Kuk Sool Won: Instructor

Ben Mitchell-AKA 'LIL FUT'

I have been involved in martial arts since the earily 1970, when I seen my first Bruce Lee movie "Chinese Connection". Between the 1970's until 1988, I had trained and studied numerous martial arts, such as Chinese Gung-Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Sholin Boxing just to name a few. In 1988 a friend (Jeff Green, now- Kwan Jang Nym) invited me to come to a free class at his Do-Jang on Simmon street in Galesburg, Il (Kuk Sool Won of Galesburg) to meet his instructor Bob Zefo (now- Kwan Jang Nym). After that class I was hooked, I was promoted to 1st degree black belt in 1991, and began fornally teaching. I have taught all ages and have developed a rather unique teaching style for children's classes, with the understanding that:

The attention span of children is considerably shorter than that of the average adult, so the class must be broken up from time to time with game-like drills that relate to martial art concepts
Children think visually rather than verbally, so teaching examples must be developed differently than that of the adult student. I have taught many "Keeping Kid Safe" seminar, "Women Awareness and Self defense" program, as well as being a "Defensive Tactics instructor for the Illinois Department of Corrections, as well as teaching other law enforcement personel "Defensive Tactics".

MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE

1970 - Began studying and training martial arts

1981 - Participated in my High school talent show (Galesburg H.S. see photo)

1982 - Won my First Open Tournament competition while in Kuk Sool Won

1988 - Began training in Kuk Sool Won under Master Zefo

1989 - Began Tournament competition while in Kuk Sool Won

1989 - Appointed Defensive Tactics instructor for Illinois Department of Corrections

1991 - Awarded 1st degree black belt in Kuk Sool Won Master Sanchez

1991 & 1992 - Won "Greater Midwest Nationals Championship" title in open competition (Fighting, Forms, Weapons and Breaking)

1991 - Competed against the "American Gladiators" (a popular TV show) and won 1st place

1997 - Appointed by Grandmaster Suh to take over the Kuk Sool Won of Peoria under Master Zefo

1998 - Awarded 2nd degree black belt in Kuk Sool Won under Master Zefo

2001 - Relocated the school from Prospect st. to 5221 Big Hollow Rd.(current location)

2003 - Grandmaster Suh, Mayor Ransberg and a host of other Masters visited our school to celebrated Kuk Sool Won of Peoria 2nd Year anniversary and conducted a Ribbon cutting ceremony, Black belt testing and Seminar.( see photo)

2003 - Awarded 3rd degree black belt in Kuk Sool Won under Master Zefo

Sa Bum Nym Ben Mitchell has competed in hundreds of tournament and have won numerous titles and grand championships, as well as, conduct demonstrations for fund raiser for charitable groups in the community.(see photo)

Martial Arts Goal: To somehow learn how to teach my instructors to be better instructors and become more successful than I am, in life and Martial Arts, which will in turn follow down to their students and to give my students and the public a safe, positive facility to grow stronger and learn to succeed in all walks of life. My students learn Discipline, Respect, Confidence, Self-Defense and gain physical fitness while having fun.

Favorite Proverb: One who dares to teach, should never stop learning!!!

Principle Phrase of life: You've gotta do what you gotta do.....before you can do what you want to do.