Media Coverage of Green Choi Kwang DoLocal Odd Couple Enters the DenMay 16, 2008 By Dawson Wambolt  Halifax: Executives for the Canadian adaptation of the popular BBC2 series “The Dragon’s Den” have recently hand-picked local entrepreneurs who had attended the Halifax audition. Among those lucky enough to gain a coveted spot on the reality TV program, was an oddly paired business duo offering a unique fitness experience. Alana Green and Dawson Wambolt, both have extremely different backgrounds that have been paired in an interesting way. Ms. Green instructs the self-defense martial art, Choi Kwang Do, which is designed to be gentle on the body with low-impact biomechanical movements. Mr. Wambolt is an ex-Canadian Forces member who has just under 5 years service as an Officer in the Army’s most physically demanding trade, the Infantry. Both are extremely thrilled to have been selected for the show and are optimistic on what possibilities lay ahead for their business. “It is an amazing opportunity to appear on the Dragon’s Den, and I know regardless of the outcome it will have a positive impact on mine and Mr. Wambolt’s business venture.” Alana stated when asked if the outcome will affect their business plans. Dawson also followed up with “The feedback has been great, and we have a solid program that is unique from anything else that is on the market right now, which is good news to our target audience.” Alana, 23, is a Black belt in Choi Kwang Do and owner of Green Choi Kwang Do, not to mention the recipient of several entrepreneurial awards and titles including: the ACE CIBC Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award Nova Scotia 2006, Best Student Business 2006 at SMU’s What’s the Big Idea competition, and named one of the Chronicle-Herald’s “7 to Watch in 2007”.  Dawson, 23, is currently a student at Saint Mary’s University near the completion of his Psychology degree. During his time in the military he received training to become a qualified PT Instructor, a position that allows those in the leadership cadre to implement the daily fitness training that soldier’s perform. It was while gaining this qualification that he had learned how to condition the body for the extreme.  The entrepreneurs will be heading to Toronto in early June to shoot their segment of the Dragon’s Den. The new season of the venture capitalist reality TV series will be airing this September, so be sure to tune in and root for the Alana and Dawson: an enthusiastic team of fitness revolutionaries. Photo credit: Charles Born Dawson Wambolt
Ace Campus SpotlightThe Journal, 2007 - Original Source By Laura Macintosh To kick off this years ACE Campus Spotlight column; we figured where better to start than an update on our original Spotlight; Green Choi Kwang Do. Owned and taught by 5th year small business and entrepreneurship major Alana Green. Green Choi Kwang Do has grown and developed into its own since opening two years ago. Alana, black belt in the art, currently teaches the only Choi Kwang Do school in Canada. LM: Tell us about Choi Kwang Do; what do you do, what does the art teach? When and why did you decide to start a martial arts school? I started operations in September 2005. I actually took Choi Kwang Do classes for 2 years and when my instructor closed his school, I knew I had to do something. So out of obligation to my fellow students and for the love of the art I opened my own school. LM: How do you fund your business? LM: When are your hours of operation and where are you located?
LM: How do you find balancing school with running a business? To reach Alana with any questions or to book an introductory class, contact: Writers note:
7 to Watch in 2007 - Black Belt in BusinessChronicle Herald, January 20, 2007 - Original Source Choi Kwang Do, a martial art form developed by Grandmaster Choi 20 years ago, has been introduced to Halifax by an entrepreneur nearly the same age. Twenty-two-year-old Alana Green, a full-time commerce student at Saint Mary's University, was inspired to make the switch to Choi Kwang Do from Tae Kwon Do by one of her former instructors. Green studied at the Choi Kwang Do headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and earned her black belt and chief instructor certification before opening her school; Choi Kwang Do Halifax, in September 2005 in a rented space on Tobin Street. The school is the first of its kind in Canada. The Bathurst, N.B. native says Grandmaster Choi, who suffered physical injuries from Tae Kwon Do, went to the U.S. for medical treatment and ended up developing this non-traditional martial art to be beneficial for the body. The main difference between the two arts is that Choi Kwang Do is more self-defense focused rather than sport-focused like Tae Kwon Do. Choi Kwang Do Halifax was started with help from a Students in Business loan from The Centre for Entrepreneurship, Educataion and Development (CEED). "I have 20 students now," says Green, "and I started with two." Two of her five classes are for adults only and the other three are family classes for ages six and up where adults and children train together. "Families can participate and progress together," she says. Green says this martial art is growing quickly in popularity. "It's just new to Canada, but it's popular in the U.S., the UK, and Australia, and it's growing in other countries."
Mental Conditioning for SafetyThe Journal, October 4, 2006 - Original Source By Alana Green Whether you are walking home at night, waiting for the bus to school, or in line at the bank machine, your level of mental alertness can drastically impact your ability to defend yourself or avoid an attack. We are often distracted by our inner dialogue: thinking about bills, if we are going to be late, or chores waiting for us at home. We can also be distracted by external factors such as using a cell phone, listening to music, or dealing with baggage. We need to not only be alert at night or when crossing the street, but train ourselves to maintain a level of alertness that will help us perceive and react to danger more quickly. When we encounter a situation that triggers our defenses there are many changes that occur in our body. We must be aware of these changes so that we may react quickly and wisely in these situations. Grandmaster Choi, founder of the self-defense martial art Choi Kwang Do, explains these changes as differen't awareness conditions. Understanding the conditions of awareness allows us to better understand hor our body reacts to danger and how we can manage these responses to stay safe. Condition White: Daydreaming. This is when you are more concerned with your train of thought more than your surroundings. This may also be when you are using your cell phone, reading, or listening to music. This is a state in which people can easily become victimized. Condition Yellow: Relaxed and Aware. Your body is relaxed, but your mind is alert. Because you are relaxed and comfortable you will be more likely to perceive and avoid threats. This is the state you should strive to be in in your daily life and is easy to maintain with little practice. Condition Orange: Alert. You sense some danger from something in your surroundings. Your body senses this alaram and your heart starts to beat faster. You are not overly stressed but you must calm yourself in order to defend yourself. You can hlpe relax your body by breathing deeply. Condition Red: Fight or flight. You have perceived an immediate confrontation and your body's chemistry has changed to prepare for it. Your heart begins pumping faster and the secondary gastric track shuts down. Your skin will feel cold as blood pumps towards major muscle groups. Your brain's ability to use fine motor skills is inhibited and therefore hitting small targets such as nerves or vital spots is impractical. This also means that performing tasks such as putting keys in the dorr or dialing a phone may become quite difficult. If you remain in this state for a prolonged amount of time(abusive relationship or harassed by peers) large amounts of a stress hormone will stay in your bloodstream suppressing your immune system. Condition Black: Freeze. You are unable to defend yourself and sometimes even yell for help. If you are unprepared or untrained to deal with an attack this response is more likely. To prevent freezing work towards maintain the Condition Yellow state, get self-defense training and also avoid unsafe situations. We cannot be expected to change the way we live our lives in order to avoid every potentitally dangerous situation. We can think differently when we are in those situations in order to keep ourselves safer. So turn off your MP3 player, stay relaxed and don't let what you are doing or thinking distract you from your surroundings. Source: Choi Kwang Do, Choi Kwang Do: Optimum Health, Self Defense, Personal Development 2005. If you are interested in learning more about personal safety and helping SMU students stay safe, volunteer with SMUSAFE. Alana Green, 496-8706, smusafe@smu.ca.
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