The signs of Spring are all over the city of Dublin in California now and we decided to bring a little bit of Spring into the dojang as well!
Spring reminds us of the cycles of nature and the opportunity for renewal.
Photo: Master Saidi and students at the Kuk Sool Won of Dublin martial arts school
We encourage all our students to bloom where they are. No matter where they find themselves each day presents a new opportunity to challenge themselves and move from surviving to thriving.
One enthusiastic group of students named themselves the Kuk Sool Crew and kicked off their Spring by auditioning for an elementary school variety show. I am so proud of them for taking this initiative and it was wonderful to see them bonding through the experience and deepening friendships in the process.
Whatever your plans are – go ahead and Spring into Action!
Kuk Sool Won of Dublin Staff and Students at the fun Halloween-themed martial arts events
Etiquette, patience and practice are all fundamental tenets of Kuk Sool Won and in addition martial arts contributes to a happy and fulfilling life keeping one fit in both mind and body.
At Kuk Sool Won of Dublin we also emphasize fun through fitness and that is why we held ‘Spooky Sparring’ sessions and hosted a free Turtle Tots class for Halloween.
Three to Five year olds learn their martial arts ABCs at our fun Turtle Tots classes every Saturday morning at 11am. Call or email us for a free trial class.
Turtle Tots is designed to help improve a child’s balance, coordination, flexibility, self-confidence and self-discipline while also teaching them respect.
Children and adults joined in the spooktacular event and dressed-up for the occasion too!
I hope you are all enjoying your Summer so far! Our third testing day for the year is almost upon us!
Please find below the Testing schedule for Saturday, August 1st.
Kindly double check your belt timings and follow the schedule accordingly. Arrive with your uniform on and ready to start your test.
Parents please remember that the red zone in front of the school is not a pick-up/drop-off zone. Thanks to those parents who are already considerate when dropping and collecting their children. Please pull to the right or park your car in any open parking spot. The Dublin Fire Department, and myself greatly appreciate your cooperation.
August 1st, Testing Schedule:
Group A:
White belts, Yellow stripes, Yellow belts, Blue stripes
9:00am-11:00am
Group B:
Blue belts, Red stripes, Red belts, Brown stripes
11:00am-1:00pm
Group C:
ONLY CHILDREN Age 5-10 Brown belts, and Higher
2:00pm-4:30pm
Group D:
Brown belts and Higher
ALL ADULTS 11+ regardless of their belt rank
4:30pm-7:30pm
Please remember that all students must test within their own belt rank and timing. No exceptions will be made!
As I indicated in our Newsletter, the testing process will be more rigorous in order to increase the base level of skills at the school. Keep practicing your forms at least 10 times per day.
I have exciting plans for the school so keep monitoring your emails and our social media accounts for announcements and updates.
One of these plans is to make our school more visible locally by taking our Demo Team to perform at selected events.
The team has been working exceptionally hard at their monthly training sessions and it would be great to make more people aware of their skills.
To raise the bar on the general skill level at our school, future testing sessions will be more rigorous and reward those students who exhibit the proper dedication, commitment and etiquette required to be a good martial artist.
Thanks to all of you for the heartwarming birthday messages and gifts that I received.
I really appreciate every one of you. My school has always been a family oriented school because every one of my students is like a family member to me. I am really happy and honored to have students like you.
Master Saidi, KSN Sahar Hamidi and participants at the self-defense session for women in Dublin, California
The Kuk Sool Won of Dublin, traditional Korean martial arts school held a special self-defense session for women today. The session was run by Master Seyd Saidi, owner and chief instructor of the school.
The tragic and violent loss of two relatives has been the driving force for this initiative by Master Saidi who firmly believes that acquiring self-defense skills is an essential component of modern life, especially for women.
His relatives, a husband and wife, were living in what was deemed to be a safe area in Canada and were brutally attacked by a knife-wielding man. The woman had been returning to her car after a dental appointment and her husband was in a store nearby.
The attacker started stabbing the woman and her screams alerted bystanders including her husband who rushed to help her. He in turn however was also repeatedly stabbed. Both of them were killed in gruesome fashion in broad daylight in a murder that shocked the local community.
Women need to be aware of their surroundings and recognize warning signs to avoid situations where their personal safety would be at risk. Throwing punches and kicks does not always mean that a perpetrator will move on and Master Saidi teaches three phases skip, hurt and destroy.
“I always say that there are three steps to martial arts. I call them skip, hurt and destroy” said Master Saidi. Step 1 is to skip, to avoid or exit the situation, get out of the fight.
If there is no way to avoid the fight then step 2 – hurt follows. The aggressor needs to know in no uncertain terms that there will be a world of pain coming their way if they do not desist.
In the event that the aggressor refuses to back down, you move to step 3- destroy.
Many females at some point in their lives have found themselves in situations where they felt threatened and vulnerable. The recent twitter trend #YesAllWomen was a sad reminder of this.
Much as we would like to, we cannot wish those with hostile intentions away. We can however equip ourselves with the mindset and the techniques to defend ourselves when necessary.
