Choi Kwang

Choi Kwang-Do- The Millennium Art
Tae Kwon Do and Korean Martial Arts, September 1996
Cover Story and Interview by Mr. Paul Clifton

As Editor of Britain's largest selling and most successful martial arts magazines, I remain fascinated by the practice and philosophy of the martial arts. One of the things which interests me most about them is the way new styles come into being. While it is certain that every 'new' martial art is no more than a remix of older principles. It is nevertheless fascinating to see how these re-mixes form, gain credibility and eventually become 'classical' in their own right. Take Choi Kwang-Do as an example. This is clearly a remix of earlier principles to which has been added some modern physiological insights. The result is something measurably different from what it is based upon. So far as I am concerned, Choi Kwang-Do will stand the test of time and achieve 'classical' status because its founder is a competent martial artist. Anyway, read through the rest of this article and see whether you agree with me.

First, some biog about the man himself. Born March 2nd 1942 in Tae Gu City, Korea, Kwang Jo Choi began his formal study of martial arts at the age of 12 under Dong Ju Li and quickly became one of Master Li's star pupils. After military service in the Korean army, Kwang Jo Choi began his study of Tae Kwon Do under its founder General Choi Hong Hi. Through skill and ability, Choi was awarded the title of Chief Instructor under General Choi's International Tae Kwon Do Federation before he was 25 years old! Choi was personally selected by General Choi to serve as an elite member of a group of experts chosen to spread Tae Kwon Do throughout the world. Through this role, he became one of Tae Kwon Do's most prominent ambassadors and he was directly responsible for its spread throughout South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and eventually the USA.

Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi is now based in Atlanta, where he runs a full time training center. This serves as the headquarters for the world organization he runs, which is called Choi Kwang-Do Martial Art International. Today Choi Kwang-Do has students in over forty countries. But what exactly is Choi Kwang-Do?

I've heard Choi Kwang-Do described as a modern martial art but let's get this clear before we begin. It isn't! If we accept the usual definition of an 'art' (in the martial sense) as being something primarily intended to make you skilled at fighting, then clearly it isn't one of those. You probably will become skilled at fighting if you practice Choi Kwang-Do, though that isn't it's primary object. So far as I understand it, having spoken in depth to its Founder, Choi Kwang-Do is more correctly a 'Way' to self development. The clue of course lies in the 'Do' suffix. So Choi Kwang-Do is a 'Way' and not an 'Art'.

Next point: I know of no battlefield upon which Choi Kwang-Do, as such has been employed (other than perhaps by an individual soldier/Choi Kwang-Do-ist). I also know of no army which formally teaches it as part of the training. So it isn't 'martial' either. Choi Kwang-Do is therefore a fighting way.

I appreciate that I'm taking a narrow view of the meaning of these terms but there's no harm in getting things exactly right.

I have no problem with the use of the adjective 'modern' since CKD came into existence only some nineteen years ago. CKD also includes much in the way of modern disciplines such as biomechanics, kinesiology, psychology, chiropractic and psycho neurology.

I have also no problem at all with the qualifications of the founder, Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi (9th degree black belt) a former chief instructor of the International Tae Kwon Do Federation. When you consider that most of today's modern fighting ways were founded by relatively young dan grades, then you quickly see that CKD has great cred in this department.

So why did Kwang Jo Choi break away from his parent art after so long? Doesn't this run counter to that key principle of loyalty? In a word: no. How would anything develop if it remained static, endlessly recapitulating old formulae, modifying things by a twitch here and a touch there. That's now how things grow - from cave paintings to modern art - same principles, different ways of working them. So in what ways might CKD have reworked the old principles?

The most important to me, I think, is the way CKD concentrates on injury-free practice in a way that no other fighting way does. It's now fairly well documented that unmodified classical practices can lead to injuries to the knees, spine, elbows and other joints. Mainly, it seems, these are caused by ballistic full extensions where the full weight of an accelerating limb is impact-stopped through the structure and limitations of the joint itself. Choi Kwang-Do on the other hand, tends towards more natural actions.

