What is Kuk Sool Won™?
A Comprehensive Martial Arts System

Kuk Sool Won™ is a systematic study of all of the traditional fighting arts, which together comprise the martial arts
history of Korea. As such, Kuk Sool Won™ is extremely well organized and seeks to integrate and explore all aspects of
the traditional Korean martial arts.
As a martial arts system, Kuk Sool Won™ covers the entire spectrum of established Asian fighting arts and body
conditioning techniques, as well as mental development and traditional weapons training. The following list includes
some, but by no means all, of the elements of Kuk Sool Won™.
  • Closed and open hand
    striking methods:
    including palm, fist, wrist,
    finger striking, and
    specialized hand training
    techniques.
  • Pressure point striking.
  • Striking with arm and
    shoulder.
  • Blocking and parrying.
HAND TECHNIQUES
LEG TECHNIQUES
  • Fundamental kicks.
  • Spinning kicks.
  • Jumping kicks.
  • Combination kicks.
  • Double leg kicks.
  • Pressure point kicking.
  • Specialty kicking.
THROWING and GRAPPLING
  • Body throws.
  • Projection throws.
  • Leg throws.
  • Pressure point grappling.
  • Grappling defense.
  • Wrestling techniques.
  • Ground fighting.
JOINT-LOCKING
TECHNIQUES
FALLING TECHNIQUES and
ACROBATICS
BODY CONDITIONING
  • Restraining methods.
  • Joint breaking
    techniques.
  • Combination joint
    locking.
  • Control and redirection
    techniques.
  • Arresting and pain-
    compliance techniques.
  • Body conditioning and
    agility techniques.
  • Body protection
    techniques.
  • Acrobatics for defense
    and offense.
  • Overall stretching and
    flexibility training.
  • Cardiovascular
    conditioning.
  • Muscle toning.
  • Ligament and tendon
    strengthening.
  • Joint flexibility and bone
    conditioning.
ANIMAL-STYLE
TECHNIQUES
MEDITATION
and
MARTIAL ART HEALING
METHODS
TRADITIONAL KOREAN
WEAPONS
  • Sword: short & long,
    single or double,
    straight or inverted.
  • Staff: short, middle &
    long, single or double.
  • Jointed Staff (flail):
    double or triple.
  • Spear.
  • Cane.
  • Rope.
  • Fan.
  • Bow & Arrow.

    There are 24 different
    traditional Korean
    Royal Court weapons
    in the curriculum of Kuk
    Sool Won™ plus
    Buddhist and Tribal
    weaponry.
  • Various breath control
    techniques.
  • Meditation and
    breathing postures.
  • Concentration
    techniques.
  • Acupressure.
  • Acupuncture.
  • Internal energy
    systems.
  • Herbal medicine.
Techniques based on the
movements and/or
characteristics of certain
“martial” animals such as:
  • Tiger
  • Praying Mantis
  • Crane
  • Dragon
  • Snake
  • Bear
  • Eagle
KOREAN CULTURE and LANGUAGE
  • Etiquette
  • Customs
  • Hangeul (Korean Alphabet)
  • Korean phrases
  • Nutrition
As you can see, Kuk Sool Won™ covers an extensive variety of martial art techniques. But it is not merely
concerned with methods of attack and defense, Kuk Sool Won™ also includes the study of healing techniques
and the development of internal power, in addition to the physical training. Mental development is of equal
importance in Kuk Sool Won™ and helps to instill self-confidence and self-discipline, a calm self-assurance, and
the psychological and spiritual values which are traditionally associated with the character of a martial artist.

Although Kuk Sool Won™ as it is practiced today is relatively new, its roots stretch far and deep to the very
beginnings of the Korean people. This early history and the ancient traditions upon which this art is founded
should be viewed as important as the physical techniques themselves, for it is only from the understanding and
appreciation of these classical roots that one is able to grow as a student of the martial arts.
Kuk Sool Won™
Saratoga