What Is Keichu-Do?

Excerpted from an article by founder Karl William Marx, Sr.

Keichu-Do is a Cajun street fighting art which comes from the Bayou and swamp land of Louisiana. It is a form of self-defense that is rather unique in that, unlike oriental martial arts, Keichu focuses on the realistic approach. Keichu is not just another style developed by someone with limited experience. Keichu is an empirical scientifically developed street fighting system designed to allow a person of small stature to defeat a larger opponent. While Keichu is not a sport, it is used by many students just for that purpose in many instances. Keichu students, from white belt to master level, have won State, Regional, and National Championships.

The keichu founder began the system at the age of nine, in 1945 in a three against one neighborhood gang fight. He was victorious even with a stab wound in his back! Karl Marx had won the battle in Orange Texas.

Keichu is unique. Closely related to American boxing, and French Savate, Keichu mixes in a little Judo, a cup of Jiu-Jitsu, a pinch of Kung-Fu, a tablespoon of Karate and Gallon of street wise Cajun fist-fighting.

Certain human targets are the speciality of the Cajun fist fighter. A Keichu practitioner strikes in places many fighters don't even know are vulnerable. For example, in many cases, we might strike and break our foe's hand or the other fellows collar bone. We love punching people on their elbows. The Keichu system of self-defense is designed to break a an opponents bone with every strike. We usually use a combination of at least three punches in succession. Sometimes breaking three bones simultaneously. This may sound rather cruel, but we believe in stopping a dangerous situation before it becomes deadly.

Our primary objective is self-defense and Keichu-do may not be as attractive as more traditional arts. If you want beauty or flash, Keichu-do is not for you. If you want practical, no nonsense, knock-um out techniques, that's Keichu-do. We are plain and simple, no frills, tried and proven, been used in a real fight stuff. We are Cajuns from Louisiana and we fight different than most folks, using every conceivable attack in existence.

Our uniquely American Louisiana style of self-defense is made up of Keichu-Ryu, the Cajun Karate style, Keichu-Hoshin-Jitsu, the Ju-Jitsu/Judo Grappling aspect, and Keichu-Fudoshin-Ryu, the Weapons division.

All in all though, Keichu is another kind of fighting. We don't claim to be better than any other style just different in many ways.

Keichu Should Effect The Individual
As the founder of Keichu, my intention is to develop a special kind of attitude in the individuals that studies Keichu. "Self-Defense is not a part time, when you have time, kind of past time." "Defending one's self is a habit."

Many other sports, such as Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Football, might be exciting to the practitioner. With people screaming, hollering, clapping and encouraging side line antics it's easy to see why. Children are pulled to those sports. But, we can develop our athletic ability, without developing our character. If one becomes a Super Star making millions of dollars a year,and ends up dead from substance abuse, or in prison for sexually assaulting someone?What good is this?

The other problem is the child who lives a life of intimidation and fear becasue of bullies. This experience follows a person into adulthood.

So how do you defend against those kinds of attacks to the body and to the spirit? HA! You learn Keichu-Do.

Personal note from Mr. Marx: I give you my personal invitation to learn this easy method of self-defense. Contact me to get started. Ask me your questions, tell me your fears, and I will tell you how to stop being a victim and how to start living with confidence!

Definition of "Keichu-Do":
Total devotion to the way.
(See expanded definition in the Keichu-Do FAQ.)
One dictionary definition of "defense":
n: the science or art of defending oneself; self-defense.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Another dictionary definition of "defense":
n: a means or method of protecting the physical or functional integrity of body or mind.