CKD kicks, punches and strikes all follow the body's natural movement pattern and all comprise three main constituents, performed as one continuous sequential movement: preparation, action and recovery (follow through). For most movements requiring the projection of an object over any distance (as in football, javelin, etc.), a relaxed, preparatory pull-back always precedes the action. The exceptions are when the object is to be projected over a short distance (as in basketball and netball chest passes).

Even non-games activities (such as dance, gymnastics and swimming) follow the same pattern. Yet this is not what happens during the performance of the average classic technique.

In classical systems, each movement is usually made up from two very definite actions performed quite separately, i.e., preparation followed by a kick, block, strike or punch. That's it! When performing a punch, strike or kick, the limb typically stops dead in a hyperextended position. Also, wide, deep stances are taken up, despite the fact that they are so unnatural.

As in other styles, the learning and performance of patterns form an important part of the syllabus but unlike other patterns however, Choi Kwang-Do patterns are, in the words of Grandmaster Choi 'natural, rhythmic and fluid'. Because the patterns have been designed to help perfect the forms in a rhythmical, enjoyable way, without any power (like shadow boxing), they are suitable for adults and children alike. In traditional martial arts, the function of the patterns is to show off the practitioner's ability to perform highly stylized movements with great accuracy. However, such movements are totally impractical and situations have to be contrived or choreographed in order to demonstrate their application. They are rarely, if ever, used in real self defense situations or by competitors under pressure.

So another important reworking has been a return to more realistic techniques. You see, many classical and neoclassical systems are preoccupied with stylistic flourishes and impressive presentation. The students marching in disciplined ranks up and down the dojang look wonderful and they feel powerful and strong but just how effective are those fine looking techniques? Kicks performed against the empty air need a certain body action to prevent the kicker from falling over with the force of the movement. But the required body action turns them into ineffective kicks from an impact point of view! CKD techniques are screened for effectiveness and they are practiced in a way that makes them powerful when applied for real.

Choi Kwang-Do offers the same benefits as any other fighting way and in case you don't know what those benefits are, they include cardiovascular exercise, increased stamina, weight reduction (if accompanied by a suitable diet), increased flexibility & agility, stress reduction, improved self image and practical self defense as opposed to competitions. This is not to say that Choi Kwang-Do does not encourage competition, because it does. Here, of course I am referring to the competition you have with yourself through every minute of training as you try to go that bit further in terms of skill and effort.

Kwang Jo Choi is unusual, however, in the way he encourages achievement of individual goals rather than those imposed by the syllabus. This of course, is entirely modern and epitomises the essence of The Way, which is to develop the self through one's own efforts. The CKD instructor behaves as a mentor, guiding students as they establish and achieve their own personal goals. And as they achieve these goals, so their self esteem and confidence improves that click more. Shame other styles don't pick up more on that!

Kwang Jo Choi is highly unusual insofar as he offers his art as an add-on to any other physical discipline - a sort of cross training which, he claims, can benefit any athlete through extending the fitness base. Maybe the kicking will improve your goal scoring! Give it a try and report back, please.

I want now to talk about the British end of this development, and that means mentioning Marshall Pereira. Marshall began training in Tae Kwon Do under Rhee Ki Har, reaching 1st dan black belt in 3 years. He went to instructor seminars to improve his teaching skills and eventually was promoted to 2nd dan. He opened his first school during 1982, working during the day and teaching Tae Kwon Do at night. In 1983 he became a professional instructor and opened his second school in Wembley.

He was subsequently promoted to 3rd dan and opened his third school, attaining the rank of 'A' Class instructor in the UKTA. His schools grew and eventually he opened a fourth in Barnet, North London. Then came 4th dan and a split with the UKTA. Marshall formed the UKTF with four other senior instructors at Edinburgh Airport on 4th May 1987. They decided to bring over world famous master instructors for their 2,000 members, the first of whom being Kwang Jo Choi.

Grandmaster Choi so impressed the UKTF that Marshall went to Atlanta during June 1988 to further study with him. In 1989, he headed a team of students in transforming a warehouse into an institute for Choi Kwang-Do.

A year or so later, Marshall returned to the USA and decided to stay there, working directly under Grandmaster Choi at the international headquarters. Now he travels all over the world with Grandmaster Choi promoting the new style.