Kuk Sool Won was founded by grandmaster In Hyuk Suh. His martial arts career started with his grandfather Myung Duk Suh, one of the last chief instructors to the Korean Royal Court Army. When the Japanese invaded Korea in 1910, instructors of Korea’s Royal Court Army were forced into hiding. Myung Duk Suh returned to his home in the Taegu area and secretly taught only the immediate members of his family. In Hyuk Suh was very young when his grandfather was killed during the Korean war but Myung Duk Suh had arranged for the continued training of his grandson in the three basic areas of Korean martial arts: Sado Mu Sool (tribal martial arts), Bul Kyo Mu Sool (Buddhist martial arts), and Koong Joong Mu Sool (royal court martial arts).
In the late 1950s In Hyuk Suh organized and systematized Korea’s scattered martial arts techniques into a single system. In 1958 Korean Kuk Sool Won was officially founded and In Hyuk Suh revealed the inheritance from his grandfather of five rare books of Korean martial arts techniques. In 1974 In Hyuk Suh came to the United States and in 1975 he opened the world headquarters in San Francisco. In 1991 the world headquarters was relocated to Houston, Texas in order to better serve the rapidly proliferating base of schools opening in the United States and Canada.
World Kuk Sool Association Headquarters
To find out more about the martial art of Kuk Sool and the World Kuk Sool Association, navigate to World Kuk Sool Association. You can also find a list of officially licensed Kuk Sool Won schools and contact information at this site.
Kuk Sool Won Milestones
1958
Founding of Kuk Sool Won
1961
Founding of the Korean Kuk Sool Association
1966
First Kuk Sool Won tournament held in Jang Choong gymnasium in Seoul
1972
Kuk Sool Won recognized in the World Athletics dictionary as a traditional Korean martial art
1973
Kuk Sool Won dojang established in New Orleans
1974
Grand Master comes to United States
1975
World Kuk Sool Association established in San Francisco
Kuk Sool Won dojang established in the United Kingdom
Kuk Sool Won dojang established in Canada
1976
Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism produces the documentary film "Ho Kuk Moo Yea" (Arts Used to Defend the Nation). Kuk Sool masters featured prominently in this film.
1977
Kuk Sool Won dojang established in Venezuela
1978
Kuk Sool masters participate as official representatives of Korean martial arts in a two-week celebration of the 75th anniversary of Korean immigration to Hawaii
1981
Inaugural Kuk Sool Won world championships and seminar held in Gudeok Gymnasium, Busan, Korea. Kuk Sool competitors from seven nations participated in this event.
Kuk Sool Won registered as a trademark in 35 states (USA)
1982
Kuk Sool sponsors first open tournament in San Francisco
1983
Grandmaster Suh, In Hyuk elected president of Ki-Do Association
1984
Grandmaster Suh, In Hyuk honored as "Man of the Year" by Black Belt magazine
Kuk Sool Won dojang established in Iran
1985
Publication of Kuk Sool handbooks and instructional videos
Promotion of first non-Asian student (Barry Harmon) to Kwan Ja Nym (Master)
Promotion of first female student (Choon Ok Harmon) to Kwan Ja Nym (Master)
1988
Grandmaster Suh, In Hyuk honored as "Instructor of the Year" by Inside Kung Fu magazine
Publication of Kuk Sool weapon handbooks
1990
First Kuk Sool tournament and training seminars held in Canada
1991
Kuk Sool instruction made available as an extra curricular activity at the West Point Military Academy
Kuk Sool Won dojang established in Germany
World Kuk Sool Won headquarters relocated to Houston, Texas
Twenty-five American cities hold "Kuk Sool Won Day"
1992
Grandmaster Suh, In Hyuk honored by presentation of commander’s sword by West Point Military Academy.
1993
Grandmaster Suh, In Hyuk honored as "Best Martial Artist" by Tri-Mont Publications.
Grandmaster Suh, In Hyuk honored as "Master of the Year" by Tae Kwon Do Times magazine
1994
Grandmaster Suh, In Hyuk honored by presentation of commander’s sword by U. S. Air Force Academy.
Kuk Sool Won registered as a trademark in England
1995
First annual Kuk Sool Won regional tournament and masters demonstration held in St. Louis Missouri. Hosted annually by Kwan Ja Nym Jack Harvey and Pu Sabum Nym Lee Harvey
Kuk Sool Won hosts martial arts tournament at West Point Military Academy.
Grandmaster Suh, In Hyuk honored as "Custodian of Korea’s Combative Arts" by Combat Magazine
1996
Kuk Sool Won dojang established in the Netherlands
Kuk Sool Won registered as a trademark in the Netherlands
Kuk Sool Won dojang established in Belgium
1997
Kuk Sool Won registered as a trademark in Canada
Kuk Sool Won registered as a trademark in Korea
1998
Grandmaster Suh, In Hyuk awarded Seogryu Order, Medal of Civil merit by government of South Korea.
1999
Kuk Sool Won dojang established in Spain
Kuk Sool Won registered as a trademark in Germany
Korean Broadcasting System produces and televises a documentary about the life of and contributions to Korean martial arts by Grandmaster Suh, In Hyuk.
2000
National Kuk Sool championship tournament held in Busan, Korea.
2001
World Kuk Sool Won headquarters relocated to Tomball, Texas
Establishment of a traditional Korean martial arts complex that includes a training hall, meditation center, equestrian facility and archery range.
2002
International Kuk Sool Won tournament and televised master’s demonstration held in Gyeongju Civic Auditorium.
Over 300 Kuk Sool Won students from around the world tour historic temples and shrines in South Korea.
Promotion of first non-Asian female student (Cheryl Cherowitz) to Kwan Ja Nym (Master)
2003
Kuk Sool Won dojang established in New Zealand
2005
On March 25, Kuk Sa Nim has received a full-scholar Professor appointment from Young-San University in Pusan, South Korea. This appointment to a professorship is not an honorary one, but it allows Kuk Sa Nim to visit and lecture as guest lecturer on a regular basis. His position in the university allows Kuk Sool practitioners to attend and receive a college degree. Most important of all, the university will offer a Kuk Sool degree under its Martial Arts Department; thus, Kuk Sool is a form of "science" and art by confirming a degree.
