Dojo Workout Instruction Students Location Calendar

Instruction Dr. Seong Soo Choi  "Master Choi" Young Master Choi (laying down) demonstrated the physical and mental strength karate can produce.      In 1979, a young graduate student named Seong Soo Choi arrived from Seoul, Korea to begin Ph.D. studies in Physics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Though new to North Carolina, he held an advanced degree in the Martial Arts and had professionally taught soldiers in the Korean army.  Seeking to continue his own Martial Arts studies, he sought a serious Karate Dojo, found none to his liking, then founded what was to become Carolina Kyokushin Karate.       A little known fact at the time was that his early Martial Arts study had been greatly influenced by his uncle, a Korean gentleman originally named Yong Il Choi.  Those familiar with he world of Karate know the meaning of this name, since at the beginning of World War II this young Korean man living in Japan took the name Masutatsu Oyama to comply with Japanese nationalization standards.  Dr. Choi's uncle, Masutatsu ("Mas") Oyama became the legendary founder of world-renowned Kyokushin Karate.  His Karate was felt deep in the heart of the Carolinas as well.       Sensing the seriousness and quality of this Karate study, students, faculty, and University staff sought out the Dojo for training. Names like Dr. David Coleman, Dr. Patricia Hahn, Eugene Montgomery, Dr. Scott Harmon, Steve Hutson, Tim Donohue, Kai Wei Chung, Keith Sikes, Rod Willard, Todd Rhodes, Daniel Aliaga, and Kreg Gresham are among those who represented students destined to become leaders in the Dojo.  Sosai Mas Oyama's hallmark power was evident in their local Dojo demonstrations that included breaking cement blocks, baseball bats, and huge slabs of ice.  Kyokushin was here to stay.       In 1991, Dr. Choi returned to Korea to head a Physics Department at  a private university.  To ensure that the Dojo he founded in honor of his uncle continued, he asked one of his advanced students, Steve Hutson, to serve as instructor.       Because he knew of Dr. Choi's respect and love for his uncle, Mr. Hutson diligently worked to integrate Carolina Kyokushin Karate as a full member of the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan.  Through the wisdom of the Kyokushin International leadership, Mr. Hutson was assigned to work closely with Shihan Katsuhito Gorai, the New York Branch Chief and International Secretary who would guide his instruction to match the required standards.       Dr. Choi's contribution to his uncle is now complete.