Hello, my name is Jason Bowen.  I am 30 years old and a Chief Instructor and Third Degree Black Belt in Choi Kwang Do.  I began my martial arts journey back on July 19th, 1995 in Lawrenceville, Ga.  I remember it so vividly because my life has not been the same since that day.  Originally, I was told to begin some sort of exercise program "besides lifting weights" by my doctor.  At the age of 21yrs old I was WELL ON MY WAY to being on high blood pressure medicine for the rest of my short life.  The owner of the school was (now Master) Marshall Pereira the Head Instructor at Choi Kwang Do, Wade Green, a.k.a. Choi Kwang Do World Headquarters.  From the first class that I observed that afternoon back in 1995 I became a learning machine.  I knew that I had found my martial arts destiny and at the end of my first year of Choi and I had reduced my blood pressure by 20 points. 

 

By the time one year had passed, not only had I been trained by Grand Master Choi himself and his "Right Hand" Master Pereira, I was already certified as a Chief Instructor and a Bo Dan Black Belt.  I was training and teaching 5 days per week and many times teaching 3-5 classes per day.  When Grand Master Choi changed all of the patterns in CKD (Choi Kwang Do)  to incorporate the "dodging" for the first time, it was my opportunity to put a serious foot forward in the Lawrenceville Choi Kwang Do Super School.  Those new patterns were introduced in March of that year, but it was actually the next year before all of the schools would make the switch to the new Black Belt Patterns.  During Christmas break I learned EVERY one of those black belt patterns so that I would be ahead of the curve.  It DEFINITELY paid off.  Not long after that I was a 1st Degree Black Belt and Head Instructor under Master Pereira teaching those new patterns to ALL of the black belts, even the ones ranked much higher than myself. 

 

My rate of progression has slowed down since those days due to the normal peaks and valleys of a young man's life.  In April of 2003 I got married to my wife Nicole.  As I happily settled into that part of my life I decided it was time I got back to CKD.  As fate would have it, my return brought me to a school that greatly resembled the school where I began my journey.  Choi Kwang Do, Buford is run by Forth Degree Black Belt, Chuck Gettig and his wife, 1st Degree Black Belt, Jennifer Gettig.  Mr. Gettig was very patient and understanding of the difficulty involved in getting back into the swing of things after you've been away.  I will always be indebted to him.  He was in the first class I EVER witnessed back in Lawrenceville and therefore is a big reason I began this journey. It is that relationship with he and his wife that is even more reason why I came back to my Martial Arts home.

 

On June 1st, 2004 I opened Choi Kwang Do, Duluth inside of the American Sportsplex which is a fitness center located in the heart of Duluth.  In March of 2005 I tested for my 3rd Degree Black Belt.  This took place in front of the eyes of my original instructor Master Pereira and the inventor of the GREATEST MARTIAL ART IN THE HISTORY OR FUTURE OF THE WORLD...GRAND MASTER KWANG JO CHOI!!!     As for the rest...I hope to have AT LEAST this much of a wonderful experience in Choi Kwang Do over the NEXT 10yrs and beyond.  Pil Sung!

 

Choi Kwang Do Duluth is located at 2785 Buford Hwy. Suite 103B, Duluth, GA 30096. For info call 678-474-0500 or email Martlart2@aol.com