Private lesson

Students can also arrange for private instruction from the head master. In these private lessons, the master will design a lesson plan that meets the individual student’s needs. Some of the benefits of private lessons include:

• Developing confidence for group instruction
• Preparing for tournaments or examinations
• Improving one’s technique, forms, or sparring
• Developing mind control
• A tailored fitness program

Schedule a 30 minute or 1 hour Siljun Dobup or Kumdo private lesson with Master.

Private lessons must be used within 90 days of the purchase date. There is a 24-hour cancelation policy for all private lessons or the client will be charged 50% of the private lesson fee.

For more information, contact us at (201) 387-2200 or send an email at kumdoacademysungmoo@gmail.com

New Students Occasionally, for some students new to the art, private lessons are a way to learn in a more controlled setting. Often, an individual will have slightly different goals than that of a group class. Perhaps you are an executive wanting more personalized attention. Or you have a physical parameter that you want to learn to work around, meanwhile requiring your training partners to take extra care and attention. Or you just want to get a head start before you train in a group class. It takes about 30 months to achieve black belt in group lesson in general. However, our time-saving and intensive private lesson program guarantees to achieve black belt level in 6 months(50 hour program).  Students can arrange the class schedule at their convenient time. Also Masters can visit your locations and offer short intensive self-learning program. Whatever the reason, some students prefer to learn in private (1-on-1) or semi-private (small groups of 2-4) lessons which are tailored specifically to their pace, schedule, fitness level, and personalities.

Experienced Martial Artists If you have experience any martial arts you would understand the value of becoming black belt and how hard it is to achieve the black belt. Moreover, you recognize how the solid basics are important. Challenge yourself to achieve the blackbelt with focused, time saving program. Sword program exclusively at Sung Moo Kendo Academy will be a best choice of your life time.

Current Students Private Lessons are an effective way to turbocharge your training. During private lessons, an instructor can spend one-on-one time with you to fine tune your techniques and improve your performance. If you have a bad habit or try to improve your skills quickly, try to experience the private lesson. It is a popular way for students to accelerate their progress.

Seminars and School Program Courses Looking to host a seminar or Siljun Dobup School Program course? We would be pleased to help you.  If you are running a martial art school, we can help you to open sword classes.

*Black Belt 50 hours program Achieving 1st degree black belt (regularly takes 30-36 months) Online teaching and visiting for lesson are possible for those who live out of New Jersey. If  you are interested in private lessons, please give us a call (201) 387-2200 or email us kumdoacademysungmoo@gmail.com

Testimonial for Siljun Dobup Private Lessons

By Jonathan D. Lupkin, Attorney at law

I wear many hats.  I am a lawyer practicing in the unforgiving world of New York City business litigation, a husband of twenty years to a very special woman and the father of four extraordinary daughters.  With obligations owed to so many others, coming to the do-jang each week has been nothing short of therapeutic.  Upon crossing the threshold, I leave the rest of the day behind me and focus on only one thing – learning to master the sword. Starting, as I did, to train at the age of 42, I felt that the need for an intensive “jump start.”  For me, private lessons with Grand Master Seong and Master Min were the answer.  The one-on-one training enabled me to focus intensely on my own unique obstacles to progressing in the martial arts.  When I began, I found it challenging to perform even the most rudimentary of maneuvers.  But Masters Seong and Min were infinitely patient with me and my infamous lack of coordination.  Fast forward just a few months and, thanks to the masters’ painstaking attention to detail, I quickly progressed through the ranks, overcame my awkwardness and earned my first degree black belt — an accomplishment that would have taken me at least two years had I trained in a group setting. I am exceedingly grateful to Grand Master Seong and Master Min for acting as my private guides to the elegant art of the sword and enabling me to study and train at a level I would have thought impossible just a short time ago.

What Siljun Dobup Means to Me by Michael V. Macri, M.D.

