My name is Mariannick, I’m a parent of two and also a grandparent, I’d had never done any kind of exercise before but a friend encouraged me to give Choi a try with her at the new Oceans Wellbeing Centre, we happened to be walking past when it was just opening up.

With no idea what to expect I went to a long for a couple of free intro classes for some new daytime classes that were just stating up.

Everyone was very friendly and I found myself a little uncoordinated at first the instructors told me I was doing very well. Unfortunately my friend was not able to keep training but as I was quite enjoying the what I was learning I decided to keep going.

A few weeks later my instructors mentioned that I was ready for my first belt grading but I told them that I really did not feel that I was any good. A few weeks later with the support of my fellow students and instructors I took my first grading and actually enjoyed myself. I’ve taken 4 or 5 belt gradings since then and really enjoy them.

A few weeks ago my instructors said they would like to invite me to consider becoming an assistant instructor. My answer straight away was that I did not think I was good enough. They assured me that I was progressing very well and that was doing a lot better than I realised. Several weeks later with the support and encouragement of my instructors I accepted the invitation to become an assistant instructor.

I’ve found that I’ve received a tremendous amount of patient support and encouragement from all the instructors at Oceans. From my only experience and from working with others I realise now that we are capable of a lot more than we realise with the benefit of a supportive group and when we’re able to be patient with ourselves.

During the last 6 months I’ve made a lot of new friends and really enjoy learning something that I thought originally I would never be any good at.

Technorati Tags: assistant instructor, Brighton, Choi, Choi Kwang Do, grandparent, parent

My name is Dave and at age 54 I am currently enjoying a renewed interest in martial arts by training in Choi Kwang Do. Over the years I have tried and trained in various styles of Korean and Japanese martial arts most recently (11 years ago) gaining a brown belt in Wado Ryu and purple/white belt in Shotokan. I decided to stop all training for two reasons.

1. I was diagnosed with coronary artery problems.

2. I felt that most martial arts training were centred on sparring with competition being the main aim.

For me personally, I am finding that the syllabus in Choi, with its realistic approach to self defence, its yoga based stretching and all round approach to fitness and self development the ideal choice

Technorati Tags: Brighton, Choi, coronary, Japanese, Korean, Shotokan, story, Testimonial, Wado Ryu, yoga

I work as a National Account Manager (sales) for a food company and with customers all over England I manage to clock up about 40,000 miles a year behind the wheel. About 3 years ago, scared of my ever increasing waist size, I decided to join a gym. I followed the pattern of most gym goers; after an initial burst of exercise all I seemed to be doing was keeping David Lloyds rich whilst helping to keep his equipment in ‘as-new’ condition by only visiting his gym once a month.

A year later, a waist size bigger and a lot poorer I stumbled across a Choi class. I had previously trained in Tae Kwon Do throughout university and for another year after, however I stopped training when I moved to Brighton in 2002. I knew that I preferred training with a group of people rather than on my own and having watched a Choi class I was relieved that I had found a way of enjoying exercise again.

Choi Kwang Do originated from Tae Kwon Do and there are a lot of similarities in the structure of the class but (and this is the important bit), the movements and techniques have been evolved to be much kinder on your body and joints through ¾ length and circular techniques. Sparring (where two people practice fighting with each other) has also been removed as this is where many injuries come from in martial arts. Grand Master Choi’s philosophy is that people should be able to practice their chosen form of exercise throughout life without having to retire through an injury caused by that sport. This is a belief I share whole heartedly. Perhaps one of the best illustrations of this is the 3 benefits Choi is designed to deliver:

1. Optimum Health
2. Self Defense
3. Personal Development

Notice that optimum health is rated as before self defense!

Another important aspect of Choi for me is our assistant instructor program. As one of 6 (?) assistant instructors in our school I regularly help out both teaching in adult classes as well as instructing in the children’s classes (our youngest student is 3!!). It is great to see younger students develop their skills in class but equally impressive is to see a shy child sat at the side develop in to a child with bundles of confidence joining in with all of the other kids.

In my 1 ½ years training I have been highly impressed with the level of research and understanding within Choi. Everything has been studied, even down to different ways of breathing and which has the best health and relaxation benefits. My flexibility has increased immensely, I’m fit and healthy again, I have new group of friends and of course I can finally fit back in to my old clothes!!

