Before I get to the next bit about the Australian Seminar Series 2005, let me first cover one rumour that went about, spread from "Marshall."

I received two phone calls from Australian Instructors, they both in passing, as they were'nt getting straight to the point, making a point that I shouldn't have hung up on "Marshall." I SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT.

Why did I hang up on him, I asked: "he didn't say." Of course he didn't say, all he told them was that he had called me, and I had been disrespfectful to a 6th DAN who was 2IC, and had hung up on him.

I believe at this stage, I would say "Janelle" wants to talk to you, and woulod pass the phone over, knowing that my blood was starting to boil. The guy was not God, and it was my phone, and I could choose to answer it, hang it up, or ignore it, all to my little heart's content. Despite the fact that he was the CKDMAI 2IC, despite the fact that he had been awarded a 6th Degree Black Belt, didn't give him the right to taunt and tease me, and I told him that if he kept it up, that I would hang up on him, and true to my word, I did.

If he was truthful, he would have filled them in about my talk to "Linda," and his subsequent "apology" phone call.

Next: Australian Seminar Series 2005... Here we introduce you to some new names to the series, ones that are like "Lindsay," "Kane," and a few others...

"Marshall" rang, like we did. Apparently Choi wanted to come to Australia to run an Australian Seminar (oh, and sell some books), and I was to work with "Bruce" & "Barry" to get it organised. This should be easy. I'd already organised the last Australian Seminar in Cairns, and knowing that it was the largest that has been, still to this date, this was to be a piece of cake.

Although, with "Barry" in the picture now, everything started to get harder. We would agree on something, and then "Barry" would talk to "Bruce" who would convince him of something else, like hey, let's hold the seminar in Melbourne. There's 7 students there, and over 400 in North Queensland, makes perfect sense... NOT!

This time was the make-or-break time. From my chats with "Marshall" I'd told him that I wasn't happy, and was considering pulling my schools out of CKDMAI. Amazingly, I was "expelled" about the same time. The chicken or the egg. That's the question. At this stage I couldn't give a damn about CKDMAI. All the bullying phone calls, the lies and gossip, the false documents. Oh, the false documents...

I received my official "you have been expelled" email from CKDMAI. The summary is on ksdi.net site with my lawyer's written response to CKDMAI. they asked me to send it, and wait for a reply. Nothing. I rang and talked to "Marshall," who openly said "I'm not responding to that. You'll sue me." Wow, almost admission that it was incorrect and untruthful.

Not to be left alone, "Bruce" also received a copy of the "expulsion" email, and to make sure that everyone knew, forwarded it to every single school owner in Australia and New Zealand.

The chats started with "Marshall," who refused to comment. He blamed the "Rules & Regulations Commitee." At one point, I rang, and he was going into a meeting with the Rules & Regulations Committee. I had another instructor wait 10 minutes, and then talk to him, what was he doing? He was downstairs watching a Movie. Some meeting. Why lie?

Interesingly enough, of those listed on the rules & regulations commitee, and having them quote "you owe" (whatever we owed), it was intersesting that this was point number 1 of 3. You'd think that as "Linda" was on this "Rules & Regulations Commitee" that she would have informed "Marshall" and "Kristof" that regarding the outstanding debt, we had a verbal agreement that we'd reached two weeks prior. Funny, I asked Linda about the expulsion, and she said that she didn't know about it, and I asked "Marshall" about the verbal agreement we had with "Linda," and he didn't know anything about it. Now, had the Rules & Regulations Committee actually got together and talked openly and honestly, they would have known this.

It was apparent, that the document was made to look real, but was merely a smokescreen... More in the next email, about the smokescreen, and how "Marshall" played "Barry" and "Bruce" against "Janelle" and the little games they played, including the CKD Forum in Cairns!

The message that kept appearing from CKDMAI's IP Address, is located at www.choikwangdo.com.au/information/choi.jpg for anyone interested in the message that was put on my website's guestbook every day for about 4 weeks, until I changed the Guestbook to a "Moderated" one that allowed only acceptable messages through.

The message covered the basics of:

"My Name is Rod Cook." Although I never wrote this email, it was eventually sent to most CKDMAI Instructors around the world, from CKD HQ, as if I actually wrote it. I never even said the stuff in the email.

"a couple of my family members died, by best friend comitted suicide." Yes, during the previous 12 months, my father had died suddenly. It was a real shock. In the same vane as Peter Wake's shock death. It was not the easiest thing to cope with, as it was sudden and unexpected. Around the same time, one of my friends did commit suicide.

