CHIEF INSTRUCTOR
Sa Bum Nim, Marlin Godfrey is a 4th Degree Black Belt in the Traditional Korean Martial Art of Kuk Sool. He began studying Kuk Sool in 1994, under 4th Degree Black Belt, Dr. Eugene Upshaw and 4th Degree Black Belt Steven L. Hurley, while earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.
Over the past 25 years, Sa Bum Nim Marlin briefly studied such self-defense methods as Western Boxing and Greco-Roman Wrestling, as well as martial arts styles ranging from American Karate to Tai Chi to Tae Kwon Do Chang Mu Kwon. Yet it was not until participating in his first Kuk Sool class, that he found this one systematic approach to such diverse methods of self-defense. Sa Bum Nim Marlin was immediately overwhelmed by the completeness of Kuk Sool, and after only one lesson dedicated his life to the single minded study and application of Kuk Sool Won™'s vast assortment of techniques and principles.
During the summer of 1998, Sa Bum Nim Marlin was invited by Grandmaster and founder of Kuk Sool Won™, In Hyuk Suh, to come to Kuk Sool headquarter for further training in the Art and for instruction on opening a Kuk Sool Won™ School in the Washington, DC area. This training allowed him to refocus on the most fundamental and basic techniques and principles. It was during this training that Kuk Sa Nim, In Hyuk Suh, helped Sa Bum Nim Marlin to fully understand the most important part of being a Martial Artist. ETIQUETTE. Meaning everything motivated by respect. Respect for your elders, your peers, your community, and yourself. This respect for all things helps build discipline by making one focus on doing the right thing in any and all situations.
AWARDS /CERTIFICATES
1995 - Gold Medal (Sparring), Bronze Medal (Forms) WKSA Tournament West Point, NY
1998 - Completed Instructor Training Program under Grand Master Suh, In Hyuk.
1998 - Promoted to Jo Kyo Nim (1st Degree Black Belt).
1998 - Received Letter of Appointment (Instructor Certificate) from Grand Master Suh, In Hyuk.
1999 - Gold Medal (Sparring), Bronze Medal (Weapons-Bong), Copper Medal (Self-Defense) WKSA Tournament West Point, NY.
2000 - 1st Place Forms NC Open Tournament Greensboro, NC.
2000 - Gold Medal (Techniques), Bronze Medal (Sparring), Bronze Medal (Weapons-Bong), Copper Medal (Forms) WKSA Tournament St. Louis, MO
2001 - 2nd Place Continuous Sparring US Capital Classics Washington, DC
2001- Promoted to Kyo Sa Nim (2nd Degree Balck Belt)
2006 - Promoted to Pu Sa Bum Nim (3rd Degree Black Belt)
2009 - Promoted to Sa Bum Nim (4th Degree Black Belt)
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