Keichu Do

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Keichu Do is a martial arts system created by the American martial artist, Karl William Marx, Sr (born 1936-08-10). Keichu was first taught to the public in Louisiana, on August 10, 1960 with dojos scattered throughout the United States and Europe. Karl William Marx currently resides and teaches in Santa Maria, California.

Contents

[edit] Keichu Do / Karl William Marx History

The year 1945 has been sometimes mentioned as the "unofficial beginning" of the Keichu system, as it was then -- at the age of 9 years -- that Marx was first forced to defend himself in a street fight. This pivotal experience, as well as what he had already learned about boxing and fighting from his father and grandfather, led to a lifetime of dedication to the fighting arts.[citation needed]

In 1974, after 5 years of scrutinizing, Marx's original Keichu-Do martial arts system was accepted into the United States Karate Association by the late Robert Trias as a legitimate fighting system, and Marx was recognized by that same organization as a 6th Dan.[citation needed] In 1982, the USKA certified Marx as an 8th Dan in karate. Also in 1982 Marx was rated #1 in Fighting, Kata, and Weapons by the World Karate Organization[citation needed]. He won the State Championships in Louisiana, and Texas, and the National Weapons Championship in the Masters Division.[citation needed] In 1997 Marx was inducted into the U.S.K.A. Hall of Fame.[citation needed] Marx was the first American to be recognized as a 10th Dan by the International Black Belt Association.[citation needed]

Karl William Marx holds a B.A. Degree in Psychology from Louisiana College and a Masters Degree in Recreation, with a Minor in Special Education from Northwestern State University.[citation needed]

[edit] Techniques

The techniques used in the system are a mix of traditional jujutsu, karate, judo, and "street fighting". Students are required to know striking, kicking, and blocking techniques from karate and jujutsu. A number of judo throws and grappling techniques (including pins, chokes, arm and leg locks) are required parts of the curriculum. Mixed into the blend are a variety of "street fighting" techniques, basically ways of damaging one's opponent in "non traditional" ways that can be used on the street or in self-defense situations. There are about 12 "self defense kata" below black belt level, with 7-8 formal kata that are taught, along with a graded curriculum of techniques. The ranking system and order of techniques taught may vary slightly from dojo to dojo; typically the belt system is white, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown, black. (with the brown belt covering three ranks.)

There are some technical differences in what is called "Orthodox Keichu Ryu" and Keichu-Do. "Orthodox Keichu Ryu" is closer to the system as it was originally taught, while the system has continued to evolve under the direction of Karl Marx. Instruction in the newer schools tends to reflect these changes.

[edit] Spiritual Side

In 1970 Karl Marx developed a desire to avoid the violence that had plagued his younger years. Along with a desire to live a more peaceful life came the desire to help others avoid the violence that had led him to develop his system.

Marx is now an ordained minister and part of the pastoral Outreach Ministry staff of a Calvery Chapel Church.[citation needed] The "Do" suffix to the system's title indicates "a way of", in this case directly referring to "the way of devoting ones self to the Way". For some students, this means a devotion to the martial art, while to others, it means a devotion to Jesus Christ as "The Way". Along with training in self defense/combat techniques, there is also an emphasis on learning Judeo-Christian ideals as a way of avoiding fights and conflicts. However, students of all or no faith backgrounds are welcomed to train in Keichu-Do; no specific beliefs are required.

[edit] Principles of the System

The individual techniques of the system come from multiple pre-existing styles. What makes the system unique is the way in which the techniques are used, and how they are combined. Marx came to believe that Americans on the street attacked differently than the ways in which the martial artists of the Asian countries attacked. Over time Marx developed his own style of fighting that was designed to be used in common self-defense situations as encountered in America.

Marx's system developed to use a minimum of movement to achieve a maximum of damage to an opponent. This was a byproduct of the belief that when attacked, one needed to be able to end the attack as quickly as possible. Marx believed from his experience that any thing less wasn't enough to survive when attacked 'on the street'.

The first Keichu classes were devoted to teaching women's self defense. In that environment, Keichu's techniques proved their effectiveness[citation needed] in a structured format, allowing women of small stature to defend themselves against larger and stronger attackers.

"Fight smarter, not harder", is an axiom of the system's attack philosophy. It is Marx's belief[citation needed] that the longer the fight, the more chance for injury. His system of 53 self defense katas aim to show how to disable an attacker who is using commonly encountered types of attack. Keichu employs three basic strategies;-

[edit] Strategies

  1. Use motion as efficiently as possible.
  2. Take away an opponent's ability to continue attacking, by significantly damaging their anatomy.
  3. Utilize weaknesses in the design of the human anatomy to allow damage to an opponent even if they are larger/stronger.

[edit] External links

[edit] Sources

[edit] Schools

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