Back again. Been out of intense training for a while. I had a broken rib moths back from jiu-jitsu training. I also had elbow surgery caused from other sports. I'm not at 100%, but getting better everyday. I've been back training jiu-jitsu 1 to 2 days per week--what a cardio workout! A little rough on my elbow at times though. Also I'm back to teaching and training as if this coming Tuesday Choi Kwang Do--looking forward to honing my techniques.
In addition Grand Master Choi is turning 70 years old. What awesome shape the man is in. I hope when I'm 70 I can still kick, stretch and move like him.
http://choikwangdo.com/2011/12/choi-kwang-do-25th-seminar-anniversary/
Another man who appeared to be in awesome shape was, Grand Master Helio Gracie. The guy was still training Jiu-Jitsu till he was 95 years old, if I'm correct in saying. Wow!!!
Have a blessed day and Happy New Year!!!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Optimum Health
Happy Father's Day to all you dads.
Here is an excerpt from the CKD website that speaks to the health benefits of Choi Kwang Do Martial Arts.
"Choi Kwang Do will not only add years onto your life, but also life onto your years! The system is designed to enhance health, prevent disease and stimulate positive changes in the body and brain.
Chronic disease prevention, treatment and healthcare help people to live longer, happier and more productive lives. Statistics show that just 1 in approximately 10,000 Americans will live to reach 100 years of age. However, demographers are now projecting that by the middle of this century, possibly 800,000 Americans could live to 100 by maintaining healthy lifestyle habits.
Choi Kwang Do is ideal, not just to improve lifespan, but also to improve health span. Health span could be described as the total number of years an individual remains in good health. There is little point in living longer if the added years are unhealthy, unproductive, unhappy and painful.
Successful aging requires ongoing physical exercise and maintenance. Research and statistics now view aging in general as lifestyle related. Physical and mental deterioration is dependent on lifestyle and environmental influences: primarily improper diet and lack of exercise. With better lifestyle habits, including exercise, people can avoid many health problems."
In addition, Grandmaster Choi held a seminar in Michigan back in May 2011. The guy is almost 70 years old and is very impressive. See the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ueZInukIZk
Does anyone have any comments they'd like to share?
Pilsung! Michael
Here is an excerpt from the CKD website that speaks to the health benefits of Choi Kwang Do Martial Arts.
"Choi Kwang Do will not only add years onto your life, but also life onto your years! The system is designed to enhance health, prevent disease and stimulate positive changes in the body and brain.
Chronic disease prevention, treatment and healthcare help people to live longer, happier and more productive lives. Statistics show that just 1 in approximately 10,000 Americans will live to reach 100 years of age. However, demographers are now projecting that by the middle of this century, possibly 800,000 Americans could live to 100 by maintaining healthy lifestyle habits.
Choi Kwang Do is ideal, not just to improve lifespan, but also to improve health span. Health span could be described as the total number of years an individual remains in good health. There is little point in living longer if the added years are unhealthy, unproductive, unhappy and painful.
Successful aging requires ongoing physical exercise and maintenance. Research and statistics now view aging in general as lifestyle related. Physical and mental deterioration is dependent on lifestyle and environmental influences: primarily improper diet and lack of exercise. With better lifestyle habits, including exercise, people can avoid many health problems."
In addition, Grandmaster Choi held a seminar in Michigan back in May 2011. The guy is almost 70 years old and is very impressive. See the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ueZInukIZk
Does anyone have any comments they'd like to share?
Pilsung! Michael
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Choi Kwang Do Association!!!
Check out our new Choi kwang Do Association web site:
http://www.ckdassociation.com/
Let us know what you think!
Pil Sung! Michael
http://www.ckdassociation.com/
Let us know what you think!
Pil Sung! Michael
Friday, December 24, 2010
Some Choi Kwang Do history...
Merry Christmas!!!
Here's a little history taken from a Wikipedia quote:
"Choi Kwang Do was founded by Kwang Jo Choi, who was born in South Korea before emigrating to Canada in the early 1970s. Choi was a successful ITF Tae Kwon Do practitioner and trainer (serving as a chief instructor) before establishing his own style.
While teaching and demonstrating ITF Tae Kwon Do in South East Asia, Kwang Jo Choi became injured through his training and demonstrations to the point where he was unable to continue with the discipline. So he left Malaysia (where he was demonstrating at the time) for North America, in the hope of finding orthopedic surgeons who would be able to help with his injuries.
