The syllabus - CHOI KWANG-DO is taught using a well defined and structured syllabus with a specific belt assignment for each rank. Each belt assignment includes new techniques, patterns and combinations, defence drills, and equipment drills. Each new belt assignment follows on from the previous one taking the student through a progressive learning curve in manageable stages.
Students begin as white belt, there being 18 colour belt ranks (9 colours each with a junior and senior level) up to 1st degree black belt. It generally takes around 3 years of regular training to reach black belt. From this level there are 9 degree's (Dans) of black belt, with 5th degree denoting the rank of Master and 8th degree denoting the rank of Grandmaster. Only Grandmaster Choi holds the rank of 9th degree
The techniques and drills - All techniques in CHOI KWANG-DO are designed to employ the body's natural movement to maximise the power delivered to the target in order to stop an aggressive attack quickly and efficiently. Techniques are all based on the same fundamental principles making them easy to learn, and with the natural fluid circular motion involved, they easily combine to form ballistic combinations for self-defence.
Techniques are practiced through a wide variety of drills designed to develop speed, agility, power, stamina and confidence. Emphasis is placed on real situations and how to deal with them practically. There are no competitions or tournaments in CHOI KWANG-DO simply because they don't reflect realistic self-defence. In fact the limitations incurred by rules for competitive sparring can have an adverse effect on your conditioning for self-defence which could potentially have serious consequences.