Also, this was a shock, especially since I was the one left to tell his parents. Despite this, ridiculung it by CKDMAI was really not appreciated or acceptable. I am unsure how "Choi" found this acceptable, or whether he did not know what "Marshall" & "Kristof" were up to. "Choi" always promoted himself as a "Christian," so I couldn't work out how this ridicule & taunting from the CKD HQ was acceptable under Christian Beliefs & Ethics.

I assume that Karen Wake certainly would not have had to endure taunting by CKDMAI after her husband's death if she was stressed out and was not coping well. I found the taunting unacceptable, especially since the IP was the actual IP address from CKDMAI HQ.

My personal life has no relevance of business with CKDMAI. If it does not affect the organisation, then it is none of their business, at all.

The rest of the message was just complete garbage, and not worth commenting on, as I did not write it.

CKDMAI has no right, whatsoever, to

a) make up email messages from their clients/ex-clients,

b) distribute false information to School Owners or on the Internet

c) ridicule or taunt people for any reason.


I know that the information they used in this and other correspondence was given by some of my ex-Students and ex-Staff members that have lost the aim of the Martial Arts in terms of becoming better people in society, by following the Pledge, Promise & Tenets.

We live in a small town. The time when we keep on running into each other will be often. I can hold my head up high knowing that I have not made the whole thing personal. I may point the finger for wrongdoings, I certainly admit mine, but never make it personal. I see the people associated with them scurry off in shopping centres, develop tunnel-vision and scamper away. To live with shame and guilt, anger and resentment, must be hard, whilst weekly reciting the Pledge "to promote friendly relationships amongst all people" knowing that is exactly what they're NOT doing. My school's doors are always open for you to drop in for a coffee and a chat. I sleep well at night harbouring no anger, a lot of dissapointment, but nothing personal.

But hey, it get's better. This was the first of many digs at me in my Guestbook by CKDMAI. The organisation was overstepping boundaries, and had lost the ideas of COURTESY, INTEGRITY...

The situation was getting sloppy & messy. CKDMAI HQ were leaving all types of derogatory messages on our Guestbook. Our Lawyer was having a heap of fun at our expense.

The games played by CKDMAI were interesting...

"Janelle" took over the school. She officially informed CKDMAI that she was taking over the two schools, Earlville & Smithfield, and that I had stepped aside. This apparently threw the cat amongst the pigeons.

Apparently "Barry," "Lindsay" & "Kane" were working on opening a new Cairns school. "Barry" was furious when "Janelle" informed him of our decision. He said "WELL I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THAT" and hung up on her.

In the meantime, enter "Kwang Jo Choi" into the picture. Quite a few Instructors, and not just in Australia, were kicking up a stink because of the "expulsion." Most were given a timeslot and asked to talk to "Choi" and give their side of the story. It didn't make any difference, as I don't believe that "Choi" has a handle on what's going on, and the political aspirations and power of "Marshall." Anyway they all wasted their money calling CKDMAI HQ. If it weren't for me, there would be no school in Cairns, no school in Melbourne, no school in Tasmania. And through my continual encouragement and support, there probably wouldn't be schools in Perth & in the Northern Territory either.

"Janelle" took over the school, because "Marshall" told us that all we had to do was apologise for the BAD ETIQUETTE, and the "expulsion" would be revoked...."simple" he said. Simple. I sent one. It can be viewed at www.choikwangdo.com.au/information/apology.doc. Nice and simple. Except, "Bruce" was apparently not happy with the apology, and wanted another one specifically naming him. An apology is an apology. Remember back to an earlier message, when I asked for an apology from "Bruce" for his breach of the CKDMAI Affiliate Agreement and the Freedom of Information Act (Australia) for sharing private and confidential information with all the Australian & New Zealand Instructors? Nothing came through. At least I had the strength to swallow pride and do one. Still waiting for "Bruce's" apology.

Then came the CKDMAI "Seminar Series 2005" in Townsville, North Queensland with "Choi" and "Pereira" in town...

Mr King, the guy I introduced to CKD again since Master Lam Sai Thow left the CKDMAI organisation, taking his students on a journey into his own style, named YAU HAWK TAO. Mr King was the "EE CHOONG WAI", or "2nd Master" to Master Lam, pretty much the same way "Marshall" is the 2nd Master of CKD to "Choi."