Determining that the injuries were caused by the way he was performing martial arts, Choi undertook rehabilitative exercises, attended various seminars and studied techniques for rehabilitation. Choi claims that he incorporated these techniques into his own fighting style, and from that he developed Choi Kwang Do.
Today, Choi Kwang-Do is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is taught in numerous countries including the United Kingdom with schools in England, Scotland and Wales."
Here's a pretty cool documentary of Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi and how Choi Kwang Do was developed.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzeKN1D8LRo
Check out the five documentary videos on Youtube as noted above. Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks! Michael
Here's a little history taken from a Wikipedia quote:
"Choi Kwang Do was founded by Kwang Jo Choi, who was born in South Korea before emigrating to Canada in the early 1970s. Choi was a successful ITF Tae Kwon Do practitioner and trainer (serving as a chief instructor) before establishing his own style.
While teaching and demonstrating ITF Tae Kwon Do in South East Asia, Kwang Jo Choi became injured through his training and demonstrations to the point where he was unable to continue with the discipline. So he left Malaysia (where he was demonstrating at the time) for North America, in the hope of finding orthopedic surgeons who would be able to help with his injuries.
Determining that the injuries were caused by the way he was performing martial arts, Choi undertook rehabilitative exercises, attended various seminars and studied techniques for rehabilitation. Choi claims that he incorporated these techniques into his own fighting style, and from that he developed Choi Kwang Do.
Today, Choi Kwang-Do is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is taught in numerous countries including the United Kingdom with schools in England, Scotland and Wales."
Here's a pretty cool documentary of Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi and how Choi Kwang Do was developed.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzeKN1D8LRo
Check out the five documentary videos on Youtube as noted above. Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks! Michael
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Benefits of Choi Kwang Do
Exercise and Your Brain
This information is cited from the Choi Kwang Do International website:
Exercise Increases Brain Growth Factor And Receptors, Prevents Stem Cell Drop In Middle AgeScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2008) — A new study confirms that exercise can reverse the age-related decline in the production of neural stem cells in the hippocampus of the mouse brain, and suggests that this happens because exercise restores a brain chemical which promotes the production and maturation of new stem cells.Neural stem cells and progenitor cells differentiate into a variety of mature nerve cells which have different functions, a process called neurogenesis.
There is evidence that when fewer new stem or progenitor cells are produced in the hippocampus, it can result in impairment of the learning and memory functions. The hippocampus plays an important role in memory and learning. The study was carried out by researchers at the National Cheng Kung University Medical College in Taiwan.
Rise in corticosterone or fall in nerve growth factor?
The researchers built on earlier studies that found that the production of stem cells in the area of the hippocampus known as the dentate gyrus drops off dramatically by the time mice are middle age and that exercise can slow that trend. In the current study, the researchers wanted to track these changes in mice over time, and find out why they happen.One hypothesis the researchers investigated is that the age-related decline in neurogenesis is tied to a rise in corticosterone in middle age. Elevation of corticosterone has been associated with a drop in the production of new stem cells in the hippocampus.The second hypothesis is that nerve growth factors -- which encourage new neural cell growth but which decrease with age -- account for the drop in neurogenesis. Specifically, the study looked at whether a decrease in brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor leads to a decline in new neural stem cells.
Variables studied
The researchers trained young (3 months), adult (7 months), early middle-aged (9 months), middle-aged (13 months) and old (24 months) mice to run a treadmill for up to one hour a day.The study tracked neurogenesis, age, exercise, serum corticosterone levels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB levels in the hippocampus. The researchers focused on middle age as a critical stage for the decline of neurogenesis in the mice.As expected, the study found that neurogenesis drops off sharply in middle-aged mice. For example, the number of neural progenitor and mitotic (dividing) cells in the hippocampus of middle-aged mice was only 5% of that observed in the young mice.The researchers also found that exercise significantly slows down the loss of new nerve cells in the middle-aged mice. They found that production of neural stem cells improved by approximately 200% compared to the middle-aged mice that did not exercise. In addition, the survival of new nerve cells increased by 170% and growth by 190% compared to the sedentary middle-aged mice. Exercise also significantly enhanced stem cell production and maturation in the young mice. In fact, exercise produced a stronger effect in younger mice compared to the older mice.
