CKD Richmond Newsletters
January / February 2012
November / December 2011
September / October 2011
Choi Kwang-Do 25th Anniversary
Choi Kwang Do International is very pleased to announce CKD's 25th anniversary celebrations to take place in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The festivities will start on Monday 26th March 2012 and finish on Friday 6th April 2012. The seminar and dinner banquet will take place Saturday 31st March 2012 at the Cobb Galleria Centre.
2nd March marks the date when Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi announced CKD to the world 25 years ago. When officially launched in 1987, Choi Kwang-Do: The Art of Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi, was the consolidation of years of tweaking and refining his experiences in Tae Kwon-Do, his studies into how the body moves and works best, combined with advancements in physical exercise.
We will also be celebrating for our founder’s 70th birthday! Dubbed by Tae Kwon Times in 2007 as "An Incredible Force of Nature", Grandmaster Choi has led an extraordinary life as he continues to lead by example. For the past 50 years he has been at the forefront of cutting edge martial art technology. By single-handedly performing all over the world, he has gathered an army of instructors and students on a journey of martial arts excellence. Since the introduction of Choi Kwang Do, he has literally changed the face of modern martial arts so that it can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities. Choi Kwang Do is now practiced in many countries and is still growing strong. To this day, Grandmaster Choi continues to research and improve CKD for the benefit for all its members from the Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
Shell UK Workshop
Mr Anthony Wendt & Tim Beale of CKD Richmond presented a 'Lunch & Learn Personal Safety & Self Defence Workshop' for Shell UK Retail staff. Those who attended were taught yoga-based stretching techniques adapted for office workers, followed by an interactive basic self defence workshop, learning techniques and defence against a number of close range attacks. The session finished with questions and general advice given.
1st Korean Choi Kwang-Do Seminar
Seoul, South Korea - 10th October 2010
As Choi Kwang Do continues to gain more and more recognition worldwide, during October Korea saw the arrival of its own son Sahjonim Kwang Choi to his homeland and now recognises him as a world leader in the martial arts.
Some traditional Korean martial art schools and organisations have already started the conversion process to Choi Kwang Do. This could well signal the beginning of a new era in Martial Arts.
Choi Kwang Do International held its 1st Korean Choi Kwang Do seminar and festival on 10/10/10 in Seoul, South Korea.
During ten days from the 5th October to 15th October instructors, students, parents, and well wishers gathered in Seoul, South Korea to celebrate this historical event.
Further information can be found by visiting our International website:
Pictured above (right): Grandmaster Choi receives an award for his efforts in the spread of martial arts
to South East Asia in 1968
Pictured above: Grandmaster Choi during the early days appointed as Chief Instructor to teach
martial arts to 20 divisions in the Korean Army
Pictured above: Grandmaster Choi in 2009 at 67 years of age
Still progressing in terms of ability, speed, power, agility and flexibility.
CKD Richmond working with the MEND Programme
MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it!) is a social enterprise dedicated to reducing global overweight and obesity levels. MEND help children and their families become fitter, healthier and happier by offering free healthy living programmes in the local community. On Monday 4th October 2010, CKD Richmond will hold a self defence workshop for our local group.
Further information on MEND can be found here.
CKD Richmond produces its first Black Belt!
On Sunday 19th September 2010, CKD Richmond saw its first student go for Black Belt!
A big day for the student and the school. A presentation was held at CKD Richmond and the results were given...
Mr Oscar Wendt was promoted to the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt on Thursday 23rd September 2010.
To see more photos, click here.
Choi Kwang-Do Regional Seminar - Woking
Mr Anthony Wendt - 3rd Dan Black Belt Presentation
On 6th December 2009, Mr Anthony Wendt graded at Wembley CKD for 3rd Dan Black Belt.
Mr Wendt was successfully promoted to the rank of 3rd Dan Black Belt and a special presentation was held
at Richmond CKD on 5th January 2010.
Pictured above: Mr Anthony Wendt being presented 3rd Dan Black Belt by Master Jason Wright
Pictured above: Master Jason Wright & Mr Anthony Wendt
CKD Richmond supports Anti-Bullying Week
CKD Richmond celebrates Adult Learners' Week
Self Defence Workshop - Twickenham Library
Wednesday 13th May
CHOI KWANG-DO UK SEMINAR
Celebrating 20 years of Choi Kwang-Do in the UK
Martial Arts Illustrated magazine
On 26th April, practitioners from all over the world came to K2 in Crawley to celebrate 20 years of
Choi Kwang-Do excellence in the UK.
The experience proved to be invaluable for practitioners that attended, as well as a great insight for spectators. Once again, Grandmaster Choi demonstrated what we as practitioners know – Choi Kwang-Do is leading the way forward as the martial art of the future.
Pil-Suhng!
Open Day
The Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Cllr Marc Cranfield-Adams, was a special guest at the Open Day of Choi Kwang-Do Richmond.
Also present were two representatives of the North Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Team, PCSO Nigel Brown and PCSO Ellie Giusta.
Visitors were treated to a display of self-defence skills by Black Belt instructors in the martial art as well as new students from the Richmond classes.
“Choi Kwang-Do is the perfect self defence”,” said Mr Wendt. “Students of all ages and abilities can learn in a non-competitive environment and gain invaluable life skills and health benefits”.
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Pictured above: Mr Anthony Wendt & Former Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Cllr Marc Cranfield-Adams
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Pictured above: Master Jason Wright demonstrates the power of the side kick
Courtesy of The Richmond & Twickenham Times Series
Open Evening
Special thanks to the following guests who attended the Open Evening on Thursday 12th July:
The Deputy Mayor of Richmond-upon-Thames
Sergeant Medcalf of North Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Team
The Open Evening of Choi Kwang-Do Richmond took place on Thursday 12th July, to an enthusiastic and highly appreciative audience.
The Deputy Mayor of Richmond, Cllr Helen Lee-Parsons attended the Open Evening, and expressed great interest, despite a busy Mayoral schedule. She told the audience how pleased she was to be there and how important she feels Choi Kwang-Do is to the community as a whole.
Also in attendance was Sgt Janice Medcalf, representing The North Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Team. She too emphasised her particular interest in a martial art that she hopes will help a great number of people of all ages, and especially the younger generation with whom she is actively working.
Mr Wendt firstly gave the audience a taste of the history and background of Choi Kwang-Do in his talk, outlining the key benefits. This was followed by a demonstration of the basic movements and techniques by Black Belt Instructors Mr Ali and Mr Ring.
Then for an exciting display – the advanced Black Belt Demo! 5th Degree Black Belt Master Wright showed some highly impressive moves which had the audience transfixed, and showed the enormous power that Choi Kwang-Do can generate.
Those attending then had a chance to catch their breath and talk to Mr Wendt and the Black Belt students with their questions. It was extremely gratifying that by the end of what was a very successful evening, many members of the audience had signed up for a free trial lesson.
“Choi Kwang-Do really is the martial art of the future” said Mr Wendt, "and I'm proud to be able to teach such valuable life skills in my home town".
Book your trial class today. Try it and feel the benefits for yourself.
Pictured above: Mr Anthony Wendt & Former Deputy Mayor Cllr Helen Lee-Parsons
Pictured above from left to right: Mr Timothy Ring, Mr Anthony Wendt, Former Deputy Mayor
Cllr Helen Lee-Parsons, Mr Shabaaz Ali & Master Jason Wright.