What Is Choi Kwang Do?

Choi Kwang Do is a unique martial art based on scientific principlesand developed to promote optimum health, fitness and self-defense,not winners in sports competitions.
Choi Kwang Do was developed by Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi between 1978 and 1987 and has proved to be the most effective martial arts system in the world. Choi Kwang Do's natural, easy-to-learn, sequential movements maximize your body's force-producing capabilities, but more importantly, they increase opportunities to enhance your health. It's a unique program based on modern scientific principles from human anatomy, physiology (the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms), psychology (the science of mental life), kinesiology (the branch of physiology that studies mechanics and anatomy in relation to human movement), neurophysiology (the branch of neuroscience that studies the physiology of the nervous system) and biomechanics (human movement science).

Choi Kwang Do is not designed for competition and does not have the intensity of sports training. The system is meant for the average individual who wants to learn real-life, practical self-defense skills and achieve a greater level of health and well-being, not people solely interested in winning trophies. Because it's a noncontact, nonfighting, noncompetitive art that stresses mental, physical, emotional and social development, Choi Kwang Do promotes nonviolent resolutions to conflict, practical solutions to cardiovascular improvement, and enjoyable methods of exercise. In addition, with competition removed, students can continually develop-not against each other, but with each other. With a progressive system from White belt to highest level of Black belt, Choi Kwang Do always offers you something new and challenging to learn, experience and enjoy.

Our training is based on individual needs, capabilities, skill levels and age. Our students range in years from 3 to 88, and some of our instructors are over 70. Since our primary goals are to prevent or reduce illness and disease and to promote optimum health and longevity by minimizing degeneration of body and mind, we also welcome those with limitations, such as individuals who use wheelchairs, who are amputees, who are blind, and who have maladies such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis. Everyone is welcome at Choi Kwang Do.

Principles of Choi Kwang Do

CKD is founded in nonviolent self-defense, health, character development and humanity. We want to help each other and anyone else who needs our assistance. Students recite our doctrines and a pledge at the beginning of every class, and living by the Choi Kwang Do principles at all times is considered to be of utmost importance.

Our school motto, Pil Sung, translates as "certain victory," but not in an aggressive manner, and not always in respect to outside forces. It means we never give in unless it's the right thing to do, we never give up until we achieve victory, and we never allow our spirit to break. The Pil Sung attitude allows us to overcome any obstacle to achieve our goals.

Choi Kwang Do Martial Art International (CKDMAI) is an international supportive family system whose primary principle is to affirm each other. in our common goal: to live a more productive, healthier, longer life. We want to create compassionate Choi Kwang Do families of individuals around the world and bring those families closer to other Choi Kwang Do families. Because of this goal, once an individual becomes a student at one CKD school, they can train at any other CKD school in the world. And we welcome and encourage all of our students to attend our Choi Kwang Do national and international seminars and festivals.

Non-violent Self-Defense

It's a sad fact that there is a great need for people of all ages to
learn self-defense skills in the modern world. Even if you're not a direct victim of violence, its constant presence, and its overplay in the media, can cause you worry and stress, which can undermine your health and lessen your enjoyment of life. Students at Choi Kwang Do learn how to take care of themselves, often without violence, which leads to more effective self-defense and greater peace of mind.

CKD's system is based on the principles that its self-defense techniques should:

Generate maximum force
Be practical and easy to learn
Enhance the individual's health as they practice
Develop reflexes and ability to respond against threats
Develop mental as well as physical conditioning

Although we teach pragmatic, efficient self-defense techniques, students learn to focus first on how to avoid physical confrontation by calming an attacker if possible. Since CKD is a noble art, we prefer forgiveness and compassion to kicking and punching. If we can't avoid a defense situation, we remain humble before responding, and never telegraph that we know martial arts by putting our hands up. We try to resolve the situation without striking a blow. If, however, we must protect ourselves, we know how to take sudden, confident action with our concealed Choi Kwang Do human weapons.

Because our biomechanical techniques are very effective and powerful, they can stop an attacker but, again, we will only use them as a last resort. We don't like to see people get hurt-that's why we don't support martial arts competitions. CKD teaches usable applications, quite unlike the kicks and punches seen in martial arts movies and demonstrations.

The basis of our system is using gross motor skills instead of fine motor skills, somewhat like firing at a general target (combat shooting) instead of a specific bull's eye (target shooting). You see, when human beings are in threatening situations, their brain's ability to control their body is significantly diminished because of the amount of stress hormones like epinephrine, noreinephrine and glucocorticoid that the adrenal glands release into the body. These hormones decrease the fine motor skills we use when aiming for precision, such as striking pressure points or dot-sized areas on an opponent. Choi Kwang Do understands this phenomenon, so our techniques employ only gross motor skills, which means that we hit larger, more general targets such as the face, body and legs.