Mr King had moved from one side of Australia to the other, and wanted to start again, but decided he liked the old CKD way, so he contacted CKDMAI via email. No response. He did it again. No response. Finally, he contacted me, and I took "Janelle" and we lobbed at his house and practiced patterns, speed drills and the like all weekend. Train, train, train. Loved our training and couldn't get enough. I then sent his details to CKDMAI, and he was admitted as a School Owner. CKD Launceston.

Mr King, after the too-ing and fro-ing from CKDMAI and "Bruce" and "Barry," had booked to fly into Cairns to attend the seminar, but because "Marshall" had decided they'd just hold it in Townsville, had to get from Cairns to Townsville. A four hour drive, that I offered to take him on. His idea was to attend the Instructor training session with "Choi," and then return to Cairns the next day, do a quick teaching seminar in our school, and fly home.

Let me just say, that in all my time in CKD, and attending seminars and training sessions in the USA and Australia, and meeting some of the Instructors from around the world, Mr King is the ONLY CKD student that I have ever met that moves EXACTLY like "Choi." Not almost, but EXACTLY. The guy has more talent in his little finger than I posess in my whole body. He's, like one of his students say on our website, JUST AWESOME.

We drove down to Townsville, to drop him at the door of "Bruce's" school for the AI training session. An excellent reception all round. Everyone in the doorway cleared like a bomb had gone off, and the administrative lady there came over and stood in the doorway like, that Mr Cook IS NOT COMING IN HERE!! I had no intention or interest in going in. I'd promised a friend that I'd drop him off, and that I did. I then went down to "the Strand" (beach) and sat on the sand eating an ice cream. Lo & behold, something was brewing... Something sinister was up.

You see, we had passed "Barry" on the way out. We smiled and drove down to the Strand. Barry gathered all the Assistant Instructors and Instructors around and informed them that :



Here I am, eating an ice cream, and still somehow causing trouble!! Just can't win!! Who ever gave this man any power and authority to speak rubbish should be ashamed of themselves. I'm certainly not shy when it comes to making a stand, and if I wanted to, no administrative assistant would have stopped me, but hey, what a waste of my time and energy that would have been. Ice cream is more enjoyable, anyway.

Waited the couple of hours, and returned and parked out the side of the building waiting for Mr King to return. Meanwhile, in the bat cave, I mean, inside, the lights were on, and you could see everything clearly from the outside. Big brave "Marshall" saw us arrive, and went over to the window to peer through to see what we looked like. Big fangs, blood dripping off our teeth. Hardly, we were waiting for our friend.

The session finished. 8001 photos of everyone and everything with "Choi" and "Marshall" later, and Mr King finally arrived at the car. So too, many of my ex-students and people that I had known for years, walked past, tunnel vision, not even looking at us as they went past. So much for courtesy. So much for "promote friendly relations amongst all people." It appears, you only are friendly to those in the fold, not those outside of it. I couldn't have cared, but it seems a little hyprocritical to say you believe in something, recite it in each class, and do the EXACT OPPOSITE.

We drove Mr King back to his brother's house, stayed the night after eating at a lovely South African Restaurant, and returned home the next day.

Guess who dropped of the "Schools" listing on CKDMAI's website?? Yes, you guessed it, Mr King's school had dissapeared. Gone. He couldn't log in to the system. He emailed them. A few days, no reply. He emailed them again after another few days, no reply. He rang and left a message. No reply.

He was kicked out of CKDMAI because he chooses his friends first, before his martial arts style. I personally find it disturbing that anyone, believes that they have a right to kick someone out because he chose to spend time with his friends, instead of doing the punches to IL DAN, Kicks to IL DAN, Patterns to IL DAN same every time seminar with "Choi".

I'm really disgusted that they'd do that to someone without any reason or explanation.

I'm really disgusted that Instructors of CKD in Australia turned a blind eye to it, and never took a stand. Friendly relationships my butt.

I'm really disgusted that CKDMAI has this power over it's Instructors that they're scared to say anything, just in case they get kicked out, and have "nothing." Although there's a squillion options for ex-CKD Instructors and Schools out there.

I'm really disgusted that a guy with more talent in his butt than I'd ever have in 8 lifetimes, is so expendable, and doesn't even get a reason, an explanation, he received ZIP!

Remember, all this started because "Barry" and "Bruce" lied to "Marshall" who in turn ran with it, and the problem and the lies just got bigger and bigger.

