At Widnes Martial Arts we pride ourselves on instuction at the highest level. Our Kuk Sool Won instructors are taught to lead by example and employ the latest scientific research into movement patterns and performance to get the best from every member. As you will note below in our instuctor bio section, all instructors are regulars on the tournament scene, celebrating success at all levels.

Rank : 4th Degree Black Belt

Title : Sa Bum Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2003

Sa Bum Nim Karl trained in multiple Martial arts styles prior to Kuk Sool but on finding how comprehensive and extensive Kuk Sool is, decided to go all in back in 2003 when he joined with a friend.

Sa Bum Nim founded the Widnes school in 2009 and now teaches here 7 days a week but is also a keen Mountain biker, enjoys travelling and has 2 large huskies called Bruce & Brenda. He enjoys spending time with his wife Kyo Sa Nim Sarah riding their motorcycles, cooking, or doing any outdoor activity.

Black Belt Grand Champion Honours:

4th Dahn Competitions:

2019 Scottish Champion
2019 European Champion
2019 World Champion
2019 UK Champion
2021 European Champion
2021 UK Champion
2022 Scottish Champion
2022 World Champion
2022 UK Champion
2023 Scottish Champion
2023 European Champion
2023 World Champion
2023 Spanish Champion
2023 UK Champion

3rd Dahn Competitions:

2015 Scottish Champion
2015 European Champion
2016 UK Champion
2017 Spanish Champion
2017 Scottish Champion
2017 European Champion
2018 Scottish Champion
2018 European Champion
2018 World Champion
2018 UK Champion

2nd Dahn Competitions:

2014 Scottish Champion
2014 European Champion
2014 UK Champion

Rank : 3rd Degree Black Belt

Title : Pu Sa Bum Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2007

Pu Sa Bum Nim Jake moved to us from another Kuk Sool Won school in 2014 and became a full time instructor here in 2015. He teaches here 4 days a week whilst working in the Liverpool Royal Court Theatre for the other days. Pu Sa Bum Nim is a big music fan and has a wide taste ranging from the 1950s right through to modern day.

Black Belt Grand Champion Honours:

3rd Dahn Competitions:

2021 UK Champion

2nd Dahn Competitions:

2018 European Champion
2018 World Champion
2018 UK Champion

1st Dahn Competitions:

2016 UK Champion
2017 Spanish Champion
2017 Scottish Champion
2017 European Champion

Rank : 3rd Degree Black Belt

Title : Pu Sa Bum Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2010

Pu Sa Bum Nim Luke was one of the school’s very first junior students back in 2010 and has become part of our family both in and out of the Dojang. Ever present at tournament, Pu Sa Bum Nim was very successful in coloured belt competitions but has truly excelled since promoting to Black belt in 2015, winning 10 Grand Champion awards at 1st Dahn level and a further 7 at 2nd Dahn. He promoted to 3rd Dahn in June 2023.

Pu Sa Bum Nim is a big fan of superhero movies, comic books and TV series and is the go to knowledge base for all things Marvel.

Black Belt Grand Champion Honours:

2nd Dahn Competitions:

2021 European Champion
2021 UK Champion
2022 Scottish Champion
2022 UK Champion
2023 Scottish Champion
2023 European Champion

1st Dahn Youth Competitions:

2015 UK Champion
2016 Scottish Champion
2016 UK Champion
2017 Spanish Champion
2017 European Champion
2017 UK Champion
2018 European Champion
2018 UK Champion
2019 Spanish Champion
2019 European Champion

2nd Dahn Youth Competitions:

2019 UK Champion

Rank : 2nd Degree Black Belt

Title : Kyo Sa Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2009

Kyo Sa Nim Sarah entered her first tournament in 2009 and has entered every competition, every year since then winning hundreds of medals and many Grand Champion honours. Kyo Sa Nim’s favourite food is Indian or a hearty Christmas dinner. Outside of Kuk Sool she enjoys riding her motorcycle, baking and spending time with her 2 huskies and husband. Kyo Sa Nim Sarah works in a leadership position for a school trust.

Black Belt Grand Champion Honours:

2nd Dahn Competitions:

2021 UK Champion
2021 European Champion
2022 Scottish Champion
2022 UK Champion
2023 Scottish Champion
2023 European Champion
2023 Spanish Champion
2023 UK Champion

1st Dahn Competitions:

2016 Scottish Champion
2017 Spanish Champion
2018 Scottish Champion
2018 European Champion

Rank : 2nd Degree Black Belt

Title : Kyo Sa Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2013

Kyo Sa Nim Derek has been a successful tournament competitor throughout his time as a coloured belt competing in 3 competitions per year and often winning multiple Gold medals. Derek promoted to 2nd degree at the 2022 UK Championships.