Training for Health

Choi Kwang Do is a holistic health system. Every student within Choi Kwang Do Martial Art International is focused on living a more productive, healthier and longer life. Because of that, we tailor an individual's training to meet their own personal needs and promote better health in their life. Sports training has little to do with health - the goal is winning. Competitions overstress the body with high-intensity workouts that overtax the immune system and cause injuries. Statistics show more than 10,000,000 sports injuries are treated each year in the United States.

At Choi Kwang Do, individuals may train at any age and enjoy the benefits of fitness and longevity. Levels of intensity, frequency and duration are all systematically developed for wellness. We encourage all our students to exercise regularly and to live a wholesome lifestyle.

The brain needs constant stimulation to remain in optimum health and to minimize degeneration. The lack of continual stimulation in many other exercise routines, coupled with the lack of movement in our modern lives (using cars instead of walking, elevators instead of the stairs, etc.) is one of the causes of the rise in neurodegenerative diseases, and using one-direction cardiovascular machines for aerobic exercise offers little long-term stimulation.

We have many exciting and enjoyable drills to develop individuals aerobically and anaerobically. Both are important: Aerobic fitness training develops stamina and endurance, which assists you in daily life. Anaerobic training develops speed, agility and explosive power, which is essential in self-defense. And the combination strengthens the heart and lungs. We also teach a complete stretching method designed to strengthen all muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones, and our patterns use natural, rhythmic, fluid, contralateral movements. We systematically train both sides of the body evenly, in coordination with the eyes, which allows students to stimulate and develop their brain as well as their muscles.

In addition, the removal of harsh lockout movements helps children's young bones become strong and healthy at the crucial time when their bone density is being formed. And it helps our older students avoid incapacitating diseases like osteoporosis

Personal, Social and Character Development

As people grow as martial artists and develop their skills and techniques, they also grow physically and mentally, so the value and power of this art are not only in the techniques, but also in the development of personal, social and character skills. Choi Kwang Do schools create a sense of belonging for students and instructors alike. They share a common goal: health, self-defense and personal development.

With the modern world offering instant gratification almost everywhere and allowing people to relinquish their accountability, we believe that building character is far more important to a person's future than building a home, a company, an organization, or even an empire. According to the A. C. Nielsen Company (www.soundvision.com/ info/misc/tvturnoff.asp), the average American watches 3 hours and 46 minutes of TV each day (that's more than 52 days of nonstop watching per year). Teenage suicide rates are climbing, the number of children living with single parents is rising rapidly, and white-collar crimes are on the increase.

Character development, based on values appropriate for today humility, honesty, gentleness, perseverance, dependability and self-responsibility-could be the solution to these social problems. We strive to meet this need by putting character development at the heart of self-development.

Choi Kwang Do improves students' Emotional Quotient (EQ) by teaching inner strength, leadership skills, good manners, self-respect, and esteem for others. Students learn to motivate themselves, overcome adversity, break free of limitations, and cultivate winning from within rather than competing against others. People with a high EQ have been proven to be more successful, because success is developed v- with more EQ than IQ.

Social development is also an important focus at Choi Kwang Do. As human beings, we are naturally social creatures. Not experiencing positive relationships is detrimental to our health and well-being. In CKD, people train together and help each other grow. The learning environment is enriched, friendships are deeper and the family spirit is strong. This is the ideal environment to enhance health. (A scientific study of people who underwent open-heart surgery revealed that those who participated in a noncompetitive, supportive group activity had a significantly higher chance of surviving and returning to health after their surgery.)

Almost all competitive environments give rise to negative feelings such as jealousy, anger, disappointment and resentment, which does little to enhance our happiness or our lives. With competition removed completely, as it is at Choi Kwang Do, people can meet, relate, and interact in a positive, warm and loving manner, regardless of race, ethnic background, size, culture, sex, age or religious belief.

The fact that everyone who trains in Choi Kwang Do wears the same uniform (Do Bok) when taking part in training actually increases the family spirit. Students have a feeling of belonging, much like the serenity of having a second family. Plus, exercising with friends is easier and more motivating than doing it alone. Trying to motivate yourself to exercise is just harder on your soul.

Empowering Children

Children are the most important people in the world, and they need to be nurtured. When senior instructors help students become more honorable and trustworthy, the students begin to form and maintain nurturing relationships. Our instructor-to-student relationships help us improve our character and shape our future. Our students learn to support each other wholeheartedly with positive reinforcement, which creates a pleasurable environment to learn in. Our students receive no criticism or punishment. Rather than pointing out the wrong way, we show them a better way by redirecting or correcting the movements and techniques. We are a family and we trust each other in a spirit of faith, support and camaraderie.

