Why and How Koo Self Defense was developed?

from ksdi.net

For my martial arts history, please browse through my history's page.
I am often asked "with someone of your credentials and martial arts history, how did you end up in Cartersville, Metro Atlanta, Georgia?"
What led me to developed Koo Self Defense and finally settled in Cartersville was my resignation from Choi Kwang Do (CKD) in November 1991. My departure with CKD was not very pleasant and what they did to me afterwards is a real life story for a movie or a mini series for a television movie.
This is a brief summary of the events. I submitted a 24-page letter of resignation to CKD and circulated it to all of their U.S. instructors. Choi had a team of attorneys (changing them often), wealth, advice from former loyal chief instructors, all against one individual (me) who had no friends, no money and no car stranded in Cartersville, Georgia. They pursued me for five long years with many long battles. I fought every one of their battles, won each single one and eventually won the war.
My family and I suffered greatly during those times with Choi and his disciples spreading lies and false rumors everywhere. I stayed here in the United States determinated to prove my innocence and this also gave me the greatest opportunity to concentrate on developing the unique Koo Self Defense drills based upon my previous experience in other martial arts and cross training in other types of sports.
It took many of the CKD chief instructors years before they eventually discovered for themselves what I said to be true. Moreover, Choi went through the motion of suing me for libel knowing that he had no case whatsoever just to appease his instructors. After deposing many of his so-called witnesses, myself and Choi's himself twice, once in English which had to be stopped as he could no longer understand the English language after one and half hour of deposition and the second time with a Korean's attorney as an interpreter and still could not answer questions pertaining to my 24-page resignation letter. Choi's attorney finally dropped the libel suit against me after his second deposition.
Practically 99% of Choi Kwang Do original instructors, world masters and thousands of members have subsequently left CKD since then with amazing stories of their own experiences. To name a few: Master James Lim (Canada), Master Lam Sai Tow (Australia), Jim Wellsmore (Australia), Master Lee Seng Hock, (Singapore), Master C.S Chan (Chan Martial Arts, New Zealand), Master J.P Kwoo (UK), Henry Woodcock (UK), Gideon Hajioff (UK), Catherine Hall (UK), Terry Alexandrakos (Sweden/Greece), Kirk Foster (Saudi Arabia), Francisco Pinto (France), Master Sergio Barriga, Bob Lowery, Tommy Cho, Kelly Chandler, Larry Key, Richard Dellaripa, Eric Hennings, Bill Grizzard, Pete Pukish, Brian Hill, Rick Controy, Tommy Lee, Michael Cook, Denis Lantzer, Parviz Nikhoo, Kirk Robbins, Roger Wright, Van Ness, Bess Stenz, Hal Helfenbein, John Bishop, Pete Fennelly, Tom Street, Iris & Kenneth Harper, Tim Young (Michigan), Jim Myers (Michigan), Hank Thorn (Michigan), Gary WIlliams (Michigan), Paul Knipe (Maryland), Mr. BoBo (Alpharetta Studio, GA, 2003, his studio is now part of Joe Corley Karate in Alpharetta, GA), Mr. Cougar Milland, North Carolina, 2003), Mr. Piyush Khengar, UK 2003 and Mr Bruce Wood, Scotland, UK, 2003) and many more that I might not be aware of. More CKD instructors around the world continue to leave the organization to this day. CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED LIST FOR 2007. MORE THAN 40 CHIEF INSTRUCTORS HAVE LEFT THAN IN ALL OTHER PREVIOUS YEARS!
Choi has been issung franchise agreements with all the Michigan instructors in the State of Michigan up to 1991 wihthout even filing proper application for franchising in that state.
The unethical business and martial arts practices of Choi Kwang Do continues. Choi went into partnership with Master Woo Jing Jung and bought the CKD International Headquarters on Wade Green Rd. Master Jung paid the deposit of $100,000 for the building (court records will show that the building was in joint names when originally purchased). When Parviz Nikkhoo (one of my old student from the UK) came over to the United States with a few of his instructors and bought 3 studios from Choi for $250,000, Choi disolved his partnership and use part of the money he gained from the sale of the 3 studios to pay off Master Jung. When Parviz left Choi kwang Do, he contacted me and told me the story. Parviz told me that the studios were not worth the $250,000 that he paid for it (he was convinced that he was helping out the organization just like all of us were). He had a legal contract for the purchase of the 3 studios and managed to get some of his money back from Choi through legal actions. Parviz has now rejoined the International Tae Kwon Do Federation.