One of the session participants who is already a student at the school mentioned that in a recent situation where she felt threatened while out at night she noted with interest how empowering it was to know that in the event of an attack, she could do something to defend myself.
“I learned so much from the class,” she said. “I’d want anyone to know what I learned.”
“It’s a great initiative, we certainly welcome it,” said another participant.
The session focused on ways to neutralize the most common attacks, from being grabbed on the arm, by the clothing or around the waist and how to put an aggressor in a choke-hold or move out of a situation where you are pinned down by an assailant.
Due to the enthusiastic response from the participants a regular self-defense session will be held in the coming months.
Master Saidi and Black Brown belt students training at the dojang in Dublin, California
Kuk Sool Won of Dublin is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and as part of the events acknowledging this milestone they will be hosting a martial arts Summer Day Camp from June 15 to 19.
The martial arts school has had a significant impact on the community and its contribution to the growth and development of students has been the cornerstone of its success. The Kuk Sool Won of Dublin school is a place where children and adults alike can discover the excitement of traditional Korean martial arts and the Summer Camp will be an extension of this positive family atmosphere through fun, educational and engaging activities.
The school was established by Master Seyd Saidi who has been training in martial arts for over 35 years and over this period he has developed numerous teaching methods and techniques designed to aid students of all ages become accomplished martial artists. To commemorate the 25th anniversary a documentary about Master Saidi highlighting some of his personal experiences and martial arts expertise will be released later in the year.
The thousands of students who have walked through the dojang doors over the years include people from all walks of life who have embarked on their martial arts journey for various reasons but have been brought together in a nurturing and supportive environment which enables them to achieve their individual goals.
“As you begin your journey, the greatest distance covered is by your first step” says Master Saidi.
Master Saidi training on the beach at a Kuk Sool Won conference in Korea
Given the school’s well established track record in providing expert martial arts instruction it continues to grow and inspire new generations of martial artists.
Persistent practice is a key component of martial arts training as besides the physical advantages, muscle memory allows responses to become instinctive in threatening circumstances. Students are taught to manage conflict situations such as bullying without the use of violence by learning ways to assess threats and redirect verbal assaults. The Summer Day Camp will therefore include skills that will enhance the personal safety of children.
Regular exercise improves your child’s general health and in martial arts training the psychological benefits can include increased self-esteem and self-confidence as well as decreased tension, stress and anxiety. The camp will emphasize skills such as self-defense, teamwork and cooperative social interaction, focusing, listening and self-discipline while children have fun and develop new friendships.
We look forward to seeing what the next 25 years will bring.
Master Saidi and his Kuk Sool Won students at the dojang in Dublin, California
Dublin, California, March 26– The stage is set for a traditional Korean martial arts competition as scores of Kuk Sool WonTM students from the Pacific coast region gather in Folsom, Sacramento for the annual tournament. This year the Kuk Sool Won of Dublin School, Martial Arts Academy of USA will be represented with over a hundred students, under the leadership of Master Seyd Saidi.
In August this year the school will mark its 25th anniversary. Master Saidi is one of only sixteen 6th Dahn Kuk Sool Masters and has trained thousands of students over his 35 years of teaching.
He reminds his students as they prepare for tournament that “growth happens outside of your comfort zone”.
The Kuk Sool WonTM of Dublin team includes students ranging in age from under 5 years old to adults. The youngest representative from the Kuk Sool WonTM of Dublin school is Kashvi at 3 years old and along with her training partner who is 4, will be making their tournament debut.
A respected guest at the event will be the Founder and Grandmaster of Kuk Sool WonTM, In Hyuk Suh. Other senior Kuk Sool WonTM Masters will also be present in addition to a range of black belt practitioners who will serve as judges for the event.
All Kuk Sool WonTM schools in the Pacific coast area of California will be represented and close to a thousand participants are expected.
There has been a growth in popularity for this martial arts system due to its comprehensive nature and the range of styles, techniques and weapons it includes.
This tournament is governed by World Kuk Sool Association Tournament rules and guidelines, and the event is only open to current and active members of the World Kuk Sool Association, Inc.
The event allows students to meet and interact with practitioners of all ages and abilities, and from all walks of life, and to experience the shared identity of a global martial arts system.
Students will compete in various categories including open hand forms, techniques, sparring and weapons forms. There is an array of weapons in this martial art system including bo staffs, swords, knives, fans and spears which draws a crowd at the Masters and Instructors demonstrations held at the tournament.
Each participant is awarded points for their achievements and the schools compete to obtain the highest overall score.
About: Besides the fact that learning Kuk Sool has an impact on every student that enrolls at his school, Master Saidi strives to provide a nurturing, disciplined and goal-oriented environment for his students. The Kuk Sool WonTM of Dublin School is an established Martial Arts Academy located in Dublin in the Bay Area of California and is proud of its track record of excellence in the teaching of martial arts. For information about his school and the Kuk Sool WonTM martial arts system please see contact information below.
Contact Information:
Kuk Sool WonTM of Dublin, Martial Arts Academy of USA
Kuk Sool Won of Dublin CA 