Choi
Kwang-Do
Somewhere between the year 1978 and the year 1987, one of
the most incredible forms of martial arts was invented by a Grandmaster named
Kwang Jo Choi. This martial art is known as Choi Kwang Do, named after
Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi. If you are interested in learning about the
beautiful Choi Kwang Do style of martial arts and how it may benefit you to
become more involved with Choi Kwang Do, review the information below.
Choi Kwang Do History
Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi was born in South Korea and made a
name for himself as a very successful Tae Kwon Do artist. He continued to
practice and teach Tae Kwon Do as his primary martial art form for the rest of
his time spent in South Korea. Unfortunately, a painful injury would ensure
that Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi would never again practice the Tae Kwon Do skill
he so greatly excelled at. His injury left him unable to continue the
discipline. You can only imagine how difficult this must have been for a man
who had spent years honing the martial art form; he was, after all, a
Grandmaster.
Because there were few orthopedic surgeons with the ability
to heal his injuries in the South Korea area, Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi left
Asia for Canada. After making several appointments and seeing many health
experts, he determined that his pain and injuries had been instigated by the
very fashion in which he was performing Tae Kwon Do. He had a lot of time to
think about the poor methods he used before as he spent time in rehabilitation
and nursed himself back to health. When he became well enough to practice
martial arts again, he began incorporating a variety of his own techniques,
which then evolved into his own form of martial arts, a style he referred to as
Choi Kwang Do.
Choi Kwang Do is still a popular form of martial arts today,
and the headquarters remain in Atlanta, Georgia. Choi Kwang Do continues to be
taught in many different countries at prestigious martial arts schools.
The Choi Kwang Do Concept
Choi Kwang Do became so popular due to the ease with which
anyone can learn the martial art form. It is centered on natural movements that
move in specific sequences meant to create an optimum environment for the
expelling of maximum body force. Interestingly, though, one of the other main
tenets of the Choi Kwang Do movement involves a movement toward personal
health. The program was uniquely designed by Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi to
complement the scientific mechanics of the human body. Grandmaster Kwang Jo
Choi attended many seminars and classes about the human anatomy, physiology,
psychology, kinesiology, neurophysiology, and biomechanics. Aspects of each of
these are present in his incredibly effective martial art form, Choi Kwang Do.
Take a look at the points below to learn more about how Master Kwang Jo Choi
incorporated these branches of science in the creation of Choi Kwang Do:
●
Human anatomy. As mentioned before, Grandmaster Kwang Jo
Choi underwent a great deal of suffering due to physical pain and injury. In
order to prevent other students of martial arts from experiencing unnecessary
bodily injuries, he studied the human anatomy in depth and developed a martial
art form that was centered on treating the body as gently as possible without
reducing effectiveness.
●
Physiology. Physiology is the study of the way organisms
function. Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi researched this branch of biological
science because he was aware of how important it is to understand how your body
functions and reacts with the environment. Learning the basics behind how the human
body worked, the “levers and pulleys” behind anatomy, so to speak, allowed
Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi to create martial arts sequences that used the body’s
natural tendencies instead of going against what the body was naturally
inclined to do.
●
Psychology. The science behind the human thought process is
one of the most important aspects of Choi Kwang Do. In order to fully immerse
yourself in the world of Choi Kwang Do, you must gain a firm understanding of
how your body works in relation to the space around you and even how the inner
mechanics of your body serve your purpose. Therefore, it is essential that you
remain extremely aware and mentally alert at all times in order to perform the
moves found in Choi Kwang Do.
●
Kinesiology. Kinesiology is defined as the study of the
mechanics combined with the anatomy concerning how the human body creates
movements. It is a form of physiology that is more specifically focused.
●
Neurophysiology. This refers to neuroscience; interestingly,
the physiology behind the human nervous system is heavily incorporated in the
practice of Choi Kwang Do.
●
Biomechanics. This refers to human movement science. In case
you had not yet noticed, the interaction between the human body’s movements and
the environment is a running theme in the art of Choi Kwang Do.
The Purpose of Choi Kwang Do
Choi Kwang Do is unique in that it was not created to be
used as a means of competition or intense athletic training. Choi Kwang Do is
simply meant to be used by a sole individual who is interested in achieving a
healthier level of physique and increased well-being. If you are only
interested in winning trophies and awards, Choi Kwang Do is probably not for
you. Master Kwang Jo Choi created the art form as a way for people to learn
practical skills for effective self-defense that emphasizes mental, social,
physical, and emotional growth. It is one of the most popular forms of
non-contact martial arts.
Benefits of Choi Kwang Do
Choi Kwang Do provides many benefits to those who are
interested in becoming healthier, more well-rounded individuals. Very few
exercise forms allow users to gain so many benefits with so little risk of
injury or chronic pain. Benefits of Choi Kwang Do are many:
●
A non-violent solution to potentially violent conflict
situations. Choi Kwang Do is not designed to kill or attack. It does, however,
provide a way for you to protect yourself in the case of attack. The idea here
is to ward off attackers in a way that is effective but uses the least violence
possible.
●
Cardiovascular health. People who partake in Choi Kwang Do
experience a boost in cardiovascular health over time. It is one of the most
unique kinds of exercise available to those interested in strengthening their
heart. If you are interested in being more active and avoiding boring
repetitive activities such as jogging, cycling, or lifting, then Choi Kwang Do
is the perfect exercise option for you to pursue.
●
A good challenge. Since the system used for Choi Kwang Do
involves a slow progression from white to black belt (lowest skill level to
highest skill level), there are always new challenges to enjoy. If you enjoy
new experiences and continuous learning and growth, Choi Kwang Do is the
perfect way for you to achieve without venturing into more violent sport
options.
●
It does not matter how old (or young) you are. Many Choi
Kwang Do schools accept students ranging from age 3 to age 90. In fact, it is
not uncommon for most instructors to be over the age of 70.
●
It does not matter how fit you are. As you will remember
from earlier, the main goal of Choi Kwang Do is to prevent illness and disease
while simultaneously promoting the best health possible. This is achieved by
eliminating as much mind and body degeneration as possible through the martial
art form. Since Choi Kwang Do is friendly to a wide variety of individuals,
most schools accept people of any fitness level, weight, or physique.
●
A unique opportunity for those with limitations. Choi Kwang
Do is especially well-known for providing handicapped people or those with
other physical or mental limitations a way to exercise and become skilled at a
martial arts form. As you can see, everyone is welcomed during a Choi Kwang Do
session.
If you are seeking a martial arts alternative that boasts
both effectiveness and health benefits, you are looking in the right place.
Master Kwang Jo Choi developed Choi Kwang Do as a way for individuals of all
ages, all physical skill levels, and all backgrounds to enjoy a non-harmful
method of martial arts. Much like Master Kwang Jo Choi, many people today
enroll in Choi Kwang Do classes after having been through traumatic injuries or
intensive rehabilitation processes. Choi Kwang Do is one of the best ways for
individuals to reintroduce their bodies to movement, fluidity, and health.
To learn more about Choi Kwang Do and the benefits of this
beautiful martial art system, try doing some further research about the topic.
If you are new to martial arts, then Choi Kwang Do is the perfect opportunity
for you to immerse yourself into the incredible world of martial arts. We can
only assume that the number of people who have benefited from Choi Kwang Do
would surely make Master Kwang Jo Choi smile.
Check out our vast selection of martial arts weapons here or our selection of katana here.