Old News & Events

Workshop

(updated July 24, 2005)

Thanks! to KJN Alex Suh for a workshop he held Sunday, July 24th at Kuk Sool Won - San Antonio. Thanks also to Mike Webb for this photograph taken at the event:

December Promotions

(updated July 24, 2005)

We have posted the photos from the December testing and promotion ceremony. Honorees at the ceremony included:

• JKN Joyce Collins
• JKN Stephanie Martinez
• JKN Adam McCall

Photos:

• Friday, December 3 - testing.
• Saturday, December 4 - promotions and demonstration.

Raffle Winner

(updated February 28, 2005)

Be sure to congratulate Edwin Bates! He was the winner of the raffle held at the Asian Festival as part of the school's demonstration. Edwin won a free month of classes, a uniform, and an introduction to the benefits of Kuk Sool.

NEW SCHEDULE

(updated February 22, 2005)

New schedule! New options!

The new schedule takes effect on Monday, February 28. There are a number of changes and new details, so be sure to speak with PSBN Pat about your schedule. The times are now posted on the schedule and calendar page.

September Promotions

(updated February 6, 2005)

We've just posted photos from the September 2004 promotion ceremony and demonstration. Yes, September - apologies for the delay.

Honorees at the ceremony included:

• First Dahn:

  • JKN Christine Martinez
  • JKN John Seimetz

• Second Dahn:

  • KSN Kyle Evaldez

Photos:

• Friday, September 3 - testing.
• Saturday, September 4 - promotions and demonstration.

Tournament

(updated October 22, 2004)

The Kuk Sool Won World Championship and Master's Exhibition was held on October 9th - congratulations are in order for:

• All of the tournament participants, for their hard work and training.
• Cassie Braun, who brought home the Grand Champion trophy for her division for the second year in a row.
• The demo team from our school, who gave a well-received performance as part of the exhibition.

Tournament participants:

• Bibiana Maytorena (silver, techniques; bronze, forms)
• Ellery Pickens (instructor's commendation)
• Darren Cude (silver, forms; silver, sparring)
• Robert Wagner-Krankel (silver, forms; silver, staff)
• Mark Ramsower (bronze, sparring; bronze, staff; pewter, forms)
• James Johnson (bronze, sparring)
• William Johnson (gold, sparring)
• Adam McCall (gold, forms; gold, techniques; gold, sparring; silver, staff)
• JKN Carlos Leaño (instructor's commendation)
• JKN Scott Sturdivant (gold, sparring)
• JKN Eric Sturdivant (bronze, sword)
• JKN Frank Sturdivant (pewter, archery)
• JKN Matt Harter (gold, techniques; silver, forms; silver, sword; bronze, breaking)
• JKN Jacob Moore (silver, staff; pewter, sword)
• JKN Jen Adams (silver, techniques; silver, sparring; bronze, staff; bronze, sword; pewter, forms)
• JKN Cassie Braun (gold, forms; gold, sword; silver, techniques; silver, staff; pewter, sparring) Grand Champion
• KSN Krista Wilson (bronze, forms; bronze, sparring; pewter, techniques; pewter, staff)

Demo team : PSBN Marilyn Timme, PSBN Pat Braun, PSBN Robert Guerrero, KSN Krista Wilson, JKN John Summerfield, JKN Jennifer Adams, JKN Scott Sturdivant, JKN Matt Harter, JKN Carlos Leaño and JKN Cassie Braun.

The WKSA has posted the tournament results on their website.

Demonstration in Mexico

(updated Sept. 19, 2004)

Yes, Mexico! A Kuk Sool Won team went all the way to Guadalajara, Mexico to put on a special demonstration. The event was sponsored by the Maytorena family.

The KSW team: Chiefmaster In Joo Suh, Master Byung In Lee from Kuk Sool Won, North Austin, PSBN Marilyn Timme, PSBN Pat Braun, PSBN Len Trevino, JKN John Summerfield, JKN Cassie Braun, JKN Scott Sturdivant and JKN Carlos Leaño.

