Like all great story beginnings, my introduction to Kuk Sool Won began in the pub! I got talking to a now friend called Graeme Temple, who had moved all the way from Scotland to train in a newly opened club in London. When I heard that level of commitment I thought to myself ‘Hmm am I missing out on something?’

This is where I got introduced to Master Nick Reeve who is a fantastic instructor and now a close friend. The club was constantly being visited by students from all over the country who wanted at least one lesson with him. I consider myself lucky to be one of the clubs first and still practicing students.

When I entered my first tournament, I didn't get any medals. This was the best thing to happen to me. It encouraged me to focus on all the other aspects of kuk sool won, and not just sparring which is what tends to happen at the beginning.

I would train in the park in the morning, go to the gym and make sure I was ready for the next tournament. The results were better next time round placing in all 3 divisions. I still love entering tournaments with my favorite division being techniques.

I've been lucky enough to travel to various countries in Europe and the USA to compete . To date I've been awarded over 140 medals and managed to secure 3 grand champ trophies. I often get asked how did you get so many medals and trophies, I can honestly say, consistently showing up and listening goes a long way. Is that a life lesson?

I continued my training and was awarded my 1st degree black belt in 2012, also being chosen to be in a demo with a master as he was so impressed with me in my final test .

Through a number of circumstances, I was offered the opportunity to take over the club in 2021. Which is funny as Graeme joked 10 years previously that I would be running the club one day!!

We changed location and introduced kids classes which my two children take part in. With the combined effort of all our students our club finished 7th in the 2024 European tournament!

In 2024, and almost 18 years worth of training,competing and being involved in the WKSA, I achieved the rank of 4th degree. I still have the same level of enthusiasm, so let's see what the next 18 years hold!!!

Master Nick Reeve is the head instructor and school owner of Kuk Sool Won Central London and has been training for over 30 years. His passion for Kuk Sool Won is evident in his teaching style and he hopes that his enthusiasm rubs off on students of his classes.

After seeing a demonstration of Kuk Sool Won at his local school fete in 1988, Master Nick Reeve joined the Mildenhall club under Master Steve Isaacson and has been hooked ever since. As quite a shy 12 year old, Kuk Sool Won initially gave Nick some much needed confidence and showed him that he could excel despite his diminutive height. Nick managed to continue his training through the 'tricky teenage years' where so many of his training partners quit and gradually worked his way up the belts. In 1994, Nick was awarded his 1st Degree Black Belt in Norwich by Kuk Sool Won founder and Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh and from that day he realised that he had only just begun his training.

Nick's progression to Master has involved developing expertise in all aspects of Kuk Sool Won, however he excels in kicking, forms, weapons and acrobatics. Training aside, Kuk Sool Won has given Nick so much including the opportunity to travel the world and meet lots of great people.

Throughout the years, Nick has been an avid competitor and has competed in every British and European WKSA tournament from their inception in 1991 up until his Master promotion in 2012. Along the way he has won many medals including a gold in forms in Korea, 2005 and being the first person to be awarded under black belt grand champion in the UK. The elusive title of grand champion at black belt level is something that Master Nick never achieved and proved to be a great motivator for both competing and training in general.

In recent years, Nick has become more involved 'behind the scenes' in World Kuk Sool Association (WKSA) UK (a role that he enjoys very much) and can usually be found behind the computer at tournaments. He is also a member of the national Seminar Tour Team which is something that he feels extremely honoured by.

Nick moved to London in 2002 and in 2006 he opened this club which has gone from strength to strength with many students attaining the black belt level and some even the title of grand champion. He hopes he can continue to share his enthusiasm for Kuk Sool Won with many new students in the years to come.