Martial artist created own style

Press, 30 September 1988, Page 28

Martial artist created own style

By

MALCOLM CONDIE

Master Kwang Jo Choi, a ninth degree black belt, visited Christchurch this week to teach his own style of martial art, Choi Kwang Do. Choi, born in Korea, began his martial arts training at the age of 10 36 years ago in Taetu City, the third biggest in Korea. “I learnt Tae Kwon Do because Korea was at war then and society was very dangerous. My parents were worried for me because I was physically weak. I was thin and small,” Choi said. In 1967 the Korean Government and the International Tae Kwon Do Federation. sponsored Choi to travel throughout South East Asia as one of

six martial arts instructors.

Having taught extensively for three years in the area, Choi moved to Canada and became a permanent resident. “My. ambition then was to teach to the Western people,” he said. In 1974 he moved to the United States and has been a citizen there since. At this stage Choi began thinking about ways of improving Tae Kwon Do as a martial art. “I was motivated because of the excessive, tension associated with Tae Kwon Do,” he said. “Tae Kwon Do has very traditional moves which are classical but mechanical.

“These lock up joints like knees, lower back and upper body,” Choi says. Tae Kwon Do has many moves which require the body to be stretched to its

maximum very quickly. When these moves are made in succession, or repeatedly, they strain joints and muscles in the body, Choi says. After 10 years of research Choi came up with his own martial art. His type of self defence has been designed to be easier on the body and also easier to learn.

Choi made a point of finding out the best types of punches, blocks and kicks to use in Choi Kwang Do. “I looked into modern science and medicine,” he said.

After studying joints, muscles, neuromuscular development and cardiovascular rates Choi adapted his style to best suit the human body. Choi Kwang Do is a very rhythmic martial art. Instead of fully extending limbs on punches and

blocks Choi’s style follows through. He claims his style is mentally more stimulating and physically stronger than Tae Kwon Do. In March last year Choi founded the World Choi Kwang Do Federation in Atlanta, Georgia. Since then he has been travelling throughout the world showing Tae Kwon Do clubs his new style. Last year a visit to the British Tae Kwon Do Federation gave Choi’s style a, big boost. That federation changed its name to the British Choi Kwang Do Federation and has adopted his style as the one to teach for future pupils. Choi said things must change with the times. Just as athletes are competing better ; and better with new techniques and styles, so martial arts must change as new techniques become known.

"Martial arts are in a revolutionary era,” he said. ■ , , His main aim is to promote martial arts as a key to human development. Choi says many people learn martial arts because they are lacking in confidence and arts like Tae Kwon Do and Choi Kwang Do are designed to increase that confidence and give the pupils a guiding in life. Choi’s visit to New Zealand was treated with enthusiasm by Tae Kwon Do exponents here. A camp at Waipara at the weekend was attended by 88 persons. All those in attendance agreed Choi’s new style of martial arts is better than Tae Kwon Do and the setting up of a New Zealand federation is not far off. Not all Tae Kwon Do officials are happy with Choi, though. The international federation is said

to be upset with the way Choi is undermining its martial art. But Choi has a conviction about what he is doing. “I feel so happy about what I am doing. It is inner strength that is important.” i At the age of 46, Choi must have inner strength to teach the way he does. “I train two hours a day," he said. “But sometimes my training involves up to six or eight hours a day.” “When I was teaching Tae Kwon Do I could teach or train for no more than two hours every day.” While Choi left New Zealand early this week, he has left instructions and video tapes for those interested in learning Choi Kwang Do. He plans to revisit "beautiful Christchurch” next year some time and teach more of his art. His visit will include the 12 other countries where pupils are learning the new martial art.