We also downplay competition. Young children can't distinguish between winning/losing in a competition and winning/losing in real life.' When children lose in a contest, they often feel like they have lost in life as well. Since the child is still forming his or her sense of self, this belief is negative reinforcement and detrimental to their growth. Even in school, children compete against each other for high grades and praise, and much of the curriculum involves abstract analytical skills and facts. At Choi Kwang Do, we understand that learning comes not only from the intellect, but also from interactions with other people and knowing that you really can achieve your goals.

Children at Choi Kwang Do learn to encourage others to grow, to support each other, to be patient, to share, to behave with decorum and to compassionately relate with, rather than compete against, each other. In our protective, affirming environment, children can relax, make friends, learn, enjoy their training, and develop pride with humility. They learn to keep a clear, strong mind; they learn about commitment and persistence; they learn that achievement takes time; and they learn to stay focused until they achieve their goals. There are no losers at Choi Kwang Do.

Choi Kwang Do also teaches patience, and our students are rewarded for their patience with our progressive belt system. We start at White belt and go all the way up to high Black belt, offering children something to aim for. As they progress in rank, they gain more confidence because they learn higher skills and techniques.

Each belt is a short term goal, which motivates and positively reinforces further achievement. When students reach their goal, we reward them with their new belt and celebrate in a ceremony with all the other students and the instructors. Students feel very special when they receive their belt in this way. This goal-orientated system helps them gain a sense of accomplishment as they progress through the system.

Their Pil Sung spirit means that, even if they don't succeed, they will stand up and try again. At the start of every class, students recite a children's promise-a mission statement for them to follow, not just at Choi Kwang Do but also at home and at school.

Elder Classes

Choi Kwang Do is an ideal form of exercise for middle aged and more elderly individuals, and it's an ideal activity after retirement. Anyone can enjoy the benefits of training, and even teaching, at a CKD school. We have instructors who are over 70, and many students are even older.

Extensive research has shown that good lifestyle habits and exercise are critical to reducing the aging process. The choices you make daily can either speed up or slow down your aging process.
All aging, including premature aging, is biological. We age according to our genetic makeup-but this process is controllable and can be greatly influenced. Environment and lifestyle habits contribute greatly to the process. That's why some people fall apart by the time they're 35 and others are healthy, youthful and active into their senior years! The primary factors that affect the aging process are:

Mental Attitude
Proper Exercise
Healthy Diet
Good rest

If we overeat, drink too much coffee or liquor, sleep poorly, or fail to exercise, we'll age faster. However, if we eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly for health and longevity (not sports), and drink lots of water for cell hydration, we'll live longer.

As people age, their physical capabilities decrease. In fact, from age 25, the body degenerates approximately 1% per year. This obviously is not good for our self-esteem or our endurance. At the age of 60, heart and lung capabilities are usually 40% lower than they were in our early 20s. About 20% of muscle composition is also lost. Speed, flexibility and balance decrease, making it easy to fall. But after 3-4 months of regular low-moderate exercise, the body's metabolic rate can increase by 10-15%, even in people over 60-equivalent to that of a person 10 years younger! Muscle composition and overall physical ability can also increase by 10-15%. The human body has many complex systems that work together to generate life. As we age, we need to remain active and keep exercising so we can live longer.

Because Choi Kwang Do's concept is based on individual physical condition, ability and
skill level, people can train regardless of age, physical limitations or disabilities. We're no interested in winning competitions. Ours is a goal-oriented program that helps you achieve increased mobility, better physical and mental health, and greater levels of dignity an( pride. Psychologically and emotionally, achieving goals can be much more pleasurable and satisfying than training without a purpose. No matter your age, it's never too late for your body to respond to CKD training all of Choi Kwang Do's techniques are based on biomechanical principles-sudden, jerky movements are not used. This allows a practitioner to not only produce maximum force and promote health, but also to decrease the chance of injury. Our integrated movements also allow elder individuals to adapt slowly. Joint and muscle strength, mobility level, joints' range of motion, endurance and fitness can be gradually improved. Because you use your entire body in the exercises, even bones can become stronger.

Currently, the longest recorded human life is 122 (DOD 8/4/1997). Jeanne Louise Calment, a French woman, rode a bicycle until she was 100. On her 120th birthday, she said about her life:

I'm a normal woman.
I've only got one wrinkle and I'm sitting on it.
I am very brave and I'm afraid of nothing.
I took pleasure when I could.
I acted clearly and morally and without regret.
I'm very lucky.

