check back for the first interview soon!

Hey everyone!

It is now the fourth week of the Fall ‘08 semester and there are already a lot of things going on!  First, I should apologize though for putting so much time between this post and my previous.

With that said, here is what’s going on in Purdue KSW news.  We have our callout tomorrow.  That’s right the date has been set for Thursday, September 18, 2008.  The time for the callout is at 7PM, but be there at 6:30PM(regular time) to stretch and go over something you may have questions about.  Remember to tell your friends, roommates, girlfriends, etc. about our awesome club and especially sweet demo that we will be presenting at the callout.  For the white belts who have been practicing with us for the past 4 weeks, tell your friends how much you’ve already learned and if they don’t believe you to come check it out at the callout.

Also check out our cool newspaper ad in the Exponent today and tomorrow.  This is a really easy way to share your affiliation with Kuk Sool so you won’t have to do much speaking since the ad speaks for itself.  Also be sure to thank Bret for the design and layout of the ad.

In other news please remember to bring your dues money please.  The sooner the better.  We have lots of expenses that need to be covered including equipment and weapons.  The dues amount to $40.  Side note:  if you are considering whether or not to buy a uniform, they cost $45.  They look really cool and wearing it will definitely make you feel part of the club.

Well that is all I have for now.  Keep checking back as I will be attempting to post at least once a week.  Also, if you have any cool ideas for a post such as practicing a particular kick, form practice, or a cool video you want to share with the rest of the club, then simply email your ideas to

purdueksw@gmail.com

I will do the best I can to conform requests.

Remember:   Thursday, September 18, 2008 7PM

Everyone have a safe week and be ready for the callout tomorrow.

of the semester, that is.  I hope everyone is not too bogged down with their finals.  A few things before you start making your plans for studying.  Remember next week is testing.  Everyone should be there on Tuesday (4/22) for testing.  If you absolutely cannot be there, then please send Brandon JKN an email or get in contact with him and let him know. 

Next order of business, in case you did not know, Walter is beginning his black belt testing.  If you did  not know, basically, in order to obtain a black belt, you must achieve brown belt, learn all of your techniques and forms that come with that, and you test twice in front of Kuk Sa Nim, our grand master.  The first test is the initiation into the black belt testing.  The second test is similar except you must wait at least one year after the first test.  During the time period between the first & second test you continue with your brown belt, but you obtain black stripes that show your knowledge and mastery of the forms and techniques up through brown belt.  Once you obtain 10 black stripes and wait a year after the first test, then you are finally able to test for your first degree black belt.  It is a very involved process and Walter will be starting the quest for his black belt.  Make sure you offer some encouragement before next week Thursday(4/24).  Also over the Summer, Tony, Nick, Bret, and myself (Dan) will be starting the first round of testing. 

 If you are going to tournament in St. Louis, you should have already gotten an email from me with the information for travel and such.  If you have not received it, double-check and then let me know at practice or email me.  I want to have some special practices for those of you going to tournament to help each other get better on the final stretch. 

Last thing, we are participating in the Activities Fair at BGR in the Fall.  Whether you have ever been to BGR or not, almost everyone knows that the Activities Fair is a huge recruiting opportunity for our club.  We are not going to have a demo; rather it will be simple:  have a display board, talk to potential future members about your experiences in Kuk Sool, display some weapons, and get some free stuff from all of the other participants in the Activities Fair.  If you would be interested, talk to me or send me an email.  I think that is it.  Everyone have a good week!

well, I hope that everyone is having a wonderful first day of Spring Break, and that everyone is enjoying their time wherever they have traveled to and enjoy being away from school.  I am having a blast being at home, working on homework, and such.  More than anything else, I am enjoying just not having to do anything.

Remember not to get lazy and practice a little each day or for the regular amount of time every other day.  Remember to  stretch, practice techniques, do all of the forms you know, and meditate.  With that said if you know nothing about meditating, here are some things that you can practice to help you meditate more effectively.  1)  Go to a quiet place in your house (or if it’s warm enough outside of your house).  2)  Sit in a cross-legged position or lay flat on the ground.  3)  Practice the breathing techniques you have learned.  If you haven’t learned any breathing techniques, then just breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, and relax your body.  4)  While you are breathing, imagine yourself doing your techniques, forms, etc. in your mind.  Think of how it would look like if someone else would be watching you.  Put yourself in a third person point-of-view.  This is really important if you plan on going to tournament since you will be presenting in front of judges that are first-degree black belts and above.  What will they think of when they see your stuff?  Kuk Sa Nim spoke about doing this type of “workout” daily.  Your mind and your body have to be focused.  Martial Arts isn’t just about the techniques and forms you know,  it is about how your mind and your body are connected when you are doing your techniques and forms.

Those are some tips for meditating.  I definitely recommend everyone try it out at least once.  Continue practicing your forms and think of improving them every time you do them.  Remember low stances, higher kicks, faster hands, and then put it all together.

Hope everyone continues to enjoy break.  Stay healthy and out of jail!

Hey everyone!

If you are new to our club, here are a few things:

-Remember to check this blog regularly for updates on practices and such

-If you haven’t done so already, click on the “Contact Us” section and fill out the contact form and in the “description” field tell us a little about yourself, your background experience with martial arts, if you have questions write those down, and also how you found out about our club.

- If you would like to know more about our club also feel free to send us a message or come to our callout on Tuesday, January 29, 2008.

For all of our current members:  continue talking to people about our club and tell them about our callout.  Also remember that our ad for the callout is on the “Sudoku” section of the Exponent today Jan. 25.  On Monday, our ad will be on page 3 of the Exponent.  For Tuesday’s ad, I will let you all know when I find out what page it will be on.  Keep talking about Kuk Sool, and don’t forget about practice on Sunday at 1:30P.M.  Finally, big, monstrous Thanks! to Max Page JKN for the callout posters!!!

Have a good weekend!

We are having our callout Tuesday January, 29th at 7:00 pm in RSC 128.