PKJN Stephen Runnacles

School Owner & Head Instructor

Steve is currently a Fifth Degree Black Belt (Master), receiving his official promotion from our Grand Master, Kuk Sa Nim at the WKSA European Tournament in Norwich on 4 June 2022.

Steve started his Kuk Sool Won™ journey at the age of 26 to learn a skill in martial arts as well as to keep fit, lose weight and build confidence, making Steve a great instructor for those facing the same issues having successfully overcoming these himself.

After achieving his First Degree Black Belt, Steve began to instruct both kids and adults in the art of Kuk Sool Won ™ and has been doing so for over 15 years. It is a credit to Steve that he has seen many kids and adults successfully achieve their Black Belts under his guidance.

Steve was shortlisted for Children’s Coach of the Year Award at Somerset Sports Awards 2016 (Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership - www.sasp.co.uk).

Steve is DBS (formerly CRB) checked and insured.

PSBN Sally Runnacles

Assistant Instructor

Sally is currently a Third Degree Black Belt (Assistant Instructor) and is in the testing cycle towards Fourth Degree Black Belt.

Sally began her Kuk Sool Won™ journey later in life at the age of 36 to learn a skill in martial arts as well as to keep fit (after finding going to the gym boring!) and making friends after moving to a new area away from family and friends.

Kuk Sool Won™ has been more than just a martial art for Sally, it is where she met PKJN Steve Runnacles who later became her husband!

Sally started assisting Steve with the childrens' classes when she became a Dahn Boh Nim (Black Belt Candidate) and subsequently assisted with adult classes after successfully achieving her Black Belt.

As a woman, Sally understands how martial arts benefits females. Kuk Sool Won™ helps promote self-confidence as well as an aid to keeping fit and maintaining healthy weight management and that martial arts is not just about kicking and punching, but gives power in the knowledge of self-defence techniques.

Sally is also keen to help promote and encourage young girls and women to participate in sports and for them to gain confidence in themselves as well as have a healthy body attitude.

Sally was also one of the finalists for Sports Coach of the Year in the Believe in Somerset Awards 2017.

Sally is DBS (formerly CRB) checked and insured.

JKN Michael Pitman

Black Belt Instructor

Michael is currently a First Degree Black Belt, promoting in June 2025.

Michael has always had a strong interest in fitness and first explored martial arts as a teenager. Like many, the responsibilities of work and family took priority, and training was put on hold. In 2021, at the age of 41, he joined Kuk Sool Won with the goal of improving fitness and finding focus away from the everyday demands of life.

Since then, Kuk Sool Won has offered to Michael far more than just self-defence. Its structured and achievable syllabus has supported personal growth in confidence, discipline, and physical ability. Achieving a black belt and progressing to instructor-in-training has been a significant milestone. Michael finds it incredibly rewarding to share knowledge, support students in their own journeys, and give back to the martial arts community. Michael hopes to inspire others and show that it’s never too late to begin something new.