KUK SA NIM

Kuk Sa Nim
Founder of Kuk Sool Won

KUK SA NIM

Kuk Sa Nim, In Hyuk Suh, is the founder of Kuk Sool Won™ and first to coin his unique martial art, Kuk Sool, in 1958 in South Korea, then started teaching throughout South Korea. Kuk Sool Won, aka the martial art of Kuk Sool, is a comprehensive martial art style that was created by him by organizing it into a systematic study of ancient Korean 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.

- In Hyuk Suh

  • 1958

    Founding of the martial art of Kuk Sool Won™

  • 1961

    Founding of 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

    Founding of 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 commences 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

    Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh voted “Instructor of the Year” by Inside Kung Fu Magazine
    Commenced annual 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

  • 2003

    Another TV broadcasting program by MBC titled “Kuk Sool Coming to America” aired in Korea

  • 2004

    Publication of a biography of Kuk Sa Nim in Korea by Ms. Moon Young Kin with Sam-Toh Publications

  • 2005

    Kuk Sa Nim receives Professor Emeritus from Young San University in Korea
    Kuk Sa Nim receives honorary Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena Texas
    Chiefmaster In Joo Suh is appointed as the president of Korea Kuk Sool Won as well as the Executive VP of WKSA

  • 2006

    Kuk Sool Won became an official baccalaureate program under the Asian Martial Arts Department at Young-San University

  • 2007

    Kuk Sa Nim receives the honor of 2007 Recipient of Man-Hae Award in Korea

  • 2008

    In October, Kuk Sool Won ™ celebrates its 50th anniversary at the World Championship in Houston,Texas