Here are some pictures from the testing: Now you might think that these moves are just random - and that they can place their hands and feet anywhere. NO WAY - each move is strategic - every foot and hand move has to be perfectly executed.
Just a note - every one moves at their own pace - so they may not be in the same place the GS is.
The row my grandson is in - is from his Choi Kwang Do Center - he trains at the Headquarters - in Kennesaw - which is International. They just opened one in Sweden. They will celebrate their 25th anniversary next year.
Notice the spinning side kick has to be waist level. Now the difference from Tai Kwang Do and Choi Kwang Do is 3 things -ours is a defensive not offensive martial arts meaning they only use it in defense - never to bully or hurt.
Therefore there are no tournaments - it is for self defense, self confidence, and exercise.
Notice his hands held up in a defensive move. The 3rd way it is different is that in Tai Kwang Do - the direction and things they are taught - many people end up injured. Choi was invented I guess if you will - to move the opposite direction and in the natural way the body wants to move.
They are taught not to kick with rigid knees or straight hands - so that there is no injury to the body. Emory University here is starting to teach it there. Grand Master Choi - has been interviewed around the world.
See how the little one behind GS has his foot up at this particular time? One heel has to be up like that.
The grandson's too.
I tell you what - he is one strong dude.
The front kick. They are also taught how to get out of holds by someone trying to hurt them.
These are the principles they follow and repeat at the beginning of every class.
And the junior promise is said at the beginning of each class.
This is at the end of testing and I am sure you want to know if he passed or not. But this picture means so much to us - this is a little guy here with SPD and ADHD - he is sitting - listening - focusing - and learning! This is the gift this martial arts has given him.
Five years ago he could not do that. Oh my gosh - he could barely move - could have cared less about form - talked all the time - didn't sit still (GS sit still - we heard that for years) - pulled at the rug - ah the memories. And they never ever gave up on the grandson.This man here Master P told us when he first began - said he could do it and believed in him - and said that the GS would start to believe in himself. That the going thru the colored belts would change his mind. That he would eventually get black belt mentality. And after five years he has.
These were the judges. The man on the right said he started in special ed classes, had ADHD and was on medication, and had an anger issue. Choi Kwang Do changed his life and now he owns his own studio.
And he has and the GS told the three of us - "Thank you for not giving up on me", on his own!
This is one of the instructors who didn't give up on him. Apparently they had talked and decided as a whole team not to give up on the GS!
So do you think he passed? YES HE DID! He is forever a black belt and is on his way to second degree - another 3 years!
A big thank you to Ann, Ann, Cheri, Barb, Betty, Buttercup, Diane, Eva Marie, Ginny, Karen, Kim, Linda, Lisa, Maria, Myra, Nikki, Pat, Sandra, Susan, Tanna, Trish, Victor and all the others I missed (family and friends) who prayed and cheered the grandson on!
Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.
William A. Ward