Rather than face the truth and admit mistake, took it and became nasty and vindictive, I suppose like a fox in a burrow. Rather than come out and take the bone, comeout and go at the one holding the bone, not because you could or should, but because you can.

What started with a lie was getting bigger and bigger. Next stop - Cairns and the CKD Forum with "Marshall" "Bruce" "Barry" "Lindsay" "John" and future school owner "Mark" taking a stand...all in the name of "COURTESY" "INTEGRITY" and "promote friendly relations amongst all people."

A "CKD Forum" was advertised in the Cairns local newspaper. Before I get into it, let me go through some of the players in the game.

"Marshall" is the name we have called a player from CKDMAI.

"Bruce" is the guy that we introduce as having "political" interest on the situation, believing that as an ex-Board Member that he has a right to stick his nose into other people's schools' businesses. Being an ex-Instructor of mine, somehow makes it seem like he has some connection or power over me.

"Barry" is the misled pawn in the game, that's being played like an expendable chess piece. Took over my school at "Gordonvale" in North Queensland, and has been trying to shut me down for quite some time. Has forgotten about the principles he apparently teaches, COURTESY, INTEGRITY..."promote friendly relations amongst al people."

"Lindsay" is someone who used to work for me, a nice guy but someone who could not seperate "personal" from "professional" between my school as a business, and me as a person. Unfortunately, he left on a sour note, and didn't discuss his options, just made statements and left. Now runs a school in a south Cairns suburb called "Edmonton" with a few of my ex-Students.

"John" is someone who is a talented martial artist. Obviously loves what he does in CKD, but someone who seems afraid to come to terms with some of his wrongdoings to others, whether intentional or unintentional. Runs a school near "Bruce" in another town.

"Mark" is the future Instructor, living in a small Cane Farming town near Cairns, he and his wife are listed as the school owners for "Christchurch" in New Zealand. When Master K-J dropped off the CKDMAI school's listing for NZ, all of a sudden, "Christchurch" appeared. Their website was created, yet they live in a town south of Cairns, in Australia. "Mark" like the others in Barry's school, have been mislead by the "Marshall" and "Bruce" propoganda machine, to say and do things that in any area of life, people would find offensive and often illegal, yet somehow, it's Kosher to do it in the name of "Internationally Affiliated" CKD.

There's a few more players, but we'll get to them soon. The saga continues, when Marshall and his "lie machine" hit town for the "CKD Forum"...

Advertised as a CKD Forum, to be held at a local high school auditorium, by the new "Regional Examiner" and "Marshall."

Remember the humble beginnings of this thread with the strategies by "Marshall" "Barry" "Bruce" & "Lindsay"...



The fabricated correspondence that "Marshall" refused to comment on, because he thought we'd sue him, despite the fact that it was unsubstantiated and incorrect, was distributed by suit-wielding CKD Instructors at the CKD forum to some of my students, and anyone else that went along.

This certainly was not a CKD Forum as such, but an "Anti-Rod Cook Rally" in the name of Choi Kwang-Do. Certainly an organisation that promotes the betterment of individuals, and promotes COURTESY, INTEGRITY, PERSEVERANCE, SELF-CONTROL, INDOMITABLE SPIRIT, "TO TELL THE TRUTH AND HONOR MY WORD," "TO ALWAYS BE POLITE," "TO PROMOTE FRIENDLY RELATIONS AMONGST ALL PEOPLE" would not publically bag someone, all in the name of promoting something that's good for people, let alone use FALSE and MISLEADING information about them, without giving them the opportunity to be there and defend themselves, knowing what it was about.

Unfortunately, the Forum did have an affect on a few families, who were mislead into believing the false information. Their children's training foundations now lie in lies and deception, falsety and ignorance. None of the attendees had the courtesy to make a time to talk to me about it, which tells me that they'd rather believe a lie than the truth.

Thinking about their kid's futures and that of what you're promoting to them as life skills, I feel it's quite far out there, but their choice I suppose. "Son, you're going there because despite Mr Cook teaching you for ther last few years, despite him pushing you to do better at school academically, despite him taking an interest in your mental growth as well, despite him encouraging you through a homework program to better yourselves, to read books with the Book Reading Program, to try to further your personal development, we'll have you taught by someone who is providing misleading information around town."

