Also pronounced/spelled: YooSool;  (Soft / Skills)

By:  Professor John E. Chambers, 9th Dan

Did you ever hear the expression;  “There is nothing pretty, soft or gentle about his techniques,....he goes straight for your juggler”?

When attacked by an aggressor, one must not rely on meeting brute force with brute force!  He must redirect the force of the aggressor while targeting specific and precise points of the aggressor’s body to attack. Always strike first, and never allow the aggressor to put his hands on you!

That may well be a good way to describe the antiquated system of Yusool! Hundreds of years ago, the early systems of Yusool, was nothing more or less than a pure form of raw but extremely effective self-defense.

The martial art of Yusool represents a controversial case in modern Korea.Records show that centuries ago,  there existed only two fighting styles in Korea:  The kick-punch art of Taekyon,  &  The grappling art of Yusool.

Taekyon lives on today,  but Yusool in it’s original form, died out more than 300 years ago.

However,  located in the heart of Pusan, is the headquarters of the modern martial art version of Yusool. The highest ranking man in the Korean Yusool Association, is Grandmaster Kim Mu Jin. The current Director of the day to day operations of the Pusan South Korean Yusool Association is Grandmaster Hwang Man Jae.

Grandmaster Kim Mu Jin admits to having learned this lost art in Japan,  where a number of enthusiasts had kept Yusool alive for centuries, after it was confiscated by Japanese invaders.  Although Yusool ceased to exist in it’s Korean homeland,  mainly due to Japanese eradication efforts, it nevertheless thrived in Japan, and eventually spawned the Japanese art of: Jujutsu.

Professor Jigoro Kano, founder and father of Japanese Kodokan Judo, was a master jutsu/ jujitsu & Yusool expert, who elevated the “art” or the “practice” to Do, “way” or “principle”, calling his new martial art system  Kodokan Judo, which he established in 1882.

Advanced Yusool students also practiced Chimsool, (acupuncture) and Chiahosool, (acupressure). Much of Yusool training emphasizes the use of vital pressure points (nerve endings), & meridians (the highest point of power, prosperity, splendor, vigor, prime, & health, resulting in the study and alignment of the imaginary great circle passing through the North & South Poles of the celestial sphere in relation to the equator, etc).  Advanced stretching exercises for both joints & muscles was greatly emphasized.

Much time is dedicated to the study of Danjun, (breathing exercises), and Ki development techniques.  Techniques in a pure form of Self-defense  constitute most of the art of Yusool.  Martial arts historians claim that the original Yusool system purportedly number 3,805 techniques in all. The old grandmasters of Yusool utilized some 365 vital points of the body, including 116 “weakness angles” through which joints are attacked!

The only weapon that the Korean Yusool Association teaches, is the Bong, or Staff. Bong training is extensive with blocks, strikes, locks, & take downs.

The Korean Yusool Association teaches three “Bongsool” forms,that increase in difficulty, as the students progress in rank.

Many of the hand techniques resemble those of the modern day form of Taekwondo, to include the standard kicks & many jumping kicks.

Punching & kicking was used to knock the opponent down, before joint locks and other submission holds are applied, to include strangulation locks.

It should be noted, that the modern day art of Hapkido, is a spin-off of the original art of Yusool.  Although earlier forms of self-defense referred to as Yusool existed, one of the influential masters & revivers of Korean Yusool  was;  Choi Yong Sool.  Born in 1904, he traveled to Japan at a young age and studied;  Dai Dong Ryu Yu-Sool under master Takeda Sokaku. Choi Yong Sool later taught Yusool to; Soh Bok Sub, a Yudo Black Belt expert.  Years later, (1940’s),  Soh Bok Sub made a number of changes in  the original system of Yusool  and called his new system; Yu Kwon Sool.

The new system of Yu Kwon Sool placed heavy emphasis on: throws, joint-locks, pressure points, punching, & kicking.

Ji Han Jae, another dedicated student of Grandmaster Choi Yong Sool, is: The founder & father of Hapkido as we know it today. Ji Han Jae formed his new system of Hapkido after extensive study of Yusool under Grandmaster  Choi Yong Sool. For a short period of time, Ji Han Jae called his system; “Hapki Yu Kwon Sool”.  Realizing the name was to long, and he liked the name “Do”,  which means “way of life”, much better than  the name; “Sool”, which means “technique”,  he shorten the name to;  “Hapkido”. In general, Hapkido translates; Harmony, Power, The Way.

Professor John E. Chambers, founder of Martial Arts USA, is keeping the art of Yusool alive and active in teaching his system; BudoKi-Junari-Jujitsu.  One hundred twenty Yusool techniques are taught in ten forms.  Each form has twelve techniques know as:  Yusool / Poom-Se  (#1 through #10). 

Techniques ranging from least to more difficult, as the student progresses through the ranks.  Professor Chambers revised many of the antiquated Yusool techniques, combined those with modern yudo/judo, Hapkido and his own system of  jujitsu, to establish a practical, effective & exciting array of 120 self-defense techniques. This does not include many techniques required from other arts to wit:

Yusool is considered one of the most difficult of the martial arts, to obtain  black belt ranking.

To qualify for yusool first-degree black belt testing, one must hold no less than, a first-degree black belt in karate, or be in a position to demonstrate the skills required for that art. This to include all the standard striking, kicking and blocking requirements.

This also required for the art of yudo/judo, which includes demonstrating strong skills in break-falling (ukemi), the standard first forty throwing techniques, strangulations, joint locking and grappling requirements.

This followed by demonstrating the first fifty yusool techniques in good form.

For more information on Yusool, or other martial arts, contact:

Professor John E. Chambers
Martial Arts USA
P.O. Box 849
Inverness, Fl. 34451