Friendship, fun and martial arts

It takes a special group of children to be dedicated enough to train in the rain. The welcome showers in Dublin earlier this week might have deterred some but not this resilient Kuk Sool Crew.

As the eleven strong group squeezed onto the stage in the pouring rain a child observing them said “Look Mum, it’s karate kids!” They were determined to practice their routine for an audition in a variety show despite the steady downpour.

Sports have always been a unifying force and martial arts have allowed this group to come together and given them the confidence to show their skills to their peers.

I asked one of the students why he wanted to participate and he responded “It’s my final year at elementary school and I wanted to show others what I am good at even when I struggle to get good grades.”

Their energy was tangible and their kiaps could clearly be heard over the background noise. They all train at different times at the Kuk Sool Won of Dublin martial arts school but their enthusiasm for the art brought them together.

“A true martial artist lives and breathes their art irrespective of what those around them find popular,” said Master Seyd Saidi, their Chief Instructor. “They are committed enough to share what they care about and I am very proud of them”.

Etiquette, discipline and persistent practice are emphasized in the traditional Korean martial art of Kuk Sool Won. At the end of a class students are asked “What is martial arts?” and their response is ”To develop and maintain, positive and disciplined attitude, Sir!”

It’s clear that the Kuk Sool Crew have already internalized these values and are well on their way to growing into well rounded and grounded martial artists.