What a great mental attitude she had! As human beings, we have the potential to live well past 100. All it takes is good genes, a positive attitude, proper exercise and good lifestyle habits. "I have now been training in the morning and evening in Choi Kwang Do for more than six years. Choi Kwang Do training is an important part of my life. It has helped my body and mind to become flexible and healthier. Choi Kwang Do makes me feel healthy, and because of Choi Kwang Do, I have better health, which makes me feel very happy about my life. I even sleep better. Choi Kwang Do can help.

Mrs. Gyum Ja Kong started training in Choi Kwang Do at 81.
At 88, she is still our oldest active student!
"I am aware, because of my age, that my body will quickly become stiff if I fail to exercise. So I exercise every day. If I do not exercise, I can feel stiffness and-pain setting in. My day-to-day exercise is essential to staying healthy now. My life changed from when I first saw Choi Kwang Do's videos. I really appreciate Grandmaster Choi's art, and I enjoy my Choi Kwang Do training and living a healthy life." Adults quickly find that they can lessen their levels of stress, enhance their health, and grow as individuals by becoming a part of Choi Kwang Do. Adult students also make friendships with other students and instructors because of the openness and family spirit that Choi Kwang Do embodies. Adults who train at Choi Kwang have a common goal-self-improvement-and we aim to help them fulfill that goal.

Classes for People with Learning Disabilities

At Choi Kwang Do, we welcome children and adults with attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADD/ADHD) and other learning disabilities.

We are very concerned about the children of today, and believe they are the most important people in the world. We're also worried about the epidemic of learning disabilities in our country. Why is this happening? We believe it may be because so many children are spending so much time watching television and playing computer games, developing lifestyles with little or no regular exercise and an abundance of social pressure and stress. Stress alone can dramatically decrease a child's ability to learn. It is the root cause of many of the problems of those labeled as hyperactive, ADD/ADHD or learning disabled.

Scientific research at the University of Akron, Ohio, indicated that martial arts is an effective way to help children with ADD. Over a ten-week period, researchers studying a small group of children found that those who took martial arts lessons could control their compulsive behavior much better than children of the same age who did not receive training. Choi Kwang Do is the best martial arts and exercise program available to help these children (and adults).

At Choi Kwang Do, we also understand that people learn in different ways, and we adapt our teaching techniques to give them the best possible experience. Even the education system is beginning to use learning modalities such as visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

Some people process information and learn visually (by seeing), some process and learn auditorally (by hearing), and some process and learn kinesthetically (by doing). Most people have a dominant method/modality, some people have a balance of two, and others use all three. There is no absolute.
Choi Kwang Do is taught in a multisensory way that supports all three learning types. Children at CKD follow and learn from an instructor at the front of the room who guides the class by telling them what to do and by demonstrating. Students quickly begin to think for themselves and learn by doing.

Although we are not rigid or unbending, Choi Kwang Do's youth classes are taught in a structured, methodical, disciplined manner. Students are constantly moving and being mentally challenged and positively reinforced as they progress through the system. We want their attention span and self-confidence to develop, but at the same time, we want them to have fun, make friends and interrelate. With competitions removed, everyone is a winner at Choi Kwang Do.

Andrew Ludlow is an inspiration. He was labeled as dyslexic at just 7 years old. Today,
at 14, Andrew is already an outstanding Black belt and an ambassador for the art!
"Before I started Choi Kwang Do, I was very quiet. I hated school and, by the age of 7, I was told I was dyslexic. From that time, I thought I was dumb. I thought that I could not do anything. My dad asked if I wanted to do a martial art. He explained that our barber had a school and I was invited to go. I accepted this offer and went that same evening.
I found it very hard; this was due to my dyslexia. When I can't do things, I get very upset, and I was almost in tears. I found the class fun, but hard and frustrating, but at the end of the class, I had really enjoyed it. It was the best thing I had done in my life!
After more and more classes, I became more confident. Before I did Choi Kwang Do, I would normally go into a room and sit in a corner, but now I am making friends, in and out of Choi Kwang Do. I am doing better at school and my reading and writing is a lot better. As I said before, I would go into a room and sit in the corner, now I go into a room and stand right in the middle of the room and talk to whoever is there. I have even instructed adult White belts; after this, they all congratulated me for teaching them well.
I am now a Black belt! Next year I want to go to Atlanta to do my 2nd Degree Black belt in front of Grandmaster Choi. By the time I am 18, I am going to open a full-time academy for Choi
Kwang Do."

-Andrew Ludlow, labeled as dyslexic, 1st Degree Black belt, age 14, UK