Times of the Islands Fall 2017

By definition, Qwan Ki Do is the “art of winning without
fighting and persuading without speaking.” The
Am-Duong Club at Graceway Sports Centre offers students
of all experience levels the opportunity to learn this
mixture of traditional Chinese and Vietnamese Kung Fu.
The program uses the martial art as a vehicle for teaching
concepts such as respect for self and others, diligence,
concentration, leadership and peacekeeping skills. Within
several years, it has expanded to 30—40 students of
many nationalities, one of whom, Rigal Auguste, has
earned the first Black Belt, and now serves as an instructor
when teacher Paul Ciurar is away.
What is Qwan Ki Do?
Qwan Ki Do has origins in the Chinese martial art schools
of Shao Lin, Wo Mei and Tang Lang, along with the
Vietnamese Martial Arts or VO. Qwan Ki Do was founded
in 1981 in France by one of the most prestigious experts
of martial arts, the Great Master Pham Xuan Tong. Qwan
Ki Do combines a large variety of movements, including
hand techniques, blocks and grappling, sweeps,
self-defense, throwing techniques, arm locks, falling and
breaking techniques, street fighting and psychocorporal
gymnastics (Tham The, similar to Tai Chi). Qwan Ki Do
is practiced in over 30 countries by tens of thousands of
practitioners.
Paul Ciurar was introduced to the art in his homeland
as a young man of 15. He recalls, “Qwan Ki Do is very
popular in Romania. Life there was very difficult and I
could have easily gone the way of being a thug in a gang.
Instead, Qwan Ki Do became like a religion for me. We
used to spend 8 to 10 hours at a time training and on
weekends, my friends and I would travel 250 miles by
train to compete in Bucharest. I was training under Master
Pham Xuan Tong and within four years, I had my Black
Belt. I was then able to become president of our local club
and lead it for seven years; we eventually had over 1,800
students.”
Paul realizes that “Human nature is violent, and your
early influences—family, culture, religion—determine
your aggressiveness. Qwan Ki Do helps focus anger and
rage in a constructive way. When you learn to fight, you
don’t want to fight anymore. The movements we learn
are very natural and help you find yourself.” Paul’s path
to the Turks & Caicos started when he met his (now) wife
Adina at a fitness conference in Romania. She was friends
with Anca Vasile, who had opened a healthy bakery in
Providenciales. One thing led to another and Adina and
Paul moved to the Islands in 2008. Adina became manager
of the Graceway Sports Centre in 2011, with Paul at
her side maintaining the equipment and teaching classes.
Together, through much hard work and dedication, the
pair have built the site’s reputation as a wholesome,
clean, well-run facility, increasing membership over tenfold!
Qwan Ki Do combines a large variety of movements, as demonstrated
here by Rigal Auguste and Ishan Bowen.
How can I learn?
Qwan Ki Do classes are currently offered on Tuesday and
Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons. The class
environment is cooperative and spirited, with instruction
not only dynamic, but detailed and patient, emphasizing
a pragmatic approach to studying the martial arts curriculum.
Training includes toning, physical fitness, stretching
and meditation, and is designed to be a complete workout
for body and mind. Paul explains, “Everyone needs a
place to disconnect from the struggles of the world. I ask
students to leave their problems at the door. When class
is over, you’ll feel more aware, confident, coordinated
and able to concentrate.”
Paul is especially excited about the children’s program,
because, he says, “Qwan Ki Do opens the door to
a lifetime of benefits, such as leadership skills, a winning
attitude and the inner strength to overcome adverse
peer pressure. Physically, kids build strength, improve
flexibility, develop sharp reflexes, build cardiovascular
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