Instructors

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Email:
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Instructors

Kuk Sool Won^TM Chief Instructor Dr. Daniel Middleton, the Senior Kuk Sool Won™ Instructor for the Southern East Coast, has personally trained all of our Black Belt Instructors in the proper and most efficient methods for teaching the complexities of Kuk Sool Won™. Because good instructors are paramount to the success of a martial arts program, we want to provide you with a little information about our own instructors. Many started training in other martial arts and settled upon Kuk Sool Won^TM as the most comprehensive choice for their continued training.

Full Instructors and Senior Black Belts

Brian Hare, Sa Beom Nym
4th Degree Black Belt Full Instructor

Fourth Degree Black Belt Instructor Brian Hare has been training in Kuk Sool Won^TM under KJN Daniel Middleton since 1996. Brian also holds a BA in History from the University of South Carolina and a MS in Management from Southern Wesleyan University.

Brian is a longtime member of the South Carolina Army National Guard and is currently serving as Detachment Commander of CO C of the 151^st Signal Battalion, headquartered in Greenville. A combat veteran, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the US Army Combat Action Badge for his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and has also received numerous peacetime honors and awards. Brian is certified as a Combat Lifesaver, a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and Victim’s Advocate, and is certified as an instructor in the Modern Army Combatives Program. Brian received his commission in 2005 from the Palmetto Military Academy, the Officer Candidate School of the South Carolina Army National Guard. What PSBN Brian loves most about Kuk Sool Won^TM is that it provides both mental as well as physical challenges to the student.

Sherry Lawson, Kyo Sa Nim
     2^nd Degree Black Belt Full Instructor
      Program Director
      Kuk Sool Won^TMof Anderson
      Kuk Sool Won ^TMof Greenville

Sherry Lawson started Kuk Sool Won^TM in 2001 and was promoted to 2nd Dahn in 2006. KSN Sherry has a BA and MA in English from Clemson University and has been a professional artist specializing in portraits since 1985 (www.sherrylawsonartist.com). She has particularly enjoyed training with her two daughters, KSN Sarah and JKN Mary.

KSN Sherry's favorite parts of the Kuk Sool curriculum are the sword, staff and techniques. Unlike the full sparring styles of other martial arts, Kuk Sool Won offers the best, individualized instruction for women's self defense. Favorite techniques include all the defenses against wrist and clothing grabs and against choking attacks.

KSN Sherry also enjoys the cultural aspects of training in Kuk Sool Won with some of the most memorable experiences being the trips to Korea, instruction in calligraphy from a visiting Korean monk, and the meditation and breathing principles practiced throughout the Kuk Sool curriculum.

    Mary Boucher, Gyo Sa Nim
          2nd Degree Black Belt Full Instructor
          North Park and Anderson Recreation Center

JKN Mary Boucher has been training in Kuk Sool Won^TM since 2001. She is a student at TL Hanna High School and is also one of the main instructors for the North Park program and a valuable member of the Upstate Kuk Sool Won Demonstration Team. A Junior Scholar, JKN Mary plans to study law in college and become a trial lawyer. An award winning flautist, Mary participates in Hanna's marching band and chamber winds programs.

JKN Mary is known for her energetic and strong self defense techniques both in class and in demonstrations. Her favorite weapons are sword and spear. JKN Mary likes all aspects of Kuk Sool, but her favorite techniques are Dee Eui Bohk Soo and Johk Bahng ah Sool. Favorite form is Bong Dae Ryuhn staff sparring. In 2005, she competed in the Kuk Sool Won World Tournament in Pusan, South Korea.

KJN Mary enjoys traveling, scuba diving, hiking and other outdoor activities. In the future, she would like to try skydiving, spelunking, and other, as she says, exhilarating activities. For relaxation, she enjoys playing the piano and reading along side her favorite companion Bailey, her one year old coonhound.

Sarah Grubb, Bu Sa Beom Nim
3rd Degree Black Belt Full Instructor
Children's Program - Anderson Recreation Center

Sarah Grubb has been practicing Kuk Sool Won™ since 2001 and is very popular instructor in both the Children's Program and the Adult Program. She is a graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts in History with an emphasis on East Asian Studies. Her other interests include horseback riding, reading, traveling, and her dogs Lady and Lemon.

As a Kuk Sool Won^TM Full Instructor, KSN Sarah teaches classes for men, women, and children of all age ranges. She says "I think Kuk Sool is excellent for children because it is a great confidence booster. Kuk Sool serves as a great way to improve focus, stability, and self control."