How does this happen?
Based on these results, it appears that nerve growth factor has more to do with these findings than the corticosterone:
The middle-aged exercisers had more brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor, TrkB, compared to the middle-aged mice that did not exercise. This suggests that exercise promotes the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor which, in turn, promotes differentiation and survival of new brain cells in the hippocampus.
Exercise did not change the basal level of serum corticosterone in middle-aged mice. This suggests that the reduction of neurogenesis during aging is not due to the drop in corticosterone levels.
Journal reference:1. Wu et al. Exercise enhances the proliferation of neural stem cells and neurite growth and survival of neuronal progenitor cells in dentate gyrus of middle-aged mice. Journal of Applied Physiology, 2008; 105 (5): 1585 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.90775.2008
How can Choi Kwang Do Help?
According to Choi Kwang Do concepts and principles, which apply modern scientific principles , training Choi Kwang Do patterns sustained for 45 min to 1 hour, four to six times a week, may stimulate brain for production of neurotrophins (neurotrophins are a family of proteins that induce the survival and development and function of neurons) that promote the survival of neurons and will decrease drop off of production of new brain cells.
Patterns are performed to 75-85% of maximum target heart rate with proper abdominal breathing. Practitioner must focus and concentrate on each movement without the distraction of music or outside interference. Harnessing our thoughts on our movements and abdominal breathing will significantly increase the perfection of movement and stimulation of the brain.When performing Choi Kwang Do techniques wide range of motion is utilized. Using proper biomechanical movement will generate maximum power and prevent injury. Learning new movements through Choi Kwang Do patterns will help to promote creation of new brain cells and help to challenge the practitioner. Performing Choi Kwang Do patterns will help to prevent muscular imbalance and evenly condition the right and left side of the body. Each movement is performed evenly with both arms and legs. Using frontal, sedital and transverse motion will also help improve our balance and strengthen our core muscle group.
Thanks for reading! CKD is truly revolutionary!
This information is cited from the Choi Kwang Do International website:
Exercise Increases Brain Growth Factor And Receptors, Prevents Stem Cell Drop In Middle AgeScienceDaily (Nov. 27, 2008) — A new study confirms that exercise can reverse the age-related decline in the production of neural stem cells in the hippocampus of the mouse brain, and suggests that this happens because exercise restores a brain chemical which promotes the production and maturation of new stem cells.Neural stem cells and progenitor cells differentiate into a variety of mature nerve cells which have different functions, a process called neurogenesis.
There is evidence that when fewer new stem or progenitor cells are produced in the hippocampus, it can result in impairment of the learning and memory functions. The hippocampus plays an important role in memory and learning. The study was carried out by researchers at the National Cheng Kung University Medical College in Taiwan.
Rise in corticosterone or fall in nerve growth factor?
The researchers built on earlier studies that found that the production of stem cells in the area of the hippocampus known as the dentate gyrus drops off dramatically by the time mice are middle age and that exercise can slow that trend. In the current study, the researchers wanted to track these changes in mice over time, and find out why they happen.One hypothesis the researchers investigated is that the age-related decline in neurogenesis is tied to a rise in corticosterone in middle age. Elevation of corticosterone has been associated with a drop in the production of new stem cells in the hippocampus.The second hypothesis is that nerve growth factors -- which encourage new neural cell growth but which decrease with age -- account for the drop in neurogenesis. Specifically, the study looked at whether a decrease in brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor leads to a decline in new neural stem cells.
Variables studied
The researchers trained young (3 months), adult (7 months), early middle-aged (9 months), middle-aged (13 months) and old (24 months) mice to run a treadmill for up to one hour a day.The study tracked neurogenesis, age, exercise, serum corticosterone levels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB levels in the hippocampus. The researchers focused on middle age as a critical stage for the decline of neurogenesis in the mice.As expected, the study found that neurogenesis drops off sharply in middle-aged mice. For example, the number of neural progenitor and mitotic (dividing) cells in the hippocampus of middle-aged mice was only 5% of that observed in the young mice.The researchers also found that exercise significantly slows down the loss of new nerve cells in the middle-aged mice. They found that production of neural stem cells improved by approximately 200% compared to the middle-aged mice that did not exercise. In addition, the survival of new nerve cells increased by 170% and growth by 190% compared to the sedentary middle-aged mice. Exercise also significantly enhanced stem cell production and maturation in the young mice. In fact, exercise produced a stronger effect in younger mice compared to the older mice.
