"An absolutely wonderful and genuinely life-warming experience learning with Kwak Kyungtae and his apprentices Maisei, Tomi, Minjung and David.

The teaching is exceptional. Highly technical skills are broken down methodically and clearly, step by step, in a way that somehow makes very complex ideas feel achievable. I made far more progress than I expected… while simultaneously becoming aware that I have mastered approximately none of it yet (which turns out to be oddly inspiring rather than discouraging). It’s a little intimidating when you first arrive (you quickly realise how much there is to learn), but this soon gives way to the gentle guidance, patience and quiet encouragement of Teacher and the apprentices. Mistakes are met with calm observation and instruction rather than correction-by-alarm, and learning happens through careful watching, thoughtful repetition, and an atmosphere that makes you feel safe to try again… and again… and again.

By the end, I felt less like a visiting student and more like I’d been adopted into a Korean family. The care and cultural experience extended well beyond the studio, making the whole experience deeply human as well as deeply educational. Boss Lady quietly ensured we were welcomed, cared for, remarkably well fed, and never in danger of running out of banana milk. The meals were generous, delicious, deeply local, and every bit as memorable as the teaching. I’m still baffled as to how Teacher could identify that the “soju” in my cup was actually water from across the table; apparently his attention to detail does not switch off after studio hours.

I left with mud under my fingernails, a very full brain, the whisper of new skills, a calmer mind, and the slightly unsettling realisation that I now need to rethink everything I thought I knew about throwing, in the best possible way.

If you have the opportunity to learn here, take it. Truly unforgettable."