If you’re familiar with Kuk Sool’s Sohn Ppae Ki wrist grab release technique set, what you see in this video may be familiar to you.

Ollie Batts has a 3rd degree black belt in Kuk Sool (WKSA), but left the organization long ago (around 1989). He’s been studying other things, such as Savate, CombatSombo, FMA, JKD, and such. Consequently, what’s nice to see in this video is how Kuk Sool principles and techniques are solid things, yet it takes going beyond the rote curriculum to really go anywhere and do anything. Those unfamiliar with the Sohn Ppae Ki set won’t be able to see what I mean in watching the above video, but those that do know, you’ll see how you really need to move beyond the techniques.

Granted the above is a controlled and limited environment due to the teaching context, so it’s not like it’s free-sparring. But it’s still demonstrating that the basic technique is only a start, not an end. It also demonstrates that, as an art, Kuk Sool — especially the “technique” curriculum — is a solid art. What’s lacking these days is much of how it’s taught.