Technorati Tags: Brighton, Choi, Choi Kwang Do, David Lloyds, fit, flexibility, healthy, Tae Kwon Do

My name is Susan, I live in Peacehaven and work in a local vets.  Having done a lot of yoga over the years I enquired about yoga classes at the new Oceans Centre.  The person on the phone told me that their wellbeing programme included all the benefits of yoga but had other aspects to it as well.  Unsure but open minded I accepted the invitation to for 2 free intro classes.   Everyone was friendly and I found the intro sessions fun and interesting so I decided to get started.

It did not take me long to get the bug, to the extent that I absolutely love it.  During 3 months of classes I’ve found I’ve made more new friends and got to know more people than I did during 6 years of yoga classes simply due to the group interaction and atmosphere in the class.  Because of my working hours I attend a mixture of daytime and evening classes and the flexibility of a full time centre is great because there are so many more class times to choose from.  It only took a couple of months before I considered myself obsessed, I can’t recommend Choi highly enough.

Susan

Technorati Tags: Brighton, my story, Oceans Wellbeing Centre, Peacehaven, Testimonial, yoga

Why did I start doing Choi Kwang do? It was basically to regain what I once was, confident, healthy and I had a positive outlook on life. This was unfortunately taken from me when I almost died from a mishap in an operation. After this devastating blow, I soon became to my family and friends an unregonisable man, depressed and scared of my own shadow. As a last ditched attempt to regain my self esteem and physical well being it was by chance I found Choi Kwang do.

What can I say that Choi Kwang do has done for me? Well if you told me 3 years ago I would be healthier not just physically but mentally and more confident  then I ever was, that I would become an Assistant Instructor, almost a Black Belt and having ideas of openeing my own Choi Kwang do Academy, in an activity I honestly love doing, which is rare for anyone to find, I would of said to them IMPOSSIBLE!

Its given me belief! Belief in myself and a belief in my poetential to be whatever I set my heart on. I have done other Martial arts before hand i.e. Kung Fu , but Choi Kwang do, unlike most martial arts, is taught in a friendly environement that promote not competion but true self satisfaction and presevation in every sense.

I can honestly say that Choi Kwang do is not just another martial art but a way lf life.

Pil Sunhg

Jay

Technorati Tags: Brighton, Choi Kwang Do, confidence, Peacehaven, story, Testimonial, Why Choi

I have had a stammer since childhood. Eight years ago I started ongoing training to learn key skills to cope in speaking situations. These skills have helped me but over the years I began to realise that I felt strong only when I spoke well – thus my stammer was me!

I wanted to change this limiting belief and to do this I had to become stronger in more areas of my life. Choi Kwang Do has really filled this void for me.

I have become more confident in myself through the training I’ve received – I really can’t say enough about the instructors, I’ve not only experienced an amazing transformation on a personal level but have seen so much positive change in my classmates. Choi certainly brings out the very best in me!! 

Pil Suhng,

John

Technorati Tags: Brighton, Choi Kwang Do, confidence, confident, hove, stammer

Like so many others I had joined many gyms where the enthusiasm only lasted a few weeks, so I was looking for something more engaging to start to improve my fitness levels and get into shape.

I have now been attending Choi Kwang Do classes at Oceans for about 7 months through the Choi For Life programme and am still loving every minute of it. What’s more, since joining I have lost 4 1/2 stone and seen improvement in a long standing knee condition.

I would certainly recommend Choi For Life to anyone, and at Oceans Wellbeing Centre there is more of a family atmosphere to make you feel welcome and encourage you to develop at your own pace.

Kind regards

Ross

Technorati Tags: choi for life, Choi Kwang Do, lost, Oceans, programme, stone

I joined Choi Kwang Do through the Choi For Life programme because a ‘flyer’ had dropped through my door offering new classes and I thought I would have a go.  

Since joining Choi Kwang Do in August 2007, which at that time for me was in Kemp Town, I have enjoyed every minute of my training.   As a then new member, who won’t see 60 again, I was made to feel welcome and capable of joining in classes composed mainly of students much younger than I.  

At that time I had problems with my joints, hips especially and found sleeping at night a problem, however, now I never think about them.  The exercise also helps my depression.  

Each member is welcomed as an individual with individual strengths and weaknesses who, as the classes progress, become a unit helping and supporting each other.   The classes are FUN too.  

I’m now an Assistant Instructor with the aim of helping others get as much fun and benefit from the classes as I do.    By the way, my name is Sue and I work as a PA/Secretary at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Technorati Tags: choi for life, Choi Kwang Do

Having done various forms of body work before: yoga, tai chi and chi gung, I was looking for something more dynamic but not too aggressive and macho, Choi For Life ’s Choi Kwang Do has filled that gap perfectly well. In the five months since I first started training I have noticed an increase in my body strength and flexibility.

