Kwang Jo Choi was born on March 2, 1942 in Daegu
(Taegu) city, Korea, which was under Japanese control at
the time. At the end of Japanese rule in 1945, Daegu City
underwent a series of turbulent changes. Daegu city saw
heavy guerrilla activity in the late 1940s which was followed
by the Korean war. It was during this time that Kwang Jo
Choi’s father elected to start his son training in martial
arts. Kwang Jo Choi at the age of 12 was small and
physically week and did not have the skills to survive in the
war torn streets of Daegu(Taegu) City. Martial arts would
help to provide discipline and the skills necessary to
protect himself. Kwang Jo Choi’s first official martial art
was Gwonbeop, a Korean marital art that means fist
fighting method. Kwang Jo Choi’s first instructor were
Grandmaster Dong Ju Lee and Grandmaster Jung D. Cho.
(Taegu) city, Korea, which was under Japanese control at
the time. At the end of Japanese rule in 1945, Daegu City
underwent a series of turbulent changes. Daegu city saw
heavy guerrilla activity in the late 1940s which was followed
by the Korean war. It was during this time that Kwang Jo
Choi’s father elected to start his son training in martial
arts. Kwang Jo Choi at the age of 12 was small and
physically week and did not have the skills to survive in the
war torn streets of Daegu(Taegu) City. Martial arts would
help to provide discipline and the skills necessary to
protect himself. Kwang Jo Choi’s first official martial art
was Gwonbeop, a Korean marital art that means fist
fighting method. Kwang Jo Choi’s first instructor were
Grandmaster Dong Ju Lee and Grandmaster Jung D. Cho.
During his military service, Kwang Jo Choi was assigned to
the 20th Infantry Division where he was a chief Instructor
under General Hong Hi Choi (founder of Tae Kwon Do).
The Military began to use the system of "Tae Kwon Do" to
learn unarmed combat techniques to develop strength,
speed, and survival skills. After completing his military
service, Kwang Jo traveled to Seoul to see General Choi,
who taught him the art. At the same time, Kwang Jo served
as an instructor for the national police department, and
taught many military instructors and members of the armed
forces
Kwang Jo Choi was a member of a group of 12 masters
assembled by General Choi in the early 1960’s to
demonstrate and promote Tae Kwon Do throughout
Southeast Asia.
the 20th Infantry Division where he was a chief Instructor
under General Hong Hi Choi (founder of Tae Kwon Do).
The Military began to use the system of "Tae Kwon Do" to
learn unarmed combat techniques to develop strength,
speed, and survival skills. After completing his military
service, Kwang Jo traveled to Seoul to see General Choi,
who taught him the art. At the same time, Kwang Jo served
as an instructor for the national police department, and
taught many military instructors and members of the armed
forces
Kwang Jo Choi was a member of a group of 12 masters
assembled by General Choi in the early 1960’s to
demonstrate and promote Tae Kwon Do throughout
Southeast Asia.
Due to the lockout movements of his traditional martial arts
training, however, Kwang Jo injured
is body which forced him to move to North America for
medical treatment in 1970. After visits with many doctors,
Kwang Jo decided to rehabilitate his body without surgery.
He also studied physical therapy techniques and slowly
began to recuperate and heal his condition. It was during
this process that Kwang Jo started realizing that the
harsher, lockout movements used in conventional martial
arts had caused his injuries. As a result, he began to study
anatomy, physiology and human-movement sciences.
From 1978 to 1987, as Kwang Jo completely restored his
body and health, he incorporated everything he had
learned into a new martial arts system called Choi Kwang
Do, which translates as “the art (or method) of Kwang
Choi.” It is now one of the fastest growing martial
arts/health and fitness programs in the world.
training, however, Kwang Jo injured
is body which forced him to move to North America for
medical treatment in 1970. After visits with many doctors,
Kwang Jo decided to rehabilitate his body without surgery.
He also studied physical therapy techniques and slowly
began to recuperate and heal his condition. It was during
this process that Kwang Jo started realizing that the
harsher, lockout movements used in conventional martial
arts had caused his injuries. As a result, he began to study
anatomy, physiology and human-movement sciences.
From 1978 to 1987, as Kwang Jo completely restored his
body and health, he incorporated everything he had
learned into a new martial arts system called Choi Kwang
Do, which translates as “the art (or method) of Kwang
Choi.” It is now one of the fastest growing martial
arts/health and fitness programs in the world.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