How does this happen?
Based on these results, it appears that nerve growth factor has more to do with these findings than the corticosterone:
The middle-aged exercisers had more brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor, TrkB, compared to the middle-aged mice that did not exercise. This suggests that exercise promotes the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor which, in turn, promotes differentiation and survival of new brain cells in the hippocampus.
Exercise did not change the basal level of serum corticosterone in middle-aged mice. This suggests that the reduction of neurogenesis during aging is not due to the drop in corticosterone levels.
Journal reference:1. Wu et al. Exercise enhances the proliferation of neural stem cells and neurite growth and survival of neuronal progenitor cells in dentate gyrus of middle-aged mice. Journal of Applied Physiology, 2008; 105 (5): 1585 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.90775.2008
How can Choi Kwang Do Help?
According to Choi Kwang Do concepts and principles, which apply modern scientific principles , training Choi Kwang Do patterns sustained for 45 min to 1 hour, four to six times a week, may stimulate brain for production of neurotrophins (neurotrophins are a family of proteins that induce the survival and development and function of neurons) that promote the survival of neurons and will decrease drop off of production of new brain cells.
Patterns are performed to 75-85% of maximum target heart rate with proper abdominal breathing. Practitioner must focus and concentrate on each movement without the distraction of music or outside interference. Harnessing our thoughts on our movements and abdominal breathing will significantly increase the perfection of movement and stimulation of the brain.When performing Choi Kwang Do techniques wide range of motion is utilized. Using proper biomechanical movement will generate maximum power and prevent injury. Learning new movements through Choi Kwang Do patterns will help to promote creation of new brain cells and help to challenge the practitioner. Performing Choi Kwang Do patterns will help to prevent muscular imbalance and evenly condition the right and left side of the body. Each movement is performed evenly with both arms and legs. Using frontal, sedital and transverse motion will also help improve our balance and strengthen our core muscle group.
Thanks for reading! CKD is truly revolutionary!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Black Belt Testing Done!!!
May 15th was the black belt test. This puts myself and some others at 1st degree. It was a grueling test in terms of stamina. The whole test was approximately 3 hours in length.
The first part we had to perform all patterns from white to brown senior, one after another, together with each other. Then we perform the same but on our own time.
From there, we demonstrated every kick and strike we've learned also in reps of 8 to 16, right and left side. Furthermore we demonstrated our speed drills for each belt level--I think that's about 18 in all. I was spent at this point, approximately 1-1/2 into the test.
The later half, we repeated our highest patterns, techniques, etc. We then went into defense drills on air shields and followed that up with sparring.
We concluded with board breaks. It was a tough day, but it was worth it!
PilSung!
The first part we had to perform all patterns from white to brown senior, one after another, together with each other. Then we perform the same but on our own time.
From there, we demonstrated every kick and strike we've learned also in reps of 8 to 16, right and left side. Furthermore we demonstrated our speed drills for each belt level--I think that's about 18 in all. I was spent at this point, approximately 1-1/2 into the test.
The later half, we repeated our highest patterns, techniques, etc. We then went into defense drills on air shields and followed that up with sparring.
We concluded with board breaks. It was a tough day, but it was worth it!
PilSung!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Just finished color belts!
There was a color belt test on 4/10/2010. My youngest son tested for his senior brown belt. At the end of the test there was board breaking. He needed to break two boards with a spinning side kick. The first kick he didn't break them--the look on his face, to me, was, "holy smokes, that's harder than I thought." The second kick, he broke both boards. That was a very good kick for a young person. I'm really proud of him.
Everybody who tested did really well.
There were some really young children also--I'd say as young as 6. It's a riot watching these kids. They did really well. It's a lot to remember all of those patterns. Regardless, they did a really great job.
Pil Sung!
Black belt testing is in MAY!
Everybody who tested did really well.
There were some really young children also--I'd say as young as 6. It's a riot watching these kids. They did really well. It's a lot to remember all of those patterns. Regardless, they did a really great job.
Pil Sung!
Black belt testing is in MAY!
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