Dynamic Self Defense International

The Modern Martial Art

HISTORY OF DYNAMIC SELF DEFENSE

In Korea, a famous military General, Choi Hong Hi, founded one of today's more popular martial arts.  He had trained in Karate, Kwon Bup (Kempo) and is said to have trained in a native Korean art called Tae Kyon.  With the help of many other prominent Korean master instructors, he consolidated various Japanese-based, Korean arts under the name Tae Kwon Do (meaning "the art of kicking and punching") in 1955.  General Choi’s promotional efforts, combined with Tae Kwon Do's high, flashy kicking techniques have made this art popular throughout the world.

In the early 1960’s, a talented young Master of Kwon Bup named Kwang Jo Choi met General Choi, (no relation) and joined his organization called the International Tae Kwon Do Federation (ITF).  Master Kwang Jo Choi excelled at Tae Kwon Do, and contributed to its spread throughout Indonesia, Australia, Canada and eventually the United States.

Since his youth, Master Choi challenged many of the traditional ideas and training methods of Kempo, Karate, and Tae Kwon Do.  In his search for a more practical approach to Martial Arts, Master Choi left the ITF in 1978.  Four years later, he went on to found his own system of Tae Kwon Do in Atlanta Georgia.  This system was called Kwang Duk Kwan (Great School of the Enlightened Way).  It later became Kwang Duk Do (Great Art of the Enlightened Way,) and finally became Choi Kwang Do (Art of Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi) in 1987.

Grandmaster Choi developed a martial art light years ahead of his time by emphasizing practical skills based on his study of biomechanics and kinesiology.  He was, and still is to this day, considered to be one of the worlds greatest martial artists.

Grandmaster Choi’s quest for better and more effective technique is a common phenomenon in the evolution of martial arts.  As Choi Kwang Do evolved, this influence again manifested itself in the organization's Technical Director, Master Robert Lowrey, and Assistant Technical Director, Master Eric Hennings.  They had trained with Grandmaster Choi since the early 1980's, but felt it was time to develop an even further improved martial system.  They left the Choi Kwang Do organization and founded Modern Defense Martial Art on May 26, 1997.

Gideon Hajioff, who had become the technical officer for Choi Kwang Do in the U.K., left the Choi organization in 1988 to found Dynamic Self Defense with a group of dedicated instructors.  He now has several successful schools throughout the U.K.

On January 1, 2006, Master Lowrey and Master Hajioff joined forces to form Dynamic Self Defense International (DSDI).  The DSDI founders’ objective is to move away from the politics, commercialism and cultural indoctrination inherent to many of today’s martial arts and to return to the original objectives of ancient martial arts: holistic health, practical self-defense, and character development.