Hyung Demonstration – Master Sung Jin Suh

/ hsoi

(Sorry…. I had to turn the music off while watching, but the content is still good.)

This is Master SUH Sung Jin; 8th degree black belt; oldest son of SUH In Hyuk, founder of Kuk Sool Won. This video shows him demonstrating various Kuk Sool forms (hyung):

  1. Oon Hak Hyung, “Crane Over Cloud”. Learned at 5th degree black belt. I’ve seen many perform this form, but the way Master Sung Jin has been performing this the past few years is simply amazing. Beautiful.
  2. Kyuk Pah Hyung, “Power Breaking Form”. Learned at the 2nd degree black belt level. Watch the form and you can see the breaks, the power. I’ve seen many perform this form, but few perform it as well as this.
  3. Ki Cho Hyung, “Fundamental Form”. Learned at the white belt level. This is not an easy form, but is the foundational form upon which all Kuk Sool is built. Master Sung Jin has been performing it recently in demonstrations in this “stylized” manner to help promote improved execution and technique in and of the form.
  4. Gum Moo Hyung, “Sword Dance Form”. Learned at the brown-black level. The speed at which Master Sung Jin’s hands are moving during the middle portion of the form’s execution is amazing. Great relaxation.
  5. Dae Geup Hyung, “Advanced Level Form”. Learned at the brown belt level.

The video is nice in that it is a compilation of various forms demonstrations. But moreso, what I like about this is seeing “other” forms demonstrated. Many times in demonstration what gets demonstrated is the highest-level form the person knows. While that’s nice, us lower-level folk like to see our stuff demonstrated too, but performed at a higher level. It helps you see what the form can look like in an ideal state, or at least give you a more tangible ideal towards which to model and strive your own execution of the form. 

I need more practice.

7 thoughts on “Hyung Demonstration – Master Sung Jin Suh”

  1. Pingback: Kuk Sool Won Seminar 2009 « Stuff From Hsoi

    • He is an awesome performer, no question. His Oon Hak Hyung is the best interpretation of that form that I’ve ever seen. Heck, his Ki Cho Hyung is great too.

  3. Pingback: Oon Hak Hyung « Stuff From Hsoi

  4. Thanks for compiling such a wonderful piece. I stopped in 2003 after 10 years of training and 5 years of teaching KSW – never thought to throw as much as a punch ever again. But things have changed, and know I have a child of 4 years old. I feel it is time for her to begin training in order to have that sense of uniqueness and accomplishment that kept me out of trouble and instilled leadership qualities that few possessed in my peer groups.

    I ventured out online to catch up on the current state of the association. Sad to see so many of the masters and instructors I trained under & with branching off into their respective factions of Kuk Sool. But alas, it was refreshing to see masters like Byung In Lee, Sung Jin Suh and Master Harmon still doing their thing. Too bad politics, protectionism and the almighty dollar has eroded such a wonderful organization, and has paved the way for many dissidents to focus their energies on the wrestling-centric but light on martial arts “mma” movement.

    So as long as memory serves me, and I have blood to pass my knowledge down to, Kuk sool will remain in my family. And who knows, SF is only 2 hours away from my city. If he’ll have me, I might ask Master Suh to take me as a pupil with hopes of bringing Kuk Sool Won back to the community where I found it, and will improve the lives of those I call neighbors! It is all in the will of God, so, We’ll see!

    • I didn’t make the video, just posted it. KJN SUH Sung Jin is a fantastic talent.

      Yes, WKSA has had a lot of problems as of late, and given what I know of it all well… in large part they brought it upon themselves. It’s a shame, but I can’t say I’m surprised. A lot of that is what made me leave WKSA. I have enough drama in my life. 🙂

      FWIW, Master Lee actually departed WKSA and founded his own group, Mu Sool Won. But he’s still going strong, and I’m happy he’s able to be more in charge of his own destiny. I know his students are remaining loyal to him.

      If you do decide to go back, do read up on things and try to gather what you want to do, because as much as we want to escape the politics, if you’re a 2nd degree you’re going to be sucked into the politics, like it or not. You just have to decide where you can draw the line and what remains important to you.

      Good luck in your study. Kuk Sool itself is a good art… a lot has been lost over the years due to business and political reasons, but at its heart it’s still a good art. I hope someday they’ll all return to the art itself.

  5. Makes a few white belt errors like his really bad chung gool jasae. Otherwise, something to use as aspiration.

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