The demo was very well attended - over 500 spectators saw the team's show on June 18th. The demonstration covered the Kuk Sool Won gamut - forms, techniques, falls, breaking, and even sword demonstrations by Chiefmaster Suh and Master Lee. We have several photographs from the demonstration.

The team stayed at an exclusive country club near Guadalajara, and in between practice and the demonstration they had the opportunity to see a number of sights in and around the city. They also has a chance to see much of the Mexican countryside during their 16+ hour van trip. The itinerary:

• Wednesday, June 16 - Travel from San Antonio to Guadalajara.
• Thursday - Tour of the Lake Chapala and Ajijic areas, and practice for the demo.
• Friday - Visit to Zapopan's cathedral, and the demonstration itself.
• Saturday - Trip to Tlaquepaque and El Parian, and a visit to Guadalajara's town square.
• Sunday - Return trip.

They brought home a number of photos, including this set, from the trip up and the tours before the demo, and another set from after the demonstration. Enjoy!

Texas Folklife Festival

(updated June 30, 2004)

This year's Texas Folklife Festival featured the first-ever Kuk Sool Won demonstrations from several schools in Texas.

Our martial art and school have often been featured at the Institute of Texan Cultures Asian Festival, but this year the Institute extended a highly prized invitation to the Folklife Festival.

Joining the San Antonio school in the well-attended demonstrations were KSW martial artists from Kuk Sool Won - North Austin and Kuk Sool Won - South Austin. With this incredible combination of schools, all of the areas in Texas targeted by the Folklife Festival were represented.

Photos from the festival:

• Saturday, June 12. Kuk Sool Won - San Antonio only.
• Sunday, June 13 set #1 (by Rick Rogers). All three schools.
• Sunday, June 13 set #2 (by KSN Krista Wilson). All three schools.

Seminar

(updated June 19, 2004)

Kuk Sa Nym's Super Seminar came to our school on June 10th. The seminar had several facets - it not only featured Kuk Sool, it also included sessions on meditation and Sumi writing and painting.

We (of course) have some photographs:

• Set #1
• Set #2 (from John Seimetz)

Promotions

(updated Sept. 19, 2004)

Honorees at the June promotion ceremony included these black belts:

• First Dahn:

  • JKN Matt Harter

• Second Dahn:

  • KSN Krista Wilson
  • KSN Vicki Gulczewski
  • KSN Jason Leeds

• Third Dahn:

  • PSBN Dr. Thuy Danh Do
  • PSBN Donna Wilson

Some photos:

• Promotions / Demo
• Promotions, set #2 (from another photographer - thanks!)

Self-Defense Demonstration

(updated May 11, 2004)

Several students and instructors recently gave a self-defense demonstration for participants in the Eastern Indian Women's Empowerment Seminar. The organization graciously provided these photographs of the event.

Promotions

(updated Mar. 11, 2004)

Congratulations to everyone who was recently promoted. The most recent ceremony included these black belts:

• First Dahn:

  • JKN Jennifer Adams
  • JKN Leticia Casarez

• Third Dahn:

  • PSBN Patricia Braun
  • PSBN Len Trevino
  • PSBN Robert Guerrero

Some photos:

• Testing
• Promotions
• Demo / dinner

Some of the group photos didn't come out - if you have some pictures to fill in the gaps, or any photos to share, please let us know.

Asian New Year Festival

(updated Feb. 15, 2004)

Two Kuk Sool Won teams were featured prominently at the Asian New Year Festival, held Sat., Jan. 24th at the Institute of Texas Cultures. First up were the 'Eagles', Kuk Sool Won's children's demonstration team from Korea. Later in the afternoon, our own school gave their exhibition, followed by a combined show.

We took a few photos at the festival:

• Eagles demonstration.
• Our school's demo.
• Other demos and sights at the festival.
• NEW! More photos of the Eagles demonstration team.

