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Choi Kwang Do

[REDACTED]
Also known as	CKD
Focus	Striking
Country of origin	South Korea
Official website	www.choikwangdo.com

Choi Kwang Do is a martial art developed by Kwang Jo Choi, the style relies more on flexibility and fluidity of movement as opposed to the more rigid lines of some other martial arts. To achieve this it employs yoga-based stretching to develop the flexibility of practitioners.

History

Choi Kwang Do was founded by Kwang Jo Choi, who was born in South Korea before emigrating to Canada in the early 1970s. Choi was a successful ITF Tae Kwon Do practitioner and trainer (serving as a chief instructor) before establishing his own style.

While teaching and demonstrating ITF Tae Kwon Do in South East Asia, Kwang Jo Choi became injured through his training and demonstrations to the point where he was unable to continue with the discipline. So he left Malaysia (where he was demonstrating at the time) for North America, in the hope of finding orthopedic surgeons who would be able to help with his injuries. Determining that the injuries were caused by the way he was performing martial arts, Choi undertook rehabilitative exercises, attended various seminars and studied techniques for rehabilitation. Choi claims that he incorporated these techniques into his own fighting style, and from that he developed Choi Kwang Do.

Today, Choi Kwang-Do is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is taught in numerous countries including the United Kingdom with schools in England, Scotland and Wales.

Style and training

Choi Kwang Do claims to emphasize the use of biomechanics, and to employ a number of modern disciplines, such as kinesiology and psychology, in its design. The result is a tendency towards the use of natural body movements and sequential motion to develop optimum force on impact, this serves to place less pressure on the joints. The style also incorporates breathing and stretching exercises from yoga.

Choi Kwang Do is not designed for competition, but for a natural and effective response to everyday stimuli and training is a mix of contact drills using pads and shields, non-contact drills and "in-fighting" close-quarter drills.

Practitioners

Notable practitioners of the Choi Kwon Do style include:

• Kwang Jo Choi (founder) - inducted into the Taekwondo Times Magazine Hall of Fame, 2006.

• Lynne Russell - Deputy Sheriff, Private Investigator and author of How to Win Friends, Kick Ass and Influence People.

• Silvio Simac, Actor, Famous martial artist, 1999 ITF (non-olympic) Taekwondo world champion. He holds 4th Dan Black Belt in ITF Taekwondo, 5th Dan in Choi Kwang Do, 3rd Dan in Kickboxing, 1st Dan in Brithai Karate and 1st Dan Black Belt in Combat Self-Defence. He starred along side Jet Li (Wushu practitioner) in Unleashed and other feature movies.

Principles of Choi Kwang Do

• Humility
• Honesty
• Gentleness
• Perseverance
• Self - Control
• Unbreakable spirit

Choi Kwang Do commands

Belt system

• Black Belt 1st Degree (Il Dan)
• Black Belt 2nd Degree (Ee Dan)
• Black Belt 3rd Degree ( Sam Dan)
• Black Belt 4th Degree - International Instructor level ( Sah Dan)
• Black Belt 5th Degree - Master level (Oo Dan)
• Black Belt 6th Degree (Yuk Dan)
• Black Belt 7th Degree - Senior Master level (Chil Dan)
• Black Belt 8th Degree - Grand Master level (Pow Dan)

Prior to 1999 CKD had 11 colored belts before introducing "senior" belts for each colored belt. The new curriculum increased the total number of colored belts to 18. Each senior belt retained the original pattern, while the solid colored belts were altered to a simplified one directional pattern. There are no patterns past fourth degree black belt. The copyrighted CKD Student Guide states coloured belts are eligible to sit for belt exams each 2 months. A student therefore can receive their black belt after 3 to 3½ years depending on their schools closure times over christmas /New Year periods. However, becoming an Assistant Instructor gives the person entitlement to grade every month thus halving the period needed to acquire black belt. Anyone can become an Assistant Instructor after being recommended to the international headquarters by a school owner who has first received and then accepted the application based on their recommendation of the applicant and an essay they have submitted on why the applicant wishes to be an assistant instructor. The applicant must then pay an Assistant Instructor certification fee. There is a minimum rank required by Choi Kwang Do international regardless of previous experience and expertise of the applicant as stated here as gold belt which is the 5th rank (including white belt which all students start on) and only the second solid colored belt (not including white belt) in the system as shown on the rank table attached to this article.

References

1. "Kick-starting self-improvement an art form". The Cairns Post. January 24, 2006.
2. Lasky, Steve (April 17, 1986). "The art of self-confidence - Master KwangChoi is spreading the gospel of his fresh approach to the - martial arts". The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution.
3. ^ Clifton, Paul (September, 1996). "Choi Kwang-Do - The Millennium Art". Tae Kwon Do and Korean Martial Arts. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. Maiolo, Dominic (March, 1996). "Choi Kwang-Do - Evolution of the Revolution". Australasian Tae Kwon Do. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. ^ "Grandmaster Choi, Bio-Mechanical Master!". Tae Kwon Do & Korean Martial Arts. June, 2000. Retrieved 2008-03-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. Shekhavat, Munish (April 6, 2007). "'Belting' his way to glory". The Times of India.
7. ^ Woollam, Susan (2007). "A stance against violence". Emergency Nurse. 15 (8).
8. Jones, Carys (June 5, 2008). "Martial Arts: Adam makes black belt grade". WalesOnline.co.uk. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
9. "Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi confirms visit to New Zealand (Press Release)". Scoop. December 27, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
10. "Lynne Russell". Nationwide Speakers Bureau Inc. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
11. "Silvio Stimac".
12. http://www.eackd.com/index.php?page=belt-system

External links

• Choi Kwang-Do International Organisation

• Korean martial arts