CHOI KWANG DO IN A SENTENCE

Choi Kwang Do is a leading edge martial art that provides students with real-life self defence skills, and does so in a way that promotes greater health and well-being by design.

THE ORIGINS OF CHOI KWANG DO

The origins of Choi Kwang Do are key to understanding its philosophies. The founder of the art, Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi practiced traditional martial arts from an early age – driven by his father’s concern that his son was small and physically weak (he remains small and of diminutive stature, but is now immensely powerful). He rose quickly through the ranks and by his twenties, was promoting Tae Kwon Do on the international stage.

However, the constant practicing of traditional martial arts movements (which included harsh locked-out elbows in punches and locked-out knees in kicks) resulted in severe and frequent injuries. By the time he was 30, Grandmaster Choi was in a wheelchair.

Then, over a period of 9 years, Grandmaster Choi studied the body, and applied what he had learnt, successfully rehabilitating himself. At the same time, he questioned all aspects of the martial arts training that had resulted in the deterioration of his body. This questioning together with his research into the body led Grandmaster Choi to develop a new form of martial art – one founded on principles of promoting health and avoiding injury. Choi Kwang Do was born.

CHOI KWANG DO TODAY

Since its beginnings twenty years ago, Choi Kwang Do has grown into a truly international martial art, and is certainly one of the fastest growing martial arts in the world today. As of April 2007, there are 312 CKD schools operating in over 20 countries and in every continent. Grandmaster Choi spends much of his time promoting CKD in new geographies, and seeking out new knowledge to further improve his already-amazing performance.