School takes worldwide martial art to South Austin

When a student begins training in the martial art of kuk sool won, the first belt received is the white belt. Students who train for many more years and earn the title of master receive another white belt to symbolize they are starting over.

"It's a cycle," said Tim King, who owns Kuk Sool Won of Oak Hill, located on William Cannon Drive. "It's really about the journey."

Discipline, strength and respect are focal points during training, he said. King started out learning judo, trained for years, discovered kuk sool won and in August 2008 opened his own school. Kuk sool won incorporates elements including low stances, self-defense, kicking, sparring and breaking wooden boards.

King, now a fourth-degree black belt, holds the title of sa bum nim and has more than 20 years of experience in the martial art. In October, he moved his business to a larger 2,100-square-foot space to be more accessible to his students, who primarily live in Legend Oaks and Circle C.

The school trains competitors for an international tournament each year, said Barbara Weiss, a second-degree black belt and instructor. The Oak Hill school won fifth place overall at the 2012 World Kuk Sool Won Championship Tournament, held in Katy in October, Weiss said.

In kuk sool won, it takes about four years to earn a black belt, Weiss said.

About 30 classes take place weekly, featuring 3- to 5-year-old classes, 6- to 12-year-old classes, family classes, and 13-and-older classes for teenagers and adults. A move-in special of six months of training costs $75 per month.

Interest in the martial art has grown over the years, Weiss said. She enrolled her son in one of King's classes years ago. Later, she enrolled. The couple recently got engaged, she said.

In August, the school became an off-campus physical education provider for Austin ISD, she said.

"[Kuk sool won] won't go away," she said. "It is about mind, body and spirit, and it is rooted deep in Korean culture."

Black belts take time to earn

In Kuk Sool Won, students earn belts that represent their level of training. Once a belt is achieved, a student must earn a stripe in the color of the next level belt before that rank can be earned. After earning a black belt, it takes a four-year cycle of training and testing to earn each consecutive degree.

• White belt—Students start as a white belt
• Yellow belt—Takes 4–6 months to achieve
• Blue belt—Takes 4–6 months to achieve
• Red belt—Takes 4–6 months to achieve

Students begin using weapons (swords, wooden sticks)

• Brown belt—Takes 4–6 months to achieve

Dahn bo nim title—Begin testing for first-degree black belt

• First-degree black belt—Four years of training and testing
• Second-degree black belt—Four years of training and testing
• Third-degree black belt—Four years of training and testing
• Fourth-degree black belt—Four years of training and testing
• Fifth-degree black belt—Four years of training and testing
• Master—More than 20 years of training

Source: Kuk Sool Won of Oak Hill

Kuk Sool Won of Oak Hill, 6001 W. William Cannon Drive, Ste. 307, 512-899-8710, www.kswoakhill.com