My co-ordination and reaction has also improved greatly. I feel more confident in my day to day life and find many tasks easier to do. For example I’m learning to drive and have noticed that my reaction to the hazards on the road and overall confidence in my own abilities have really improved. I am more assertive with people. I find it easier to stand up for myself. I know that this is largely down to my regular practice.

I’m very grateful to Eugene and Sharmila and the fantastic instructors at the school Oceans Wellbeing and Choi For Life for giving me this opportunity to develop and for their continued guidance.

Best wishes

Irina

Technorati Tags: chi gung, Choi Kwang Do, dynamic Choi For Life, flexibility, strength, tai chi, yoga

This is my story of how I got into Choi Kwang Do. My first induction to Choi was quite funny, my daughter and I had gone down to find out what it was all about. After parking the car and walking towards the entrance we saw several young men walking in the same direction in martial art uniforms carrying big padded shields. When we realised we were heading for the same destination that was it, we’re not going in there said to each other and actually turned around and went home.

When Mr Butcher phoned the following day to check we were ok after missing our appointment, I told him what had happened, he sounded disappointed not with us but that such a situation had got in the way of us finding out more.  He reassured me that the men we had seen walking in were some of the kindest most considerate people you could wish to meet.  We laughed about it agreed to give it another try perhaps when the new full time centre finally opened.

A few months went by and after reading several of Eugene’s articles on longevity and wellbeing I decided that I really needed to try something to improve my health, which put it mildly had been getting the better of me for a number of years. 

It did not take long to discover how wrong our assumptions had been on that first visit. Choi is not just for young men, but for women and men of all ages and abilities. My ability to do the simplest things like put on a pair of shoes or go for a walk had been severely limited for a number of years because of constant pain and lack of mobility.  My body felt very stiff, painful and I questioned if I would be able to participate at all.  Eugene encouraged me and praised me for my courage saying that I was the first person to walk through the door as physically challenged as I was at that time. 

Three years earlier I had a major operation, 2 years later I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. At that point, I made the decision to change my life for a healthier lifestyle.

Mr Butcher and the other instructors worked with me very patiently to identify movements I could explore carefully and comfortably.  When I started I could only stand on my own for a few minutes before needing to sit in a chair and take a rest.  Mr Butcher constantly to take things slowly and rest before I needed to.   He also noticed that when I exercised next to other students I would try and keep up with them and try to do more than I was physically ready which also led to me becoming frustrated.  My frustration at the time was not only because could I not do what the others were doing but I could not imagine myself ever being able to.  Eugene explained that my determination was going to continue to play a big part in my recovery but that we also needed to be patient and focus on the things what I was able to do and the improvements I had already begun to make.

Many times I felt guilty because Mr Butcher or Mr Pinker would often work with me by myself more than  other members of class.  Eugene asked me to consider myself a pioneer in terms of being the first person to have the courage to walk into the centre as physically challenged as I was at the time.  He assured me that the careful, gradual work we were doing would reap benefits not only for myself but for others who would come along after me.  After 6 months I’ve seen incredible change in myself and in others. 

It’s not easy to describe the changes and improvements I feel. At the time that I started Choi it was a real effort even to stand up for more than for a couple of minutes, after a few months of training  something incredible happened to make me realise my progress.  While shopping with a friend who knows how unwell I have been.  We were about to take the escalator to the floor above in Marks & Spencer when I decided to take the stairs instead, I had not planned to, it was just an impulse at the time and I remember my friends face when she got to the top of the escalator after watching me jog up the stairs for the fun of it.

There is such a huge misconception about Choi because of the fact it is a martial art and people wear a  martial arts uniform, I fell victim to that misconception on my first visit when I took one look at the uniforms, turned around and went straight home.  Thank god that I was open minded enough to go back for a proper look as otherwise I would have missed something that has made a big difference in my life.

The instructors often describe Choi Kwang Do as a wellbeing programme, I can vouch for that first hand.  Thanks to Eugene, Sharmila and the team, I am feeling fitter and healthier and would recommend it to anybody who would like to improve their general health and wellbeing.

Pil Suhng

Everyone."

Linda Berry

Technorati Tags: Choi Kwang Do, Linda from Saltdean, Vitality, Why Choi