Kuk Sool Won champion Alison Ducker has passed away

Posted:
6:00 a.m. on November 28, 2021

Tributes were paid to one of the world’s top ranked female martial artists.

Alison Ducker has trained and examined thousands of Norfolk children in the art of Kuk Sool Won – as well as her own two children Rachel and Jay.

As well as running two schools in Halesworth and Lowestoft, Alison has often been found competing and examining on the mats at Kuk Sool Won School in Norwich.

Alison’s love for martial arts started as a teenager, as her daughter Rachel explained: “My mom watched my dad work out as a teenager. One day when she was about 17 years old. years old, an instructor dragged her into one of their classes and it was immediately obvious that she was a natural.

“She had a photographic memory and had the physique for the martial art. But she also moved with such poise and grace – she demanded attention when she was on the mat.”

Alison, from Halesworth, has trained her own children to become national, European and world champions and has worked with countless others.

She was due to receive her seventh Dan Master before her death on November 6, marking 30 years of dedicated training.

“My mom had always encouraged my dad to train more. Then, on the day I was born in 1987, my dad announced that he had quit his job and wanted to work full time in martial arts.

“I think my mom was a little shocked – she had just had a baby.

“But they started their schools and succeeded. My father was always the leader and my mother was more of the silent power.

“Dad teaches fast but Mum always took her time with her students – she wanted to give them a really good education,” explained Rachel.

And thanks to their artistic talents, the family became famous all over the world.

“Because mum was always so high up that she always judged at Norwich school because that’s where all the competitions are held,” she explained.

“But we also had to go a lot further. We went to Houston, Texas a lot because that’s where the world championships were held.

“We also traveled to Korea, where we opened the National Live Demonstration Center on KBS as a family. More than 15,000 people watched it.

“It’s something that has really bonded us as a family. My father’s motto is, ‘A family that comes together, stays together.'”

The talents of the family have also propelled them into the limelight at celebrity events.

“We did a play at the David and Victoria Beckham World Cup Diamond and White Tie Party,” said Rachel.

“It was so surreal. I remember we were all a little overwhelmed but Mom was so calm. She had that little twinkle in her eyes so we knew she was excited.”

But Alison’s impact went far beyond those who worked closely with her.

“Until her death, we didn’t really appreciate the number of people she had had such a profound impact on. And then the tributes started pouring in from all over the county.

“For me, seeing mom, it showed me how powerful women can be. Because she’s ranked so often that there weren’t any other women to compete with, so she had to compete with men, and she would win gold.

“It was so inspiring for me – and I suspect a lot of other women – to see my mom win in a man’s world.”

Alison also “adored” her grandsons, the children of Rachel, Leo and Indie.

“Mom was so looking forward to being a grandmother. She only met Indie once before she passed away, as he was born ten weeks ago.

“The only silver lining I can find in that is that his memory lives on in my boys,” Rachel said.

Norwich Kuk Sool Won School wrote: “Alison was an inspiring martial artist who was incredibly strong yet calm, graceful and kind. Everyone who knew her will be sadly missed.”