Kuk Sool Won was mentioned in the write up on the Festival in the Express-News. Also, be sure to check out the pictures at the Institute's web page promoting the festival.

Promotions

(updated Dec. 7, 2003)

Please congratulate our newest black belts !

• JKN Tammy Long
• JKN Frank Sturdivant

Pictures from the promotion ceremony / demonstration / pot luck are available, as are pictures from the December testing.

Tournament Participants

We managed to get some of the tournament participants together for a photo:

We took a few other photos during the session.

Also, the tournament results have been posted on the WKSA headquarters web site.

October Testing Photos

Congratulations to all of the students who tested. We even have photos!

Halloween Party Photos

Have a peek at our spooky photos!

Honor Roll

Bring in your report cards! Any student who makes all As and Bs can receive a special academic achievement patch for their belt. Contact KSN Pat for details.

Tournament

Our school placed 4th at the WKSA World Championship & Masters' Exhibition, Oct. 11 in Houston. Congratulations to all of the tournament participants on this outstanding accomplishment.

Congratulations also to Cassie B., who won the Grand Champion trophy for her division.

We have posted some other photos from the tournament. If you have any photos to share, please contact the newsletter editor - the address is below.

Tournament participants (in no particular order)

• Quattro G.
• Aaron R. (silver, techniques)
• Austin A.
• Geron E. (silver, techniques)
• William J. (pewter, sparring)
• James J.
• Preston B. (silver, forms)
• Richard E. (bronze, sparring)
• Nicholas R.
• Brandon R.
• Alexis A. (gold, techniques; silver, forms; pewter, staff)
• Michael H.
• Mary R. (silver, techniques)
• Anthony A. (gold, forms; gold, staff; silver, sparring; bronze, techniques)
• Michelle B. (gold, techniques; bronze, staff)
• Karsten B. (bronze, techniques; pewter, sparring)
• Adam M. (gold, techniques; silver, staff; bronze, forms; bronze, sparring)
• Rachel A.
• Anar T. (gold, sparring)
• Mathew M. (pewter, forms; pewter, sparring)
• Robert W-K (silver, forms; silver, techniques)
• Fernando M. (silver, staff; bronze, sparring)
• Ryan R.
• Stephanie M.
• Jennifer A. (silver, techniques; bronze, sparring)
• Frank S.
• Carlos L. (gold, sword; silver, forms)
• David M.
• Jacob M. (silver, techniques; silver, staff; bronze, sword)
• Carl B. (pewter, staff)
• Cassandra B. (gold, forms; gold, techniques; gold, sword; bronze, staff; bronze, sparring) Grand Champion, Junior Girl 1st dahn
• Eric S. (gold, sword)
• Carol C. (silver, forms; bronze, staff; bronze, sword)
• Scott S. (gold, sparring)
• William S. (gold, forms; gold, sword; silver, staff)
• Johnathan M.(pewter, techniques; pewter, staff)
• Patricia B. (gold, techniques; gold, staff; silver, sword; bronze, sparring)
• Len T. (bronze, forms; bronze, staff; bronze, sword; pewter, techniques; pewter, sparring)
• Mark R. (silver, sparring)
• Krista W. (gold, forms; silver, techniques; silver, staff; silver, sparring; pewter, sword)

School rankings

There were 73 schools represented at the tournament, from 12 countries. Approximately 1,200 students participated.

1. South Austin, TX (Dewain Perry)
2. Clear Lake, TX (Barry Harmon)
3. Meyerland, TX (Mike & Kaori Nebgen)
4. San Antonio, TX (Vance Jackson) (Patricia Braun)
5. Baytown, TX (Tommy Nance)
6. Austin, TX (Byung In Lee)
7. Brownsville, TX (Raul Sosa)
8. Katy, TX (Tony Crabtree)
9. Abilene, TX (Tory Bonar)
10. Kingwood, TX (Richard Roper)