Kwang Jo Choi
Born	March 2, 1942 (1942-03-02) (age 67) Daegu, Korea
Style	Choi Kwang Do
www.choikwang-do.com

This is a Korean name; the family name is Choi.

Choi Kwang Jo (2 March 1942–) is a former Korean national champion in taekwondo, and is one of the twelve original masters of taekwondo.^[1] Choi is the founder and head of the Choi Kwang-Do international martial art organisation, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Controversy 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Biography

Choi was born on 2 March 1942 in Daegu, Korea, which was under Japanese control at the time. He started training in the martial arts at the age of 12 because his father was concerned—he wanted his small, physically weak son to be able to protect himself in the war-torn streets. During his military service, Choi became a chief Instructor in the 20th infantry division^[2] and came into contact with General Choi when the military began to use taekwondo for unarmed combat. Due to injuries sustained from his martial arts training he sought medical attention in the United States of America, and began to study different physical therapy techniques. As a result, he began to study anatomy, physiology, and human-movement sciences.

In 1987, Choi incorporated everything he had learned into his own martial art system called Choi Kwang Do, which translates as “the art (or method) of Kwang Choi.” Choi maintains that Choi Kwang Do is free from the mysticisms of traditional martial arts. He advertises that his art practises yoga-based stretching.^[3] Choi heads the Choi Kwang Do organisation from Atlanta and was inducted into the Taekwondo Times magazine's Hall of Fame in 2006.^[4]

[edit] Controversy

One notable critic of Choi is Roger Koo. Since resigning from the post of Vice President under Choi's organisation in 1991, Koo has remained a staunch opponent. Koo dedicates a large portion of his website to discrediting Choi and his organisation.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Choi Kwang-Do International Organisation

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