The Forum concluded with a meeting in "Marshall's" hotel room. The aim, to "shut down Rod Cook." Great aim. Shows that after teaching CKD and providing financial benefits as a School Owner with CKDMAI since 1999, that I was now expendable, as they would try to get the financial benefits from someone else, and try to run me down in the meantime.

The goals at the Hotel Meeting with "Bruce" "Marshall" "Barry" "Lindsay" "Kane" and "Ken"...

1. To close down Rod Cook's schools
2. To saturate the market around Rod Cook's schools, open a club every 5 kms or so, to draw students out of his school.
3. To have satellite schools all over Cairns, so that Rod Cook couldn't start up again.

COURTESY?

INTEGRITY?

"PROMOTE FRIENDLY RELATIONS AMONGST ALL PEOPLE"???

The "Forum" promoted nothing but hatred, mistrust and negativity. In all my years as a student of the Martial Arts, and as an Instructor of the Martial Arts, I have never seen an organisation, that talks the talk, but not walk the walk, do anything so devious, illegal and wrong as this.

What's just as bad, CKDMAI Instructors from around Australia, heard what was going on and turned a blind eye to it. Friends, people we've known for years, just walked away, scared for their own futures in the Art, just turned and left us. All in the name of "International" CKD.

It sickens me to think of the years of hard work and dedication that I put into CKDMAI, only to not just be slapped in the face by them, but to be lied about, to be slandered, and to be ridiculed, all over false and misleading information prepared by "Marshall" and emailed out by "Kristof."

What comes next, is the Lawyer's bit. Yes, our Lawyers were pushing for us to have "Marshall" tied up in Court and charged for breach of the Privacy of Information Act and for knowingly distributing False Advertising, whilst he was here, but I declined, as I felt it wasn't in the spirit of the Martial Arts.

Had I known that the "CKD Forum" was to be an "Anti-Rod Cook Rally" I would have pursued it. On an up-side, I hear September 2006 is looking good for it.

All this started from a lie, a lie to CKDMAI, and now a lie from CKDMAI. The lie just keeps getting bigger.

Next... what the Lawyers had to say...

I have just re-read this bit. Appears I had left a school or two out. Sorry.

If it weren't for my direct involvement and promotions over the years, there would be/have been no schools in:

CAIRNS "central": Contains a swag of my ex-students that have been fed lies and deceiptful information. Owned by "Barry," it is run a few nights by an ex-Staff member of mine, "Kane" who got his start through my school, before doing the "me" "me" "me" thing and going off the rails, burning bridges as he went.

EDMONTON: Contains a swag of my ex-students also. Run by "Lindsay" who got his start through my school as well. "Lindsay" couldn't seperate "personal" from "professional" and left burning bridges as he went.

GORDONVALE: I started Gordonvale school. When "Barry" took it over, it was well established and people were used to it.

MELBOURNE: Just when Mr Toh wanted to chuck it in, I went to Melbourne, trained with him, and encouraged him to keep on going. I had hand painted a CKD Flag, and presented it to him. It spurred him back on, and he's stil going in CKD till this day.

TASMANIA: Mentioned in a previous message, I got Mr King back into CKD after his days with Master Lam Sai Thow had ended. In a previous message, you will see that he was "expelled" from CKDMAI, for having friends.


Then there's...


NORTHERN TERRITORY: I first met the Banks in 2001 at the CKD Headquarters. They were encouraged to come and start a school in Australia. I have encouraged them before coming, and whilst they have been here. I am unsure that without the encouragement that they'd still have a full-time school today. Unfortunately as friends, they seem to have turned their backs on us, or are just scared to associate with us.


PERTH: I actually haven't met Mr Doney, but our email chats go back a few years, to me encouraging him to open a school in Australia. I am unsure whether he would be in Australia running a school without my encouragement. Unfortunately, he too has turned his back on us. Not too long ago, I put a message saying hi and hoping things were ok in his school on his guestbook, which he removed. Sad. To be scared to associate with someone, because of your hobby.


When I first started my school, there was "Kirwan" school in Townsville. Mr Maiolo and Mr Taylor had left by that stage, and there was ONE school. I put in a lot of hard work, encouragement, flights, to help build CKD in Australia.

All this, to be branded as ...



Bad children.

Bad children spent tens of thousands of dollars each year promoting the art of CKD in my area.

Bad children have a current membership base that CKDMAI want to tap into, and will do so through lies and deception, by spreading false information.

Bad children have things made up about them, unsubstantiated, and spread about them.

and



Evil People.

