Grandmaster Ken MacKenzie - Taekwondo Times

Malaysia
proficiency of self-defense skills without the
limitations of injury.
With the introduction of the Conversion
Program in Korea, South America and Central
America, multiple school owners with various
martial arts backgrounds have successfully
converted their schools into Choi Kwang Do
schools. These instructors and students are
reaping the benefits of this martial art that
Grandmaster Choi has graciously shared with
the rest of the world. We would like to welcome
and congratulate our latest instructors
from Korea, Russia, Canada, El Salvador, Peru,
Panama, Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, Nicaragua,
Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, who have gone
through the Choi Kwang Do Conversion Program.
These instructors have taken the first step
Mohammed Nasir (white shirt) of Malaysia and fellow instructors
by learning the theoretical and technical curriculum of Choi Kwang Do and are currently in the process of
learning the organizational structure and appealing business model. We are currently working with instructors
from other countries to help them convert as well.
In Canada, we have Mr. Kariyawansa, who is a first-dan and Chief Instructor. Mr. Kariyawansa started
training in Tae Kwon Do in 1997 and converted to Choi Kwang Do in 2004. After a short break in training,
he returned to Choi Kwang Do training in 2007. In April 2009, Mr. Kariyawansa opened his own school
in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which was the only Choi Kwang Do school in Canada. Mr. Kariyawansa visited
headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, in July 2009 where he was personally trained by founder and Grandmaster
Kwang Jo Choi. Mr. Kariyawansa also visited many schools in Atlanta and was trained by Master
Pereira, seventh-dan, and Master Gallager, fifth-dan. Mr. Kariyawansa received training in Korean etiquette,
mannerisms and language by Grandmaster Woo, eighth-dan. Mr. Kariyawansa was also certified in the
Choi Kwang Do Business Model, School Owners Program and Examiner Program by Master Pereira of
Choi Kwang Do Martial Art International. Mr. Kariyawansa is extremely excited about his positive start in
Halifax, Canada, with a fully functional and professional support team backing him up from Choi Kwang
Do Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mr. Kariyawansa is joined in Canada by Mrs. Tanja Reid-Matlock, first-dan and Chief Instructor in Toronto,
Canada. Mrs. Reid-Matlock was trained
by Mr. Spence, Jr., fouth-dan, in Georgia. She
was an elite athlete who started training in
Choi Kwang Do because she saw the benefits
of this great martial art that can be practiced
at all stages of life. Mrs. Reid-Matlock trained
diligently and purposefully with Mr. Spence, Jr.
with the goal of becoming a school owner. She
is a certified school owner with Choi Kwang
Do Martial Art International and is excited
about opening her brand new school in the
greater Toronto area.
In Montreal, Mr. Stephane Quirone, thirddegree,
has been in Choi Kwang Do for many
years and is a senior instructor with Choi
Kwang Do International. He is very excited
that Mr. Kariyawansa and Mrs. Reid-Matlock
92 November 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
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