Hello all, I been looking at a TKD type art to try to learn better my kicking skills. We have a Choi Kwang Do school about 45 minutes from my house. I went to visit. and did not know what to think. They charge a lot of money for a few classes a week. Is this art new. does anyone know much about it. they seem very uniform form my internet study. I would like some input please.
Choi Kwang Do, real art or belt mill?
- Thread starter scottie
- Start date
All Commerce Choi Kwang Do Instructors and Assistant Instructors are Internationally Certified through Choi Kwang Do Martial Art International. This certification insures you that a consistent, quality program is taught as designed by Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi.
It looks like a bit of a belt mill to me. That's not to say that you won't learn anything, or you won't enjoy the training.
Charging a lot of money for a few classes per week - this is a structure optimized for children, so kids can train and not get burned out and the school can profit. Most mass-market MA schools such as this one do not divide up the training between kids and adults, so chances are you're going to get more of the watered-down stuff than material that holds up better in a combat scenario.
Personally, I'd stay away and find something at a better price point.
It looks like a bit of a belt mill to me. That's not to say that you won't learn anything, or you won't enjoy the training.
Charging a lot of money for a few classes per week - this is a structure optimized for children, so kids can train and not get burned out and the school can profit. Most mass-market MA schools such as this one do not divide up the training between kids and adults, so chances are you're going to get more of the watered-down stuff than material that holds up better in a combat scenario.
Personally, I'd stay away and find something at a better price point.
FieldDiscipline
2nd Black Belt
There are one or two of these near-ish to here. I did look it up a while back. IIRC their founder was allegedly a Korean Army TKD instructor who for whatever reason wanted to develop techniques that were less harmful to the body or something like that.
They also appeared to have about ten different coloured uniform combinations for every eventuality as you progressed through the ranks. Looked like a big earner for the suppliers.
What I've seen here wasn't great. I'm sure there are some good ones though.
They also appeared to have about ten different coloured uniform combinations for every eventuality as you progressed through the ranks. Looked like a big earner for the suppliers.
What I've seen here wasn't great. I'm sure there are some good ones though.
FieldDiscipline
2nd Black Belt
Cirdan
Senior Master
18 kyu ranks, testing every month, black belt club and belt worship to the point of a load of them being on display on the walls.. lots of red flags here.
The pictures are pretty underwhelming, especially the ones from black belt gradings.
They ought to be pretty impressive if you believe some of their claims tho..
"The most effective martial arts system in the world"
"Natural and easy-to-learn"
The pictures are pretty underwhelming, especially the ones from black belt gradings.
They ought to be pretty impressive if you believe some of their claims tho..
"The most effective martial arts system in the world"
"Natural and easy-to-learn"
ArmorOfGod
Senior Master
One of their "assistant instructors" is a yellow belt. If I walk in to a school and pay them $150 per month, I better not be taught by a beginner.
Also, a buddy of mine's stepbrother is a black belt at one of the CKD schools in Georgia. He was under ten years old, although I don't know which CKD school it was (4 years ago).
AoG
Also, a buddy of mine's stepbrother is a black belt at one of the CKD schools in Georgia. He was under ten years old, although I don't know which CKD school it was (4 years ago).
AoG
ATC
Senior Master
Well I won't talk bad about any art, school, or instructor so I can only say that after going over their website, I did not see any kicking that looks like it would be what you are looking for. Their art may be a good one but form what you said you are looking for and what I saw, I am not sure if you will find it there. You may and they may kick great, but it is not shown on their website.
FieldDiscipline
2nd Black Belt
:lol2:
I live in Elberton, GA. It is an hour North East of Athens (UGA) and a little over hour South West of Clemson (Anderson SC) it is a small town I have a school here and I drive to Anderson SC two day week. I love karate i just want to kick better. They look very well organized just a little watered down, and money focused. living small town I'd have to take 3 new students to pay for my classes and another to pay for gas. I just wondered if anyone went or used to go to one of their schools? thanks!
Omar B
Senior Master
I actually did CKD as a kid when I was still living in Jamaica. My Saturdays were rough then, going to Seido in the morning then CKD in the evening, just changing gi jackets in between.
So what I know about the style. Well I really cannot say how well my experience with the art would reflect considering it was in another country in a much smaller martial art community. We took part in tournaments, we sparred, tests were not as frequent as they seem to be at schools up here. But as I said it's a smaller MA community in Jamaica and our instructor (Master Brown) was with TKD for years before changing over. Hell, his school's not listed on the official CKD website.
The style itself is very circular so it was totally unlike the karate I was doing and the adjustment was tricky. Power delivery was good because of the nature of the movements but speed was something you had to work up to. From a technical standpoint you could deliver a lot of power with all the strikes and blocks. Oddly enough the way things work mechanically in the art actually helps flexibility a lot, and kicks maintain power even when they go pretty high.
So what I know about the style. Well I really cannot say how well my experience with the art would reflect considering it was in another country in a much smaller martial art community. We took part in tournaments, we sparred, tests were not as frequent as they seem to be at schools up here. But as I said it's a smaller MA community in Jamaica and our instructor (Master Brown) was with TKD for years before changing over. Hell, his school's not listed on the official CKD website.
The style itself is very circular so it was totally unlike the karate I was doing and the adjustment was tricky. Power delivery was good because of the nature of the movements but speed was something you had to work up to. From a technical standpoint you could deliver a lot of power with all the strikes and blocks. Oddly enough the way things work mechanically in the art actually helps flexibility a lot, and kicks maintain power even when they go pretty high.
wow! thanks man
FieldDiscipline
2nd Black Belt
Sorry to drag this up again, but I happened upon something that was of interest.
http://www.ksdi.net/choikwangdoresignation.html
http://www.ksdi.net/choikwangdoresignation.html
Your school in Jamaica must've been the exception because of what I've seen of them, I gotta say that's not the norm when it comes to visible & demonstrable power generated & technique.
Omar B
Senior Master
I've not set foot in a CKD school here in the US so I have no idea how it works. What I can tell you is that what I learned was brutal and effective. I'm usually quite surprise hearing all these stories about the schools up here, that's pretty sad because I would have loved to return to the style someday and finish my journey.
Bruno@MT
Senior Master
I read that. Well, most of it until it got fairly repetitive.
This account has 'sucker' written all over it. He was continuously taken advantage of and milked for money, yet he knew it and allowed it to happen for years. This is like those people who go along in the Nigerian scams and keep paying in the hope of ever seeing the 20 million dollars they were promised.
