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Grand Master Richard J. Lewis...
   Grand Master Lewis holds the ranks of 8th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do (Korean Karate), 4th Degree Black Belt in Sun Do (Korean art of breathing, meditation and concentration) and 3rd Degree Black Belt in Bong-Sool (full contact fighting with a 6' staff). While the majority of American Masters are certified only here in the U.S.A. by another individual or organization, Grand Master Lewis is one of a minority of American martial artists to merit certification as an International Master Black Belt from the Kuk Ki Won, located in Seoul, Korea. Richard was chosen by his teacher, Korean Grand Master Dong Hi Choi, to succeed him after his death, which occurred on November 8, 1989, and become Grand Master and President of Moo Do Won/USA (United States Martial Arts Center).
   Grand Master Lewis began his martial arts career in 1964 and has been teaching since 1970. He founded the Kang Do Won Martial Arts Institute in 1984, which has been at it's current location in Wickliffe, Ohio, since 1985. Kang Do Won is Korean and translated means "School of Inner Strength," indicating that the educational focus is on positive personal growth, healthy character development and behavioral modification, which is how the true quality and inner strength of all human beings is nurtured.

   Grand Master Lewis offers the following at the Kang Do Won:
       - men, women and children traditional martial arts instruction...
             positive personal growth, healthy character development, behavioral modification
             and effective self-defense skills training.
       - men, women and children self-defense classes...
             practical application self-defense training and personal safety education.
       - Strive to Survive Self-Defense & Assault Prevention Seminars...
             1 - 3 hour hands on, self-defense class and lecture for men, women or children.
       - Strive to Survive Kids Self-Defense Program...
             progressive, age appropriate, self-defense and personal safety courses.
       - Strive to Survive Adult Self-Defense Program...
             progressive, practical application, self-defense and personal safety courses.
       - Kang Do Warriors Competition and Demonstration Team...
             entertaining and educational, fast paced, martial arts performances.
       - American Warrior Traditional Martial Arts Tournament...
             which he promotes and directs, and is open to all ages, schools and martial art styles.

   Grand Master Lewis created the traditional martial art 'Kang Do', which translated means "Inner Strength Way." His personal definition of the term "traditional martial art" is... "any martial art that primarily focuses on the development of the most important part of the human condition... inner strength, which is comprised of self-esteem, self-respect, self-confidence, discipline, determination and courage." This inner development and strengthening is absolutely essential because without it, physical skills are severely impaired, and most often useless when experiencing the debilitating effects of fear. With exception to those rare few, who have suppressed fear through intensive, specialized training, fear is a common human emotion that is experienced by all. The fact that a person feels fear does not make him/her weak, just human. However, a person experiencing fear who becomes emotionally overwhelmed and physically paralyzed is weak and a prime candidate for victimization. As it applies to a self-defense situation, fear is a poison which not dealt with properly, can result in disaster. Inner strength is the antidote for poisonous fear. This antidote does not make the fear mysteriously disappear, it simply empowers an individual to override it's negative effects and enable a more effective and productive performance during fearful stress.  
   Of secondary importance, Kang Do is comprised of the following physical characteristics and technical skills:
   - soft and hard, circular and linear defensive and offensive techniques
   - defensive and striking techniques utilizing all parts of the body equally as combat
     circumstances require
   - distant and close (body contact) defense skills
   - ground impact defensive techniques (break falls and rolls)
   - ground impact offensive techniques (sweeps, trips, reaps & throws)
   - ground fighting and grappling skills
   - pressure points, locks, counters, chokes and submission techniques
   - weapon defense skills
   - education and training in the use of 11 different martial art weapons
   Grand Master Lewis is one of a rare and vanishing breed of martial artists who believe that martial art is primarily a philosophy... or way of life, that inspires total human growth and development, not destruction. He teaches in a very structured, strict and disciplined manner and demands maximum focus and effort from his students. At the same time, when appropriate, Grand Master Lewis makes sure that his students have fun and enjoy the education and training process.
   In addition, he is one of the few masters who has written and published an educational text for his students. His unique, traditional method of teaching truly nurtures the development and improvement of all the attributes listed in The Sixteen Principles of the Kang Do Won, in each and every one of his students, whether they be young or old.

                          Martial art is not what he does... it's who he is.