ChunJiDo

[skullsplitter]

Have any of you heard of or have experience with ChunJiDo? I ask because a friend of mine may be taking his son to a ChunJiDo dojo which is very near to their house. He asked me if know anythign about it.

I've done a little research on it. The art looks fine. I can't put my finger on why, but for some reason I'm a bit skeptical about the founder of this art, Grandmaster Robert Cutrell.

Any guidance is appreciated.

[ps1]

Isn't Chun Ji the name of a form/kata in the TKD family? I think I remember doing a form called Chun Ji when i was 6 or 7...it's been 28 years now so go easy if I'm wrong...lol

Edit:

Ok...I'm right. There is a form called Chun Ji. That's got nothing to do with the system about which you are asking.

Here's the website: http://www.chunjido.com/locations

Seems kinda hokey to me...but that doesn't mean anything. I don't know the instructor or anything about his system. I'm just not a fan of people making up their own style and joining every crazy organization they can find.

In the end, what's important is your friend enjoys it there. If he doesn't, I'm sure there are other options.

[Dobbersky]

A Hybrid, but anything after Naha Te, Shuri Te and Tomari Te is a Hybrid

If its something that fills the Gaps and they teach genuine martial Arts, relax and enjoy OSU!!!

[JusticeZero]

Probably it's a personal art. Some people make these after they've learned as much as their teachers can teach them and they start picking up other things and tweaking their personal tactical set more and more to fit the eclectic research.

Sometimes, they know a whole lot, it's just that they only want to teach the 'good' stuff and their understanding of what that is has deviated over time from their original style.

Sometimes, they're some clueless scam artist out to make some money off of clueless yokels while looking like a tough guy and they blended things because they never learned much in the first place.

I'd think that the less expensive the training is, the more likely it is that it's good, but that's hardly an ironclad rule. I'd go watch a class.

[bushido_man96]

Interesting find here. The website doesn't really lend too much. I'd like to know more about what the founder did previously.

[cjd4life]

Dear Friends, thank you for your interest and candid discussion about ChunJiDo! To provide a few more details... ChunJiDo is a progressive art incorporating striking from my Kempo training, kicking from my Taekwondo training, and grappling, throws, and joint locks from my Nippon Jujitsu training. I have been training in the arts for 32 years and hold high Black Belt rank in all of these arts.

I started my first school over 15 years ago and now have ChunJiDo schools in Indiana, Washington, Tennessee, California, Russia, and the Ukraine that teach all or part of my ChunJiDo system. I also have affiliates to my ChunjiDo International Organization in 4 continents and 16 countries around the world. We have over 350 ChunJiDo students in the US alone

I have always been one to take the "high road", rather than get involved with the politics and system comparisons that to often accompany the martial arts, I have chose to take my system of ChunJiDo to the dojo mats across the US and to many countries. I have done ChunJiDo seminars in the US, Canada, Italy, Germany, and in the near future will be going to the Bahamas. In 2005 I received my Sokeship in ChunJiDo after taking part in the Black Belt Elite HOF in Offenbach, Germany.

My passion is still teaching, and still teach over 50% of my weekly classes even though I have several high ranking instructors. Throughout my 32 years of teaching and travel I have had the amazing experience in teaching along side of some of the greatest martial artists of this era. Many who I can now call "Friends" I love being on the dojo floor and welcome anyone to come and see what ChunJiDo is all about. I enjoy the friendships that can be made in the martial arts and sharing ideas, techniques, and philosophies.

All this being said, I hope that anyone who has questions about ChunJiDo would please call or email me, or better, please come by my dojo in Evansville, Indiana. I would ask that you bring the true spirit of Brotherhood in the Martial Arts and share your own personal learnings and experiences with us as you learn more about ChunJiDo. It is always good to meet a new friend and share techniques!

My goal is simple, "To try to give as much back to the martial arts, as it has given to me" and also to share the gift of martial arts, and ChunJiDo specifically with anyone who is interested.