Master James Lim of Canada is still owed U.S $5,000 for a loan to Choi in 1991! Sergio Barriga put up $5,000 to send Choi and a group of black belts to Colorado State University for a first true scientific research which I organized in 1991 with one of my old student Andy Cornwell from the UK studying for his Master Degree in Sports Science and Biomechanics. Master Barriga has not been repaid that $5,000! Choi makes a claim that his art has been researched which is not true, he gets some people to make comments about it but no actual scientific tests has been conducted or publised except for the one that I organized back in 1991!
Choi Kwang Do has a policy that no one fails the colored and black belt tests. With declining memberships after 95% of their original instructors have left, they have added more belts between white to black belts, 18 belts in fact which means more test fees. Furthermore, they have added more tests with fees in-between black belts, go figure! At CKD testings, Choi preaches about martial arts tenets, Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control and Indomitable and yet does not adhere to them!
Be warned just like I have stated in my original 24 page resignation letter back in 1991, be weary of the unethical business practices of Choi Kwang Do. Marshall Pereira is no different, I used to bail him out of debt in the UK. He too make a lot of false promises.
Recent events in September and October 2001 that has occurred to Master Sergio Barriga, myself and in the United Kingdom has forced me to release my letter (24 pages) of resignation to Choi Kwang Do as well as a few others, click on the link to view. Click Here to read Master Koo plus other instructors
Master Koo's reply comments from a signed guestbook From Susan NagelMaster Koo - I've enjoyed reading your website. I don't understand why their is so much bitterness with Choi Kwang Do. All of that seemed to happen quite a while ago and you seem to be doing well. I have 2 friends training in CKD and I am considering joining as well (I've watched their classes and belt testings!) - You seem extremely bitter and unable to move on.
Best Wishes Sir!
Master Koo's response: On the contrary, I have moved on and continue to develop Koo Self Defense. Do not believe that what I have revealed are all in the pasts. There have been some very recent events as a couple of years ago and even recent ones.
Anyone would be bitter considering what they did to me and my family after I left Choi Kwang Do. Here a few examples. Choi and Marshall use other CKD chief instructors to do their dirty work. They fabricated a theft charge and got me arrested in an attempt to get me a felony charge so that I can be deported from the U.S. back in February 1991. We went to court and it was proven beyond a reasonable doubt through substantial evidence which they overlooked that it was all prefabricated on their part and the case was dismissed. Failing that, they attempted to stop my immigrant visa (December 1993) at the U.S. Embassy in London and they failed there too!
They incited all their former Chief Instructors here in Georgia to hate me so much that at one of their meeting that one of them brought a shotgun and said "let's go and kill Master Koo and his family." Many of these ex-Choi Kwang Do Chief Instructors, I have personally forgiven and they have revealed a lot of details to me since then.
Read all of the other resignation letters from other ex-Chief Instructors of Choi Kwang Do, maybe you will understand. After exposing Kwang Jo Choi for what he is in 1991, you would have thought he would stop there. He continued with others, scamming them to this day, bleeding them as much of their money as he could until they are fed up and leave. They would like everyone to leave quietly and make no wave in order to move onto the next one and so forth.
Choi Kwang Do used to have 12 belt levels to Black Belt. Now they have 18 belts' levels and it would cost you $55.00 each time you take a test ready or not, they want you to test. Pay your money and get your belt as you will never fail as it is their policy never to fail anyone regardless of their performance (I mentioned that in my resignation letter in 1991). This policy has never changed here in Georgia to this day. Moreover, they introduced more tests between Black Belt with more test fees attached. Currently they have an accelerated program to get to Black Belts, especially producing new assistant instructors and Chief Instructors quickly in order to open more new studios. They charge around $75.00 for these courses and you have to buy instructors uniform and teach for FREE!
Like fitness centers around the country who uses high pressure sales tactics to sell contracts, Choi Kwang Do is employing these same tactics. Their assistant/chief instructors are being taught how to overcome every single objection that one would raise so that they can get a contract signed. After that whether you turn up for training or not, you are obligated to pay. The more contracts sold, the merrier.
Recently at their 15th anniversary, they were getting students to take photographs with Kwang Jo Choi and then the students/parents get presented a bill of $35.00 for each photo? They come out with news way for getting more money from their students.
Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world. There are many scandals which have been exposed such as Watergate, Clintongate, Enron and so forth. There are people in this world who are brave enough to expose great injustices, scams and corruptions. There are also lots of people who see things and are too afraid to reveal for their own personal reasons. For example, there are hundreds, if not thousands of girls and women being raped at any given time around this world, the vast majority are too ashamed to reveal what has occurred to them or do not want the ordeal to go to court and face immense emotional trauma.
Choi Kwang Do is not the only martial art's organization in the world that has this problem. There are others out there, some are on the Internet and others have yet to be revealed. There are lots of businesses running all sorts of scams out there, and we hear them on the news all the time!
Martial arts teach Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, Indomitable Spirit as well as other character traits. We are supposed to set a good example to the children and after reading what others and I have exposed, do you think that Choi Kwang Do is a good role model!
Now, as to why I created Koo Self Defense, I discovered over the years that in all of the previous martial arts organizations that I have been in, a lot of 'hype' exists in all of their claims what martial arts and self defense systems will teach you.
With my previous experiences in various martial arts, I developed Koo Self Defense by changing EVERYTHING and ELIMINATING:
Forms (Katas)
Blocks
All traditional stances
Punching from the hips
Rotating the fist when punching
Lockout Punches/Kicks
High Jumping Kicks
Bare feet Training
Punching and Kicking in the "air" to "perfect" techniques
Traditional martial arts uniform
Pre-Arranged Sparring ie: 3,2,1 Step Sparring
Free Sparring
Tournaments/Competition
Less emphasis on BELTS
Thousands of movements that cannot be used on the streets
All colored belts testings
Bowing (except at beginning & end of class)
Oath and Pledges
To find out what Koo Self Defense's unique training curriculum entails, read this web site especially my article, (updated periodically as KSD's training program is evolving constantly) which explains it all.
Master Roger Koo
Why Koo Self Defense puts a lot of emphasis on FITNESS.
Like any Olympic Sport, to be the best, one has to be in top physical shape through intense cardiovascular workouts so that the body can be push to its ultimate limit. In the sport of Boxing, the boxers endure harsh physical training such as jump rope, running/sprinting, heavy bag workouts, mitt sparring workouts, sparring, weight training plus much more activities that pertain to their sport. Yet in actual championship fights, you often see exhausted boxers.
Koo Self Defense's unique training shares the same philosophy as all other Olympic & Professional Sports. To develop all round physical fitness, a workout MUST incorporate different level of cardiovascular activities.
Is Koo Self Defense suited for everyone?
Koo Self Defense's workout is designed for everyone regardless of age, physical condition or previous injuries sustained in other sports. New beginners are reminded to train within their physical limitation and to gradually build up their stamina and endurance.
At the International Headquarters studio in Cartersville, Metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have a group of men who are above 50 years of age and women in the 40 years age groups who are fitter than new beginners joining our studio as teenagers or young adults!
Sample from our Guestbook:Guestbook Record 53Name: Jerry L. OutleyWebsite: Referred by: Just Surfed On InFrom: Phoenix ArizonaTime: 2000-06-09 11:30:44Comments: Master Koo, I just wanted to let you know that I received my video tapes on Friday the 27th of May. All I can say is AWSOME!!! I am more than impress with what I have seen and practised. I can not get enough. I intend to work with each tape for a month or more, until I build myself up to the standards that you set in your web site. Thank your for sharing your knowledge with me. I will work hard on what you put in the tapes and stay in touch. I'll write again soon.
Guestbook Record 51Name: Jerry L. OutleyWebsite: Referred by: Just Surfed On InFrom: Phoenix, ArizonaTime: 2000-05-16 17:24:03Comments: My name is Jerry L. Outley. I am very interested in your program. I do not believe that there is a KSD school in Phoenix Arizona, but I would like to study your style. I am a 44 year old male and have studied martial arts for the pass 25 years. I have blacks belts in Okinawan karate, Tae Kwon Do, Ying Lung Hsing Gung Fu, Kenpo karate and I teach Yang style Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing I Chuan, and Pa Kua Chang. Although I have experience in all these arts, I still feel that there is something missing. From reading your web site, I think that you may have that something that I have been searching for all these years of practise. If your training method is as effective as stated, I would be very interested in becoming a part of your origanization. Possibilly teaching the KSD style here in the Phoenix area. I would also like to know if there is anyone out here in the Phoenix area (like myself) who maybe training at home using the KSD video tape series please let me know. Hopefully we can get together and improve our skills. Maybe even get something started here in Phoenix Arizona. Thank you for all your time, help, and concideration on this matter. I hope to hear from you again soon. Your New Student, Jerry L. Outley