| Logosize: | 121px |
| Choi Kwang Do | |
| Aka: | CKD |
| Headquarters: | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Focus: | Striking |
| Country: | United States |
| 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]
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.
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.[3] 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.[4] 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.
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.[5]
Choi Kwang Do emphasizes 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 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, 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]
Notable practitioners of the Choi Kwang Do style include:
| Word | Hangeul | Meaning | Pronunciation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charyeot | 차렷 | Attention | Char-deot | |
| Gyongnye | 경례 | Bow | Geeong-neeh | |
| Baro | 바로 | Stop (Return) | Ba-ro | |
| Swieo | 쉬어 | At ease, relax | Swyee-oh | |
| Kihap | 기합 | Spirit Yell | Kee-hap | |
| Chumbi | 준비 | The act of getting a Readied Stance | Chum-beeh | |
| Sijah | 시작 | Begin | See-jah | |
| Kallyeo | 갈려 | Break (separate) | Kal-yeeoh | |
| Kaysok | 계속 | Continue | Kaee-sohk | |
| Kuman | 그만 | Finish (stop) | Kuh-man | |
| To Rah | 뒤로 돌아 | Turn around (about turn) | Toh-rah | |
| Haesan | 해산 | Dismiss | Hey-san |
| Choi Kwang-Do Choi Kwang-Do White Belt Choi Kwang-Do White Belt Senior Choi Kwang-Do Yellow Belt Choi Kwang-Do Yellow Belt Senior Choi Kwang-Do Gold Belt Choi Kwang-Do Gold Belt Senior Choi Kwang-Do Orange Belt Choi Kwang-Do Orange Belt Senior Choi Kwang-Do Green Belt Choi Kwang-Do Green Belt Senior Choi Kwang-Do Blue Belt Choi Kwang-Do Blue Belt Senior Choi Kwang-Do Purple Belt Choi Kwang-Do Purple Belt Senior Choi Kwang-Do Red Belt Choi Kwang-Do Red Belt Senior Choi Kwang-Do Brown Belt Choi Kwang-Do Brown Belt Senior Choi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (1st Dan - Il Dan) Choi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Yellow Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Gold Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Orange Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Green Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Blue Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Purple Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Red Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Il Dan - Brown Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (2nd Dan - EE Dan) Choi Kwang-Do EE Dan - Gold Stripe Choi Kwang-Do EE Dan - Green Stripe Choi Kwang-Do EE Dan - Blue Stripe Choi Kwang-Do EE Dan - Red Stripe Choi Kwang-Do EE Dan - Brown Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Black Belt - (3rd Dan - Sam Dan) Choi Kwang-Do Sam Dan - Gold Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Sam Dan - Blue Stripe Choi Kwang-Do Sam Dan - Brown Stripe Choi 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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