Evil people are apparently the ones questioning and stating what CKDMAI has done to people.

Evil people obviously ask questions that CKDMAI does not like.

Evil people obviously fell short of someone's mark at CKDMAI, and have been thrown out with the trash.


and




Spring Cleaning.

Spring cleaning is done when you fall into a lie, and cannot get back out of it.

Spring cleaning is done when you think you can make more money out of some other people. "Marshall" called "Barry" "the next mover and shaker."

Spring cleaning is done when CKDMAI loses focus and grip on it's core people, forgetting what they had achieved for them.

Spring cleaning is done when you have 2nd generation instructors to get rid of the original dead wood.



The exorcism is complete.

The Evil Bad Children have been Spring Cleaned out of CKDMAI.

Next... What the Lawyers were saying...

Anyways, I don't mean to demotivate you or anthing. Your stories are outstanding; meaning, you should receive a noble prize for all of your work.
I have learned an enormous amount of history from you and I continue to learn more each day. Learning is good for my health and it makes me a better person. I have been learning the true identity behind Master Periera; thus, it helps me understand what conspiracies have been going on with ckdmai/australia.

Anyways, good luck, keep it up. That other forum went nowhere with the ckd Hq, and I think the the ckd hq will never respond towards such questions. Other than that, I have no where my life is going anymore. Furthermore, I hope you can change ckd forever. Other than that, fight the power, may the force be with you. Pil Sung Spirit; the spirit within all of us with the power of Integrity.

The Lawyers were having a field day. Everytime they'd finish their "Letter to Cease & Desist" and their "Letter of Demands" something else would pop up. The Lawyers suggested having "Marshall" served as he got off the plane and take it to court straight away, but I thought that whilst he was here, we'd talk and sort it out, so I declined.

First there was the website from http://www.ckdcairns.com.au/ that contained false & misleading statements on the front page, backed up by a public display of "that expulsion email" message with the three points (1. You owe money, 2. You have bad etiquette, and 3. You are stopping people from attending the seminar), which was apparently a "private" email to me, now publically displayed on "Barry's" website for all to see, provided to all and sundry by "Bruce", despite a challenge for CKDMAI to either prove or withdraw their statements, all we got from "Marshall" was "if I comment on it, you'll sure me."

The website also mentioned that I did not resign, but was expelled. Goes back to that unsubstantiated email with the three points again. Even if it was proven, and I was expelled, this does not alter the fact that my two schools were not expelled, and all the students were still active members, under "Janelle's" leadership. But it wasn't proven, the statement appeared anyway on the new CKD Cairns Central website...



This was the opening page on their website. Promoting Martial Arts COURTESY & INTEGRITY? Certainly pushing fasle & misleading information.

The statement, the web page, the antics and carry on by "Barry" are covered in the letter sent to him.

The statements, the emails, the allowance of the web page, the breach of Australian Privacy Law, the antics and carry on by "Marshall" are covered in the letter sent to him.

The statements, the emails, the web page, the antics and carry on by "Kristof" are covered in the letter sent to him.

The statements, the phone calls, the distribution of false and misleading statements, the web page, the antics and carry on by "Lindsay" are covered in the letter sent to him.

The subsequent "AI Meeting" held at CKD Gordonvale, where the AIs were told to tell, ring, drop in on, all of my students, spread the news, and have them change over, was disturbing. The information was unsubstantiated, and this type of activity is illegal. It's called SLANDER. This is EXACTLY what the Australian defamation law is about. EXACTLY. No-one has a right to do that. Not in the name of their "hobby." Thanks Mrs W. for letting me know what went on at that meeting.

The Letters went out... You would have thought that this was enough to shut them up. No, they had a website planned...

www.choikwangdo.com.au/information/kristof.jpg

They then modified and updated http://www.roger-koo.com/ website to include me on it. They called me "insignificant" to the organisation. No thanks for all the years I put in for them.

Then an email came through from "Marshall" saying "if you leave us alone, we'll leave you alone, otherwise we'll create a website about you, and you know what we'll put in it." It also stated that I cease using the name "Choi Kwang-Do," cease using and hand over the website http://www.choikwangdo.com.au/. This AFTER the letters from the Lawyers went out.

The name "Choi Kwang-Do," according to Australian law, "is a generic system name for a type of martial arts like Karate & Teakwondo" and "you ["I"] cannot register or hold claim to a generic name such as this. It cannot be Trademarked or Registered" according to IP Australia, the Government authority for Trademarking and Registration of Intellectual property.