KSN Sarah is known for her graceful, yet powerful empty hand forms. Her favorite forms are Guhm Moo Hyung and Paek Pahl Ki Hyung. Sarah is active on the Kuk Sool Won™ of the Upstate Demonstration Team where her special emphasis is on Forms, Self-Defense, and Ssahng Dahn Guhm (Double Short Swords).

Toran Gordinier. Gyo Sa Nm
2nd Degree Black Belt Full Instructor
Children's Program - Anderson Recreation Center

JKN Toran is Kuk Sool Won^TM’s most recent addition to it’s instructor ranks. Originally from New York, Toran has been practicing Kuk Sool since 1997. He graduated from University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. While at UB, Toran was the president of the martial arts club, and held self-defense seminars for dorm residents, various clubs, and Greek organizations. He is also a skilled Personal Trainer, certified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Health and Fitness Instructor and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Some of his favorite activities are photography, hiking, camping, his dogs, reading, philosophy, politics, and history. He also loves to travel, and has trekked extensively across the globe. His favorite aspects of Kuk Sool are the culture, history, health benefits, and the community around the world. He is also a talented kids instructor, believing that martial arts can put children on a positive road toward a healthy, fun lifestyle! JKN Toran is a valuable member of the Upstate Kuk Sool Won^TM Demonstration Team.

Jeff Sartini, Bu Sa Beom Nim
3rd Degree Black Belt Full Instructor

Kyo Sa Nym Jeff Sartini is a second-degree black belt who has been training in Kuk Sool Won^TM since 2002. Jeff has worked at the Anderson Free Clinic for over five years in the pharmacy and as their Communications Coordinator, writing newsletters and grants. Jeff received a bachelor’s degree in Communications (focusing on print journalism) from Winthrop University in 1997.

The complexity and comprehensive nature of Kuk Sool are Jeff’s favorite aspects of the martial art. With so many sets of techniques, there is always something new to learn. Jeff has been an instructor for several years and considers teaching to be an essential part of training—teaching someone else helps you see things from a new perspective, providing a deeper understanding of the material.

The staff is Jeff’s weapon of choice in Kuk Sool. In addition to strength training, it is an excellent way to work on speed and dexterity. Jeff’s favorite form is Baek Pahl Ki Hyung (which is the first black belt form). Yuhn Haeng Sool is Jeff’s favorite set of techniques. They are escorting techniques and illustrate the non-violent principles of Kuk Sool—using martial arts to control or subdue whenever possible, and using force as a last resort.

Keith White, Bu Sa Beom Nim
3rd Degree Black Belt Full Instructor

An attorney by profession and former Marine Corps officer, Kyo Sa Nym Keith is currently an English teacher and Wrestling Coach at TL Hanna High School in Anderson, South Carolina. He has been training in Kuk Sool Won™ since 2000 and has recently begun his testing for 3rd degree Black Belt.

His teaching and organizational skills are a valuable asset to our Upstate Kuk Sool Won™ program. He is also an important part of our demonstration team and frequently assists KJN Dan in self defense seminars.

KSN Keith is currently in training for marathons and is also the National Director of the post-academic fraternity ΛΔΤ (Lamda Delta Tau) as well as the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Upstate Chapter of this fraternity.

An Upstate South Carolina native, KSN Keith is originally from Westminster. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Furman University, and his favorite aspects of Kuk Sool Won™ are the many different techniques and their applicability for sporting and defensive applications.

Judson Jahn, Jyo Kyo Nym
1st Degree Black Belt Full Instructor

Judson Jahn, an attorney with Merrell & Jahn, P.A. in Seneca and a Senior Lecturer of real estate law and international business transactions at Clemson University, earned his 1^st degree black belt in Kuk Sool Won™ 2004 and is currently in the middle of the 2^nd degree testing cycle. His favorite aspect of Kuk Sool Won is the comprehensiveness of the system. He says he likes the fact that Kuk Sool Won has self-defense techniques for just about every imaginable situation, from standing up to laying on the ground. He also likes the mental exercise involved in Kuk Sool Won training. Kuk Sool Won not only helps him stay physically fit but also mentally sharp, a requirement for his profession. JKN Judson also assists KJN Dan in self defense seminars.

Judson says Kuk Sool Won is great for the entire family. In fact, he and his daughter Jo originally started at Kuk Sool Won as a way to spend quality time together. Jo recently earned her 1st degree Black Belt and will soon start 2nd degree training. She and her father are members of the demonstration team. Now that his son J.R. has joined them in the dojang, Kuk Soon Won has become a regular family outing.

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