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On Saturday, September 9, 2006, our school was
visited by Kyo Sa Nim (KSN) Doug North, who studies at Kuk Sool Won of
Clearlake in Texas. It was a great pleasure to meet this gentleman, and
we hope he returns! |
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On Saturday, December 16, 2006, KSN Morgan and
JKN Emma Freeman put Kuk Sool Won of Calgary West black belt candidates
through a mock three-hour grading test. So far, so good!
Afterwards, a family photograph! |
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On January 20, 2007, five students were
promoted to 1st degree black belt! Photos and bios of these black belts
are available on the Calgary West Black Belts page.
I wish to
thank KJN Steven Whiting and KSN Rachel Whiting for coming over from the
UK especially to help me with this first ever Kuk Sool Won of
Calgary West black belt grading test. |
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As you can see comparing the examples above and
below, this is
not the normal black belt visiting photograph! Unfortunately, SBN Paul
Carmody and JKN Sam Martin, from Kuk Sool Won of Half Moon Bay,
California, were not able to arrive in Calgary in time to visit a class
session. So, here they are in a scenic environment, Elbow River Falls,
about 45 minutes from Calgary. I have
to apologise to these two gentlemen for the poor quality of the photo. I
was using a new camera without first having read the manual! |
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On this occasion, the black belts were not
visiting, but being visited! From left to right, KSN Emma Freeman, KSN
Morgan Freeman, Derek Grant and Michael Tulett.
Derek and Michael came over from the UK
during February, 2008, to stay with their instructors for two/three
weeks. |
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On March 25 and 27, our school was visited by
PSBN Jackie Barry, the school owner of Kuk Sool Won of Murcia, Spain.
PSBN Jackie started her Kuk Sool Won training
at Kuk Sool Won of Beccles, one of her instructors being KJN David. And,
although KJN David left the UK for Canada, and PSBN Jackie left the UK
for Spain (at round about the same time) in 2002, they have kept in
touch. Finally, PSBN Jackie was able to fulfill a promise to visit
Calgary.
Those students who attended the classes held during PSBN
Jackie's visit appreciated her insight - and her additions to our
warm-up exercises! |
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In August, 2008, our school had the privilege
of being visited by TWO black belts. However, because this month is a
busy one for several students, this group photo has fewer students than
would have attended in July or September.
The visiting black belts were KSN David Webster
from England, and KJN Farshid Shabafroozan from Toronto. |
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KSN Michael Dottor, from Kuk Sool Won of Saulte
Ste Marie, was in Calgary from October until December, and it was
pleasure to have him attend classes. Unfortunately, because of the
weather conditions in Calgary during the month of December, KSN
Michael's car had to be taken in for repairs so that he could travel
back to be with his family in Ontario for Christmas. He paid us one last
visit, not to practise, but to wish us a Merry Christmas.
The gentleman to my right is KSN Bruce
Longstreet from Kuk Sool Won of Toronto. KSN Bruce could only pay us
just one visit. However, we hope he will be able to return since he has
family ties here in Calgary.
By the way, Kuk Sool Won of Calgary West has
NOT suddenly lost over half of its students! Given the season, some
students had other commitments, and the snow was continuing to fall even
as this photograph was being taken. |
