A bead of sweat rolls down freshman Sophia Miller’s temple. Her breathing is sporadic and heavy. She and her opponent have passed the upper hand back and forth for nearly six grueling minutes. Before she knows it, her opponent knocks her onto her back, trapping her in a straight arm lock. As her arm is bent towards the mat, her face contorts into a grimace. The pain is excruciating. She’s ready to give up.

The level of physical strain required by a martial art is enough to bring most people to their breaking point. In fact, it’s moments like these that have made Miller, who has practiced jiu jitsu since sixth grade, question whether her commitment is worth the exhaustion. 

“Sometimes, when you’re in a meet or something, you’re just like ‘I can’t do this anymore’,” Miller said. “But you just have to learn how to push through it.”

Kuk sool won is a traditional Korean martial art that embodies all of the traditional Korean fighting arts, including traditional weapons training, with an emphasis on techniques and acrobatics. And although it is much different than jiu jitsu, which is a Japanese artform focused on throwing, trapping and holds, kuk sool won is just as tough on the mind and body.

Jacob Simpkins, a sophomore who has practiced kuk sool won since first grade, believes that much of the difficulty in the sport relates to the dedication it requires. The time commitment in itself can make the sport feel exhausting at times.

“There’s definitely physical challenges, but there’s also a bunch of mental challenges,” Simpkins said. “Currently, I’m in a testing process for my black belt, and that takes two years. And so I’m hitting the end of that, and that burnout’s kicking in like ‘Ugh, I have to go to class.’”

Not only is the longevity of martial arts daunting, but also the hours that it requires weekly. Freshman Emma Schultheis, who started jiu jitsu a year and a half ago, attends training at the UFC Gym — the same facility as Miller — several times a week. 

“I usually go up there about three times a week. And sometimes I’ll go on the weekends,” Schultheis said.

Simpkins, who has become an instructor at his school — Kuk Sool Won O’Fallon —

spends almost every day there.

“I’m an instructor at my school, so I’m there every night I can be,” Simpkins said.

It would be extremely difficult to commit at the level these athletes do, if it weren’t for the love that they have for their respective artforms. Miller has seen jiu jitsu as a fun activity that makes her stronger by the day.

“I think it’s just fun and nice to do, and it really brings people closer. And it shows that you know how to protect yourself from anything,” Miller said.

Simpkins finds that kuk sool won has provided him with a way to relieve his mind of everyday stressors, and creates a new mentality. 

“My favorite thing is just the attitude that comes with it; the discipline, getting to go there every day and have fun,” Simpkins said. “It is hard work, you still get the crap beat out of you, but that’s part of the fun. It’s just somewhere you can release yourself, and let yourself be happy, and be yourself.”

In addition to being a fun activity for recreation, practicing a martial art teaches a wide span of lessons that can be applied to life outside of training.