I was always interested in the Martial Arts as a young boy I was close to black belt twice in my life.I studied a form of Okinawan Karate during my early teen years until 18 years old, unfortunately at that point it was off to college and premedical studies and Karate was put on hold. I studied the Goju form of Karate while in medical school and was quite involved. It was a great release from the tensions of medical school but again medical school came to an end and it was time for residency. So Karate was put on hold again. In the blink of an eye… residency, the practice of medicine, buying a home ( mortgage), marriage and then children 30 years passed by and I am now middle aged. I felt my stamina dwindling, alot of aches and pains beginning that despite an active lifestyle and occasional advil nothing made the aches better. I have always been drawn to weaponry both firearms and edged weapons. In fact, I think my choosing surgery within medicine relates to the practice of precisely cutting something using blade geometry to cure it. Thus my natural attraction. I trained in fencing about 10 years ago and enjoyed it but found it somewhat crude and lacking in discipline and spirituality. I came to the conclusion that if I could study the martial arts again and perhaps incorporate fencing or sword work might be what I was looking for. So I made an appointment to meet Master Seong. Upon meeting him. I didn’t know anything about Kendo much less Siljun Dobup. He was patient in explaining what these styles were and the training it would require.. I was somewhat apprehensive, thinking of Karate, being lined up with all the young adolescent students at the peak of their performance and me … 50 something in less than prime shape.. I asked for private lessons to bring me up to speed to get into a class with younger kendoists. He mentioned Sword training- Siljun Dobup was his recommendation. Understanding the martial way (unquestioning) I figured he knew best what I needed and proceeded to follow his advice… I had no idea for how long I would do it or what level could be obtained. He mentioned “Black Belt” to me, at the time, it was like mentioning a marathon to a person use to walking up the block. I couldn’t even picture going through a whole class without a rest much less attaining the rank of Black Belt that eluded me in the past (when I was in much better shape). He also mentioned I would see it through since ” the more you participate in Siljun Dobup .. the more you’ll love to work at it”.. Again understanding the martial way … I don’t know how he knew this but I was willing to follow whatever he thought would be “right for me”. Till this day I still don’t know how Master Seong knew this about me! The first few classes were fun but very foreign. I felt clumsy but the thought of whipping that sword around naturally peaked my interest. Learning something as simple as moving forward and back and “Eight Forms” took quite a while but was obtainable. Next the Cutting forms…. that’s when things really started to get interesting …. using the blade to cut from different positions and at different angles really got me hooked. At that point I really knew I loved this discipline. When I learned Set Ji ( the Earth) I remember Master Seong’s talk of how I must let go and be open to what he was about to show me and accept it. If he said it was white ( even though of black color)… I was to accept it as white. He taught me how to develop my” Chi engergy”, and how to meditate… All of this were building blocks to getting me to let go, concentrate and enable me to develop my inner Chi power. This really had a profound effect on me. I was convinced I made the right move studying Siljun Dobup. It took a while to get down the breating of Set Ji but as my Chi increased my breathing slowed down. Master Seong encouraged me to harness my Chi energy:”fire” on the inside and “ice” on the outside, The first time he invited me to Tameshigiri practice (mat cutting) I thought now… function follows form.. to actually apply the cutting techniques to what I’ve learned was outstanding. Set Su ( water) made me develop my “flow” of the sword.. More and more as I was practicing I started thinking about movement and harmony. This progressed up to my Black Belt test for first dan …I noticed my thoughts were of cutting .. but more of flow and movement while cutting.I also began extreme concentration and “Moshin”, mind of no mind -having a mind clear of other thoughts. That is, a mind not fixed or occupied by thought or emotion and thus open to everything. Achieving my Black Belt first dan was a monumental achievement for me especially since I was close two other times in my life, however, this time at the age of 52. I realize now that I achieved first dan its a stepping stone to a road further up the mountain. My goals going forward are to train intensively, develop “Moshin” and to effect these changes in my extremely hectic daily life, to reflect the same mindset as when I practice Siljun Dobup. It is my hope to practice the “Way of the Sword” for the rest of my days.

Master Siljun Dobup Michael V. Macri, M.D.

I can’t believe my journey in Siljin Dobup has brought me to this level. Finally my mind and body andspirit work together as one. This was a long journey that has trained my mind to be neutral and have Moshin “No mind” while doing forms. I have alot to be thankful for meeting Master Jin Seong who was very patient with me from the beginning. I was always a good athlete despite being in poor condition and middle aged when I started. As mentioned in my previous essays I trained extensively 2 private sword lessons, 2 group lessons, 1 teaching session and 2-3  group Kumdo lessons a week. I immersed myself in body and mind in learning “the way of the sword”.. I feel this was necessary since I had to overcome my poor previous conditioning and middle aged status. Master Seong was very supportive since I had my doubts about being able to overcome the age hurtle but he always encouraged me that my mind would overcome my age. I have always had a strong spirit but now feel that the body, mind and spirit are one. His encouragement was just that…. He led me to the well and it was up to me to drink the water.
I have a deep passion for Siljin Dobup. I believe it shows. Now that I am at an advanced level I view other styles and note they  are too fixed and don’t have enough variety. I love the fact that there are different stabs, slashes and strikes and sheathing techniques in Siljin Dobup and that I can practice virtually anywhere. I love practicing at home, office (in between patients) and of course in the Dojang.

I look at Set Ji (earth) as the beginning form (8 directional cuts) upon which all other forms are based. In Set Ji we start by “putting down the self”. We empty what we already have to accept new things. Set Soo (water) is a flowing form everything is open and fine my mindset is of water flowing down a river. The mind becomes flexible like water and there is an opening of the mind to accept new possibilities. Set Pung (wind) is abrupt, quick movements with conservation of movement in cutting and sheathing. By doing so we cut out what isn’t necessary and make room to insert positive Chi energy of Set Hwa. Set Hwa (fire) we build up positive Chi energy.  I had a lot of trouble with this form since I was able to build up chi energy but sometimes too much fire and not enough ice. My mind has enabled me to overcome this now, but it took a lot of work and breathing! Set Cheon (Sky) covers everything, good, bad, hot, cold, beautiful, ugly everything harmonizes under the Sky. Everything has a place. In Set Cheon you start controlling your mind and realize you are the master of your mind. This  took the longest since the manner in doing the form Set Ji#1, Set Soo #1, Set Pung #1, Set Hwa #1, Set Cheon #1 was a continuation of all the forms in cutting sequence i.e. Left to right overhead diagonal cuts in #1, right to left overhead diagonal cuts in #2, on up. I view Set Cheon differently since all the forms come together and I see their connection to each other.
Having come full circle the most important part of the sword I feel is the mind. There is a saying “Look at the Soul, to see the Sword”, i.e., Bad Soul. Bad Sword… Good Soul, Good Sword.  The Sword can reflect many good things and can be an instrument for meditation. I feel that by reaching Master Level in Siljin Dobup my mind is free to be open to anything and I am the master of my mind. Having arrived at Master Level is a definite milestone but I realize there is a long journey in front of me as a Master. It is my wish to continue the trip up the mountain in learning “the way of the sword”.