Body Conditioning

The martial arts deals with making the human body into a weapon.  This weapon must be developed and maintained.  Thus, there is a combination of making the body stronger and more durable as well as understanding the intricacies of health and nutrition.

Muscle Development

Muscles must be built and made stronger in order for the martial artist to become more effective.  Strangely enough, an increase in muscle strength actually improves more than just raw power.  It also gives the martial artist greater ability.  For example, making the legs stronger will certainly improve a person's kick but it will also improve balance.  In turn, better balance and stability improves the kicking ability. 

The front and back of the arms and legs, abdomen, back, shoulders, wrist, calves, hands and feet are all isolated for muscle development.  Each of these areas contributes to the making of the strong martial artist.

Flexibility

Flexibility is very important in the martial arts as it promotes better health as well as greater ability.  If your arm or leg is stiff, it can not strike as quickly.  With reduced speed there is reduced power.  Thus, being flexible is crucial to proper martial arts training.  Flexibility also provides for greater ability as well.  By having more flexible arms or legs one is also more agile, that is, can move more quickly and precisely.  This agility is of primary importance when striking or kicking pressure point.

Some people may recognize some of the stretching techniques as coming from Yoga.  Although this may appear to the case, Kuk Sool Won focuses its attention not on the inner workings of Yoga but rather on the benefits that these exercises have towards building a strong, flexible martial artist's body.  These exercises have a long history of improving body conditioning and promoting health and are not restricted to the provinces of yoga.

Endurance

Good health and good self-defense come from long hours of training.  The beginner will benefit from a light workout and will see his endurance, his ability to keep practicing without getting tired, improve on a daily basis.  More and more advanced training makes for students who can train for hours without showing wear.  These students are often recognized by their friends and neighbors when simple chores are done around the house.  One such student was helping a friend move to a new home and was greeted with praise as he was able to work all day without tiring while his friend struggled to keep up.