Primarily a student of the adult morning classes, Derek has started to extend his lesson times to include junior and teen classes. Kyo Sa Nim works with children and young adults with special needs helping them to use public transport and attain self sufficiency in their everyday lives. He is married with 3 children of his own and enjoys cooking, football, cycling and red wine.

Black Belt Grand Champion Honours:

2nd Dahn Competitions:

2023 European Champion
2023 Spanish Champion

1st Dahn Competitions:

2019 Scottish Champion
2019 UK Champion
2021 UK Champion

Rank : 2nd Degree Black Belt

Title : Kyo Sa Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2013

Kyo Sa Nim Ste started training at Widnes Martial Arts in 2013, beginning with 9 months of private lessons before joining the regular adult classes. During those private lessons, he focussed mainly on self defence techniques from the syllabus which helped develop a confident understanding of this side of Kuk Sool.

KSN Ste promoted to the rank of 1st degree black belt in 2018 and has been teaching ever since across most classes and ability ranges within the school. He promoted to 2nd degree in November 2022.

He enjoys travelling, playing squash, going to the cinema and beating KSN Derek in sparring.

Rank : 2nd Degree Black Belt

Title : Kyo Sa Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2015

Kyo Sa Nim Neil first joined Widnes Matrial Arts as a parent when his daughter joined the Little Vikings class.  After sitting on the sidelines for six months he started to train in Kuk Sool Won when his wife bought him some lessons as a birthday present.

During his time as a coloured belt he has completed in tournaments in England, Scotland and Spain often winning multiple gold medals and was extremely proud to promote to second degree black belt in June 2023.

A former offer in the British Army, Kyo Sa Nim Neil now runs his own company providing IT systems to the health industry.  He his married and has five children. He enjoys most sports, particularly rugby and football, and is an accomplished pianist.

Black Belt Grand Champion Honours:

1st Dahn Competitions:

2019 UK Champion
2022 Scottish Champion
2022 UK Champion
2023 Scottish Champion
2023 European Champion

Rank : 1st Degree Black Belt

Title : Jyo Kyo Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2016

Jyo Kyo Nim Laura joined Widnes Martial Arts after months of watching her son, JKN Jamie, train and becoming tempted to participate herself. Training for JKN Laura started initially as a way to keep fit as well as providing an opportunity to bond with her son, however it quickly developed - she now loves both the physical challenge as well as the mental challenge of learning and remembering the extensive Kuk Sool syllabus.

JKN Laura is a Deputy Head of English, specialising in both GCSE and A Level - a typical English teacher, she loves to read. She loves to travel, and can make a pretty decent cheesecake!

Rank : 1st Degree Black Belt

Title : Jyo Kyo Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2016

Jyo Kyo Nim Jak started Kuk Sool shortly after his son as a way to spend time together, bonding over Kuk Sool and learning together. Jak is passionate about developing his own knowledge and understanding of Kuk Sool as well as sharing this with others through his teaching. His love for it has extended through his family, encouraging his younger daughter and youngest son to become part of the Widnes Martial Arts team.

Jak runs a successful building company. He loves a challenge and tries to take all challenges with a big smile on his face. Jak can often be found eating cake, singing and dancing - he is a friendly and supportive member of the team.

Black Belt Grand Champion Honours:

1st Dahn Competitions:

2022 UK Champion
2023 Scottish Champion
2023 European Champion
2023 Spanish Champion
2023 UK Champion

Rank : 1st Degree Black Belt

Title : Jyo Kyo Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2017

Jyo Kyo Nim Abbie was inspired to join Widnes Martial Arts in 2017 after tagging along to watch her younger brother and sister compete in the Scottish tournament.

She is currently away studying psychology at university, but in her spare time (when she’s not at the dojang) enjoys reading, painting and amateur ventriloquism.

Rank : 1st Degree Black Belt

Title : Jyo Kyo Nim

Started Kuk Sool Won : 2013

Jyo Kyo Nim Jamie started training at Widnes Martial Arts when he was six years old and promoted to 1st degree black belt in 2019 when he was twelve. He is currently working toward his 2nd degree and has been instructing since 2018.

JKN Jamie loves working through the Kuk Sool syllabus and the challenge of teaching some of what he knows to the younger students. His favourite form is sword form, although he loves practicing all weapons that he knows.

JKN Jamie loves to participate in school demonstrations as well as tournament. Outside of Kuk Sool, Jamie is a typical teenage boy who likes to spend time with his friends and play computer games.

Black Belt Grand Champion Honours:

1st Dahn Competitions:

2021 European Champion
2022 UK Champion
2023 European Champion
2023 UK Champion