A Comprehensive Martial Arts System

Kuk Sool founder-In Hyuk Suh

Grand Master(Kuksanim) In Hyuk Suh

In Hyuk Suh is the founder, Grandmaster and President of the World Kuk Sool Association®. He has studied martial arts for more than 50 years, receiving his first instruction from his grandfather, Myung Deuk Suh, a master-instructor to the Korean Royal Court. After his grandfather's death, he traveled throughout the Far East seeking out and studying additional aspects of the martial arts.

The knowledge he acquired from his grandfather and subsequent masters enabled him to establish Kuk Sool Won™. His organization now boasts 1.3 million members with over 800 schools worldwide in 27 different countries. Although expert in every aspect of martial arts, Grandmaster Suh is especially renowned for his mastery of pressure point and joint manipulation.

Additionally, Kuk Sool Won™ has been mentioned in over 300 articles and featured on more than 60 front covers by world famous magazines in the United States, England, Spain, Iran, Germany, Mexico, and Venezuela. While the following list of accomplishments include items accrued not only by himself but by the organizations he founded, the reason for this can be found in the excerpt below, taken from the “Letter from the Grandmaster” which is written to all practitioners of Kuk Sool Won™ and located in the front of the Textbooks he provided as an aid to understanding such a unique and comprehensive martial art.

“Any distinction or honor granted to me or to any member of this organization is a credit to the organization as a whole, including all the individuals who make up this vast organization.”

  • 1958
  • Founded the martial art of Kuk Sool Won™

  • 1961
  • Founded the Korean Kuk Sool Association®

  • 1972
  • Kuk Sool Won™ recorded in the World Athletic Dictionary as a traditional Korean martial art

  • 1973
  • Kuk Sool Won™ School established in U.S.A.

  • 1974
  • Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh emigrates to U.S.A.

  • 1975
  • Founded the World Kuk Sool Association®
  • Kuk Sool Won™ School established in Great Britain.
  • Kuk Sool Won™ School established in Canada

  • 1976-77
  • 40 Kuk Sool Masters appear in Ho Kuk Moo Yea, (translation: Art Used in Defense of the Nation) a documentary produced by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism

  • 1977
  • Kuk Sool Won™ school established in Venezuela

  • 1978
  • Panama International Film Festival bestows its Culture Award to Kuk Sool Won™ for its role in the documentary, Ho Kuk Moo Yea.
  • Commenced annual seminars and special training in U.S.A

  • 1982
  • Kuk Sool Won™ hosts First Open Tournament at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco

  • 1984
  • Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh voted "Man of the Year" by Black Belt Magazine
  • Kuk Sool Won™ School established in Iran

  • 1985
  • Publication of Kuk Sool Won™handbooks, textbooks, and instructional videos

  • 1988
  • 1988 Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh voted “Instructor of the Year” by Inside Kung Fu Magazine
  • Commenced annuaal seminars and special training in United Kingdom.

  • 1990
  • Kuk Sool Won™ hosts First Annual Canadian Tournament
  • Commenced annual seminars and special training in Canada

  • 1991
  • Kuk Sool Won™ was selected as an extra curriculum activity for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
  • Kuk Sool Won™ School established in Germany
  • 25 U.S. cities now hold a “Kuk Sool Won™ Day”

  • 1992
  • Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh is presented with the Commander’s Sword by the U.S. Military Academy at West Point

  • 1993
  • Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh voted “Master of the Year” by Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine

  • 1994
  • Several universities in the U.S.A. include Kuk Sool Won™ as a regular athletic activity
  • Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh is presented with the Commander’s Sword by the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs

  • 1995
  • Kuk Sool Won™ hosts First Annual Tournament at the U.S. Military Academy

  • 1996
  • Kuk Sool Won™ School established in The Netherlands

  • 1998
  • Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh is awarded the SuhkRyoo (Pomegranate) Medal for Civil Merit by the South Korean Government
  • Commenced annual seminars and special training in Europe

  • 1999
  • Kuk Sool Won™ School established in Spain
  • "Victory of a Little Giant", a special documentary about Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh produced by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS aired 3/17)

  • 2000
  • Kuk Sool Won™ recognized as an Official Governing Body for martial arts by the South Korean Government
  • Kuk Sool Won™ participates in the KyungJu Cultural Expo, demonstration members include masters from all over the world and conclude with a final performance for the President of South Korea

  • 2001
  • World Kuk Sool Association® opens a traditional training facility on the outskirts of Houston (Tomball, TX) incorporating over 20 acres of land

  • 2002
  • Kuk Sool Won™ hosts the World Kuk Sool Championships at the Civic Auditorium in KyungJu, this is an international event with over 2000 competitors from across the globe, also received were proclamations for a successful event from many world leaders such as North KyungSang Provincial Governor Lee, KyungJu City Mayor Baek, over a dozen U.S. State Governors and U.S. President G.W. Bush.

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