Choi Kwang-Do

Last updated
Choi Kwang Do
Ckdlogo.jpg
Also known asCKD
Focus Striking
Country of originUnited States[ citation needed ]
Official website http://www.choikwangdo.com

Choi Kwang Do is a martial art developed by Choi Kwang-jo. 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. [1]

Contents

History

Choi Kwang Do was founded by Choi Kwang-jo on March 2, 1987. Choi Kwang-jo was born in South Korea before emigrating to United States in the early 1970s. [2] Choi was a successful ITF Tae Kwon Do practitioner and trainer (serving as a chief instructor) before establishing his own style. [3]

While teaching and demonstrating ITF Tae Kwon Do in South East Asia, Choi Kwang-jo became injured through his training and demonstrations to the point where he was unable to continue with the discipline. [4] 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. [5] 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 incorporated these techniques into his own fighting style, and from that he developed Choi Kwang Do. [5]

Today, Choi Kwang-Do is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia by one organization and Temperance, Michigan by another organization. It is taught in numerous countries including the United Kingdom with schools in England, Scotland and Wales, Puerto Rico with schools in Guaynabo, Las Piedras, Caguas and San Lorenzo. [3]

Style and training

Choi Kwang Do emphasizes the use of biomechanics, [5] and to employ a number of modern disciplines, such as kinesiology and psychology, in its design. [3] The result is a tendency towards the use of natural bilateral movement and fluid sequential motion to develop optimum force on impact to place less pressure on the joints. [6] The style also incorporates breathing and stretching exercises from yoga. [7]

Choi Kwang Do is not designed for competition, [7] 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. [8]

Practitioners

Notable practitioners of the Choi Kwang Do style include:

Promise

Pledge

Principles

Commands

Word! Hangeul! MeaningPronunciation
Charyeot차렷AttentionChar-deot
Gyongnye 경례BowGeeong-neeh
Baro바로Stop (Return)Ba-ro
Swieo쉬어At ease, relaxSwyee-oh
Kihap기합Spirit YellKee-hap
Chumbi준비The act of getting a Readied StanceChum-beeh
Sijah시작BeginSee-jah
Kallyeo갈려Break (separate)Kal-yeeoh
Kaysok계속ContinueKaee-sohk
Kuman그만Finish (stop)Kuh-man
To Rah뒤로 돌아Turn around (about turn)Toh-rah
Haesan해산DismissHey-san

Grading Information

Choi Kwang-Do
Choi Kwang-Do White BeltChoi Kwang-Do White Belt SeniorChoi Kwang-Do Yellow BeltChoi Kwang-Do Yellow Belt SeniorChoi Kwang-Do Gold BeltChoi Kwang-Do Gold Belt SeniorChoi Kwang-Do Orange BeltChoi Kwang-Do Orange Belt SeniorChoi Kwang-Do Green BeltChoi Kwang-Do Green Belt SeniorChoi Kwang-Do Blue BeltChoi Kwang-Do Blue Belt SeniorChoi Kwang-Do Purple BeltChoi Kwang-Do Purple Belt SeniorChoi Kwang-Do Red BeltChoi Kwang-Do Red Belt Senior Choi Kwang-Do Brown BeltChoi Kwang-Do Brown Belt SeniorChoi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (1st Dan - Il Dan)Choi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Yellow StripeChoi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Gold StripeChoi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Orange StripeChoi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Green StripeChoi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Blue StripeChoi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Purple StripeChoi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Red StripeChoi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Brown StripeChoi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (2nd Dan - EE Dan)Choi Kwang-Do EE Dan - Gold StripeChoi Kwang-Do EE Dan - Green StripeChoi Kwang-Do EE Dan - Blue StripeChoi Kwang-Do EE Dan - Red StripeChoi Kwang-Do EE Dan - Brown StripeChoi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (3rd Dan - Sam Dan)Choi Kwang-Do Sam Dan - Gold StripeChoi Kwang-Do Sam Dan - Blue StripeChoi Kwang-Do Sam Dan - Brown StripeChoi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (4th Dan - Sa Dan)Choi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (5th Dan)Choi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (6th Dan)Choi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (7th Dan)Choi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (8th Dan)Choi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (9th Dan)

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References

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  4. Maiolo, Dominic (March 1996). "Choi Kwang-Do - Evolution of the Revolution". Australasian Tae Kwon Do.
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  6. Shekhavat, Munish (April 6, 2007). "'Belting' his way to glory". The Times of India . Archived from the original on October 25, 2012.
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