Testimonials
Judith Algar-Nicholas
'I discovered Choi Kwang Do Richmond whilst looking for a martial arts class for my 7 year old son. He was interested in learning a martial art, but had tried several other classes and not enjoyed them, finding the instructors intimidating and the lessons too competitive.
What a difference at Choi Kwang Do Richmond! Anthony Wendt is a gifted and inspiring instructor, managing to give individual attention and encouragement to all students. From the first lesson I saw my son grow in self confidence and self esteem, helping him to cope with difficult situations at school and in the wider world.
Furthermore, his Dad and I enrolled too! One of the very special things about Choi Kwang Do is that it is possible to train at any age. Young children train in the same class as adult black belts and it is humbling to experience the atmosphere of mutual respect and support that prevails. The philosophy of Choi Kwang Do encompasses qualities such as 'gentleness' and 'humility' alongside 'unbreakable spirit' and 'certain victory', and this really can be seen in action in the classes. My son loves training alongside the older, higher ranking students and learns lots from them. And we had the pleasure of going through our first belt grading together as a family.
The non-competitive nature of this martial art means that each student can progress at their own pace, without fear of failure. Progress tends to be fast, however, thanks to Anthony Wendt's excellent teaching and the fact that Choi Kwang Do is intended to be accessible and rewarding. Each session includes powerful self defence techniques that can be learnt and practised regardless of belt level, and each new level of training involves generous amounts of drills and practice with shields and safety equipment making it possible to train at 'full power', which is fun and also great for building confidence as it gives you an idea of how you might be able to react in a real life self defence situation.
I would whole heartedly recommend Choi Kwang Do Richmond to anyone, adult or child, girl or boy, who would like to build self confidence, raise fitness levels and feel safer in everyday situations. Anthony Wendt's style of teaching would also make this class an ideal choice for a more sensitive child who may be slower to take risks. They will soon shine, and carry this new self esteem into the rest of their lives'.
Jayne Clark
'Our son Alfie has problems with the tendons in his legs and we were advised that martial arts would be beneficial for him. We read about CKD as a martial art that was good for fitness, flexibility and discipline. So Alfie started at Richmond CKD in 2009 and we are absolutely delighted with the change in him. His fitness and flexibility have improved enormously and he has lost weight (which has done wonders for his self esteem). He really loves his CKD classes! Mr Wendt is a very thoughtful and helpful teacher and we highly recommend Richmond CKD'.
Adam Armstrong-Sexton
'After leaving martial arts training over 6 years ago it left a large hole in my life. I started at the age of 7 and it taught me the importance of discipline and respect, for both others and also myself. There are too many benefits of Choi Kwang Do to list them all, but the main ones being that it has given me a great sense of confidence that has been reflected is all aspects of my life. It has given me achievable goals to strive for and a form of fitness training no where near as mundane as visiting a gym. It is also helping me overcome stress and anxiety caused by problems in both my personal and professional life. The instructor and regular students are very welcoming and engaging towards us new starters, whether we have experience in martial arts or we are just starting out. The only regrets I have is stopping training and then leaving it so long to come back!!'
Tim Beale
'I had looked at quite a few different martial arts before taking up Choi Kwang-Do but found them too competitive. In Choi Kwang-Do, I find the pace of learning is perfect for me and after just a few months I have felt the physical benefits too!'
Christopher Broadley
At the age of 75, Chris had previously been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and a higher than average level of cholesterol. He signed up for Choi Kwang-Do lessons tentatively, having already been forced into quitting other martial arts due to some of their impractical movements that had caused stress and injury.
After just a few months of training, Chris was amazed at the positive difference that Choi Kwang-Do was making to his health. His GP confirmed that his blood pressure was now much lower, his heart rate slower, and his cholesterol levels down to a normal level.
These health improvements Chris attributes solely to the techniques of Choi Kwang-Do.
“I very much like the fact that there is no pressure to perform, unlike some martial arts”, explains Chris. “The emphasis is very much on personal development, at your own pace”.
He also approves of the friendly class atmosphere – “There’s none of that rough, aggressive image you might imagine,” he says, “and because gradings take place at regular intervals throughout the year, the structure really gives you an incentive to train regularly”. Chris now trains twice a week at Choi Kwang-Do Richmond.
Oscar Wendt
Oscar started training in martial arts at the age of 10, and started training in Choi Kwang-Do in 2007. Having studied different martial arts, he chose Choi Kwang-Do for its practical approach towards self defence, with fun and easy to learn techniques. "Choi Kwang-Do fits in well with my school activities. As I take part in a lot of sports at school, the exercise and yoga style stretching used in Choi Kwang-Do helps keep me fit. I really enjoy the classes and look forward to what I am going to learn next."
Oscar was promoted to the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt on 23rd September 2010. (The first Black Belt to be produced by Choi Kwang-Do Richmond!) Having accomplished this first goal, new challenges lie ahead: Oscar has now certified as an Assistant Instructor, and is currently working on the new Black Belt syllabus.