Skullsplitter - Thank you for looking out for your friend and asking about ChunJiDo, there are many schools that may lead your friend down the wrong path... hopefully your friend and his son will realize I am not one of those schools. I hope to hear from some of you to hopefully gain new friendships in the arts!

Respectfully,

Grandmaster Robert Cutrell

Soke/Founder ChunJiDo

[Montana]

The originator of the thread is looking for our opinions and knowledge about the art, so I went to the website at http://www.chunjido.com/ and looked it over.

I wrote a whole, long thing about what I saw on the website and how I felt about it, but I think I'll just say...it looks like a typical tae kwon do system from the video I watched. Not all that imprssive.

Don't let the hype of what the instructors say on the website influence you. Much of what is said, in my opinion, would have to be verified to make me happy.

[MaxMarks]

I took a look at the website and video. This looks to be a traditional system rooted in TKD. The art seems fine. I would want to jump on the mat with them to form more of an opinion on the art itself.

With regards to your friend's son: I firmly believe the value in the arts for young people is in how it builds their character, life skills and fitness. It is great to have self-defense knowledge for sure but it's not something that carries us through every day of our lives like the character and confidence of the martial arts does. Which, as a martial artist and dad, is what I want for my kids. Based on the website's messaging, the blog and way Soke Cutrell handled himself in the post above, It certainly seems that ChunJiDo focuses on these positive qualities.

Moreover, I'm a fan of people blending there knowledge into their own system. I think it well represents the brotherhood and sharing of the martial arts well. Not to mention, many of the greats have done it.

If his son is looking to become the next MMA star this may not be the style for him. However, if the dad is comfortable that what is on the site is what is going on in the dojo and is looking primarily for a good character building activity for his son, then this seems like a fine choice to me.

A couple of side notes here:

ChunJiDo is quite different from what I study. My kenpo would be the closest.

Also, Soke Cutrell, I noticed in some of your techniques the beginnings of some good stand up style Jujitsu. I found that a lot of the striking base traditional styes have these little Jujitsu nuggets in them. It may be interesting for you to look at some of the combat styles of Jujitsu for new finishes. That also may be something you already have in you Nippon Jujitsu and I'm just not seeing it in the videos.

[sojobo]

Dear Friends, thank you for your interest and candid discussion about ChunJiDo! To provide a few more details... ChunJiDo is a progressive art incorporating striking from my Kempo training, kicking from my Taekwondo training, and grappling, throws, and joint locks from my Nippon Jujitsu training. I have been training in the arts for 32 years and hold high Black Belt rank in all of these arts.

I started my first school over 15 years ago and now have ChunJiDo schools in Indiana, Washington, Tennessee, California, Russia, and the Ukraine that teach all or part of my ChunJiDo system. I also have affiliates to my ChunjiDo International Organization in 4 continents and 16 countries around the world. We have over 350 ChunJiDo students in the US alone

I have always been one to take the "high road", rather than get involved with the politics and system comparisons that to often accompany the martial arts, I have chose to take my system of ChunJiDo to the dojo mats across the US and to many countries. I have done ChunJiDo seminars in the US, Canada, Italy, Germany, and in the near future will be going to the Bahamas. In 2005 I received my Sokeship in ChunJiDo after taking part in the Black Belt Elite HOF in Offenbach, Germany.

My passion is still teaching, and still teach over 50% of my weekly classes even though I have several high ranking instructors. Throughout my 32 years of teaching and travel I have had the amazing experience in teaching along side of some of the greatest martial artists of this era. Many who I can now call "Friends" I love being on the dojo floor and welcome anyone to come and see what ChunJiDo is all about. I enjoy the friendships that can be made in the martial arts and sharing ideas, techniques, and philosophies.

All this being said, I hope that anyone who has questions about ChunJiDo would please call or email me, or better, please come by my dojo in Evansville, Indiana. I would ask that you bring the true spirit of Brotherhood in the Martial Arts and share your own personal learnings and experiences with us as you learn more about ChunJiDo. It is always good to meet a new friend and share techniques!

