Last Wednesday we had the privilege of hosting our first ever Masters Seminar here at KSW Salford. We had a total of 19 students attend, and we covered a range of exciting topics. Our students had the opportunity to learn advanced material from some of the highest ranking Masters in the world, including Ninth Degree Black Belts SSKJN Alex Suh (Houston) and SSKJN John Ives (Norwich), Seventh Degree JDKJN Nick Reeve (Central London), Sixth Degree JIKJN Sunny Boyall (Boston), and Fifth Degree PKJN Karl Martindale (Widnes). A huge thank you to these visiting Masters for giving us their time and sharing their knowledge with us.
Ssang Jool Bong
Our students were first taught the basics of using a single Jool Bong. This involved learning how to spin the Jool Bong in different patterns and directions, and how to rebound it off different parts of your body to change the direction of its movement. After this, we upped the stakes by introducing a second Jool Bong. This addition meant students needed their maximum concentration levels, as the coordination required to use two weapons at once is a significant challenge.
After a bit of practice using two Jool Bongs, we then moved on to the Ssang Jool Bong form. Master Nick taught this in a sequence of small chunks, which were gradually put together to form a cohesive whole. Our students picked this up with incredible proficiency, and we were able to cover all of part one of the form.
Kicking Mechanics
After a quick break to recover from the intense focus required for Ssang Jool Bong, students covered advanced kicking mechanics with Master Karl. A range of different kicks were covered, with students practicing both alone and with a partner holding a pad.
We started with side kick, where students were encouraged to pay particular attention to re-chambering their kicking leg after the kick had been delivered. This is a key step in the process of a side kick, and one that can often be overlooked, especially as you get more tired. Students were also reminded of correct foot position for the kick, kicking with the blade of the foot, with toes pointed to the side.
Next, we moved onto spin kick and low spin kick. For spin kick, we covered the importance of looking where you kick, kicking with your heel, keeping your leg straight, and leaning away. When moving on to low spin kick, we covered the need to get low to the floor before starting the spin kick, and optimal hand placement to support your body weight in a manner that allows you to stand back up as efficiently as possible.
Certificates
All students were presented with a certificate by Master Alex to commemorate the event. This was a fantastic first seminar for Kuk Sool Won of Salford, and we can’t wait for the next one!
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