The website I have had since about 2002. I offered to sell the domain name to CKDMAI and/or to the Australian Instructors, but they ignored it. Like any business, I have sunk a lot of money into branding over the years, and part of that was the website name. I AM willing to give it up, and as I run a business, it is at a price.

The saga and lies continue. "Barry" and "Lindsay" are still running around making false and misleading statements about me...

"He's not 'international' it's just a local stand-alone school"

He's aligned with the International Alliance of Choi Professionals, with the International Sports Karate Association, and with the EFC. Through these alone, are about 50,000 schools internationally. How many in CKDMAI that aren't owned by the same 5 people?

"He's been kicked out"

We've covered this ground. "Marshall" played us against "Barry" and "Bruce." The "explusion email" contains fictitious information, and is a lie. "Marshall" knows this, that's why he won't comment on it.

"Your belt is worthless"

Your belt is never worthless. Your achiavements are your achievements. One of the greatest martial arts minds of our day, Bruce Lee, did not believe in styles. Is/was his system worthless too?

"Your belt won't be recognised"

A punch is a punch. Defence in Australia is the same as defence in the USA, France, Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Spain, etc. Belts ARE recognised, in fact, how come when the few transferred over, their current belts WERE recognised? Because "Barry" says on thing, and does another, and can't see it.

"You can't travel internationally and have your certificates recognised"

Of course you can. Just a few weeks ago, we were invited to train in Florida with Bill "Superfoot" Wallace. He recognises our achievements, so too do those in the International Alliance of Choi Professionals, the International Sports Karate Association, etc etc etc.

To say this, is to rubbish everything that someone has learnt, and this is not about me, it's about THEIR achievements. Of course, if you want the CKDMAI LASER PRINTED CERTIFICATES, instead of the IACP LASER PRINTED CERTIFICATES, then that's your choice, but to rubbish it, and stand up each class and recite the PLEDGE, PROMISE AND TENETS/PRINCIPLES, is hyproctritical.

CKDMAI needs to get off it's soap box, and come down to reality. For the majority of people in the CKDMAI system, it's a hobby. When you believe you have a right to criticise others, slander and ridicule them, and supply false and misleading information out about them, look and wonder why you're in it in the first place. What's the motivation and intention?

Since leaving CKDMAI and joining the IACP, my schools have aligned with the SAN KYU Taekwondo school in Cairns, the International Self-Defence Association with Greg Gysin in Townsville who teaches KI SEI DO KAI, Graham Healey in Brisbane with teaches Freestyle Taekwondo & Boxing, Paul Coppo who teaches his own style from Ingham, Bernie Korent who teaches his own style from Wooloongong (and is an ex-CKDMAI Instructor) and many many other martial artists proud of their achievements in the martial arts, all working together to better themselves and their students. In fact, we have more "external" influence on our schools now, more people asking questions about techniques, why, how, etc, and more depth of knowledge from more sources. These not recognised? Certainly they are.

CKDMAI needs to stand on it's own merits, not on the demoralising and ridiculing of their "ex" instructors and schools. Then, and only then, will it grown and succeed. Until that day, outsiders from TKD and the likes will look sceptically at it's claims and stay away.

"Marshall" - Peace

Like I told "Choi" the other day, I have nothing personally against them for doing what they did to us/me. I just hope that they can move on and let me do the same.

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I'm not quite interested in trying to change CKD, not the art, well, I would add "Self-Defence" to the system (Close Quarters, Ground Defence, Weapons Defence, etc), but only the politics and the way the organisation is run.

The power and the antics of the people at the top, and the way they treat others needs to change. This will earn them respect as a martial arts style. The way they carry on now, they're doing themselves a disservice.

I've had people comment on the fact that they'd be embarrased to convert their school to CKDMAI, all whilst I was trying to promote CKDMAI. It's a small world. News spread fast. I've also had students, and ex-students tell me that they're embarrased to have CKDMAI certification, because of the way CKDMAI treats people, and the stuff it comes out with.

Through the IACP, we are making a difference. It allows instructors that freedom, the shackles come off. No more calls about "you can't have that on your website" or "you can't use that word" or "that's not Choi."

YES: WE CAN PARTY HARD! WE CAN PARTY LONG!

The next generation of [independent but internationally aligned] Choi Kwang-Do schools is being built as we speak...