Respectfully,

Grandmaster Robert Cutrell

Soke/Founder ChunJiDo

Welcome to Karateforums.

I have a couple of questions for you:

You say you studied Nippon Jujutsu. That is a term generally reserved for arts that derive from the Koryu of feudal Japan. What style did you study, how long for and who taught you?

Who awarded you your grades?

You say you have been training for 32 years. Then later in your post you say you have been teaching for 32 years. How long were you a student prior to becoming a teacher (I understand that teaching is part of learning but you know what I mean)?

Sorry if this doesn't come over as the warmest of welcomes, but I just think prospective students aren't getting enough info here (ie your web site). Being inducted into a hall of fame is no measure of how good someone is at martial arts.

Also - there are people on this board that are very knowledgeable about martial arts. There are also some high ranking and graded martial artists too, but they do not see the need to sign off their posts with their grade and "Shogo" title - it means nothing here.

I look forward to hearing more from you Robert.

Sojobo

[cjd4life]

MaxMarks, thank you for your kind words, greatly appreciated. Actually the blend of Kempo and stand-up Jujitsu is my favorite blended part of my system. I have been fortunate enough to work with Michael DePasquale Sr. (now deceased) and also Michael Jr. in the past in Yoshitsune Jujitsu and also Combat Jujitsu, both amazing people and I still consider Mr. DePasquale Sr. to be the most incredible martial artist I have ever met. In our commercial video, I did not want to go too "combat" and scare people away

All of my Jujitsu is stand-up, I greatly respect the ground practitioners, but since I don't have a Black Belt in BJJ, I do not teach it currently in my system. My California Director though, Sensei Mario Schapp, is currently training directly under the Gracies in Torrance, California and has conducted great Gracie Combative seminars at my dojo in Evansville, Indiana.

My primary Kempo and Jujitsu Instructor was Professor Larry Hilton who founded the Nippon Ketsugo Kempo Jujitsu Association and taught until health problems forced him to stop training and teaching. I received my 5th Dan Kempo Jujitsu rank and Shihan title from him. I still consider him the fastest martial artist I have ever seen, and he turned out some great martial artists, John Geyston being just one example, Jeff Devoe another.

Sojobo - I stand corrected and apologize for the error, I have been training for 32 years, and had my own school over the last 15+ years. Sorry for the confusion. As far as my Jujitsu, I think I have answered that above. Professor Hilton trained under Carl "Pat" Burke and also Professor Vistacion who were both great martial artists and Professor V was the instructor for Moses Powell.

As far as the use of my title, I used it to let everyone know and have no doubt it was me responding to the inquiries on ChunJiDo. I am very comfortable using the title, it is who I am. Just like a Doctor, or Senator, or professor of Education. I am proud of the arts and what I have accomplished during my lifetime. I in no way meant to dishonor or disrespect anyone else. I am not a world champion, I have coached several world and national level competitors/champions, but you will not see me use that title, I am not a Grandmaster of any other art, but I am the Grandmaster and Soke for ChunJiDo.

Through the years I have taken a lot of heat for "creating" my own art. I really have not created anything, no one has, I just have developed my own interpretations and system of teaching what has been there for a long time. I have blended systems and will continue to incorporate new and improved techniques into my system of teaching. But through the grace of God and a whole lot of bloods sweat, and tears along the way I have been fortunate enough to inspire and lead students through ChunJiDo. I try my best to never say ChunJiDo is the best art or better than all of the others, "best" is measured in a lot of different ways and it is a lot like being a gunfighter, no matter how good you are, there is always someone out there with a quicker draw or a better aim!)

I think I have answered most of the questions, and again, I would like to thank those who have raised the questions about ChunJiDo, because it gave me the opportunity and privilege to talk to all of you about the arts, and specifically ChunJiDo... great conversation, take care and God bless!