Chun Kuk Do

Chun Kuk Do

Also known as	CKD
Focus	Hybrid
Country of origin	United States
Creator	Chuck Norris
Famous practitioners	Chuck Norris, Richard Norton, Bob Wall, Howard Jackson, Aaron Norris
Parenthood	Tang Soo Do, Judo, Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Official website	Official Site for Chun Kuk Do

Chun Kuk Do (Hangul: 천국도; Hanja: 春谷道, CKD) is a Korean-based, American hybrid martial art style. Founded in 1990 by Chuck Norris, CKD evolved from Tang Soo Do and combines elements from several different fighting styles. "Chun Kuk Do" is Korean and is loosely translated as "The Universal Way." ^[1] Norris began learning Tang Soo Do while serving in the Air Force^[2] in Korea after he joined in 1958. Norris later trained in various other styles under some of the most respected instructors in the United States. These instructors included Tang Soo Do instructor Shin Jae Chul, Shotokan Karate masters Tsutomu Ohshima and Hidetaka Nishiyama, Shitō-ryū Karate instructor Fumio Demura, American Kenpo Karate founder Ed Parker, Judo expert Gene LeBell, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legends the Machado family and Jeet kune do founder Bruce Lee, a famous actor and martial artist who starred alongside Norris in Way of the Dragon.

Each summer the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF) holds a training conference and the Chun Kuk Do world championship tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada.^[3]

Code of honor

Like many other martial arts, Chun Kuk Do includes a code of honor and rules to live by. These rules are from Chuck Norris' personal code. They are:^[4]

1. I will develop to the maximum of my potential.
2. I will forget the mistakes of the past, and press on to greater achievements.
3. I will continually work at developing love, happiness, and loyalty to my family.
4. I will look for the good in everyone, and make them feel worthwhile.
5. If I have nothing good to say about a person, I will say nothing.
6. I will always be as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
7. I will maintain an attitude of open-mindedness.
8. I will maintain respect for those in authority, and demonstrate this respect at all times.
9. I will always remain loyal to my God, my country, my family, and my friends.
10. I will remain highly goal-oriented throughout my life; a positive attitude helps my family, my country and myself.

Forms

Like most traditional martial arts, Chun Kuk Do includes the practice of forms (Korean hyung and Japanese kata). The majority of the system’s forms are adapted from Korean Tang Soo Do and traditional Japanese karate, but also includes two organization-specific introductory forms, two organization-specific empty-hand forms, and one organization-specific weapon form (UFAF Bo Form).^[5][6]

• Giecho Hyung Il Bu (similar to Taikyoku from which it is derived)
• Giecho Hyung Il Bu Sang Gup (an organization-specific introductory form)
• Giecho Hyung Yi Bu
• Giecho Hyung Yi Bu Sang Gup (an organization-specific introductory form)
• Giecho Hyung Sahm Bu
• Pyong An Cho Dan (based on the Pinan series from Shotokan karate)
• Pyong An Yi Dan
• Pyong An Sah Dan
• Pyong An Oh Dan
• Bassai
• Koon Sang Koon
• Jion
• UFAF Form 1 (an organization-specific empty-hand form)
• UFAF Form 2 (an organization-specific empty-hand form)
• UFAF Bo Form (an organization-specific weapon form)

Schools

The United Fighting Arts Federation has graduated over 3,000 black belts in its history, and currently has nearly 3,000 active members world-wide.^[7]

There are about 90 member schools in the USA, Mexico, Norway, and Paraguay. Growth is currently taking place in South America and Europe, and the list of countries where CKD is represented is expected to grow significantly in the near future. The UFAF also has individual members around the world in the military or residing in other countries.

References