Product Description
We’re off to Tae Kwon Do class, where we’ll learn to kick, spin, box, jump, and even break a board! We’ll also have fun in this simple Step 1 book. Perfect for kids who are both learning to read and learning Tae Kwon Do or another martial art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

BOUGHT IT TWICE
MY THREE YEAR OLD SON LOVES THIS BOOK. MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THE SOFT COVER EDITION, BUT LOST IT. MY SON KEPT ASKING FOR HIS TAEKWONDO BOOK EACH NIGHT. WE THEN ORDERED THE HARD COVER EDITION. HE LOVES THIS BOOK SO MUCH, HE HAS IT MEMORIZED AFTER A FEW DAYS. TI'S A GOOD BEGINNER READER BOOK WITH COLORFUL PICTURES. IT ALSO COINCIDES WITH WHAT HE IS CURRENTLY DOING IN HIS TAEKWONDO CLASS. I WISH THEY HAD MORE VARIATIONS OF THIS BOOK, WE WOULD DEFINETLY BUY THEM ALL.

Cute and Simple
I recently got this book to read with my nephew (recently turned 6) who has been taking Tae Kwon Do for the past few months.The reading difficulty level was a little bit on the basic side for him, but that was appropriate for the advertised difficulty of the book, since we typically go with stage 2 books from this series for him now.

The drawings are very cute and the overall depiction of a Tae Kwon Do class is about as accurate as you could hope for when the author has to write to as basic a level as this book is intended to be.Considering the age range of the audience and the kids in the pictures, one thing I would have liked to see is at least one or two kids in the class being in the white or yellow belts.

Still, it was a nice book.I had my nephew read it to me, and then he started asking me to read it to him, and wandered off to get his grandmother to read it to him as well.I'd say it was a hit and it seemed to me as if most little kids with any interest at all in martial arts would enjoy it.

Lets go to Tae Kwon Do class! Beginners reading book
This book is a ready to read book which is for preschool to kindergarten children. The books have picture clues, rhyming text and easy word in big type. A brother and sister go to their Tae Kwon Do class. The class is filled with multi-cultural children and show them doing kicks, chops, falling and floping.

The book is well illustrated by Todd Bonita. I like how he illustrated children from all different races. A very cute book for a child who loves Tae Kwon Do and is a beginner reader.

A litte too basic
I thought this book would be a good one for my 5 year old reluctant reader however the text was very low level and not engaging. I would pass if I were you.

GREAT for kids
We bought this book as a gift for the daughter of our TaeKwondo instructor.She is 3 and learning to read and this was such a delightful book for a young child to read.The typical TaeKwondo class is shown in the text and pictures are fun and accurate.A great book for any child in or thinking about learning TaeKwondo ... Read more

Product Description

Obscure documents, Korean-language books, and in-depth interviews with tae kwon do pioneers tell the tale of the origin of the most popular martial art. In 1938, tae kwon do began at the end of a poker game in a tiny village in a remote corner of what is now North Korea by Choi Hong-Hi, who began the martial art, and his nemesis, Kim Un-Yong, who developed the Olympic style and became one of the most powerful, controversial men in sports. The story follows Choi from the 1938 poker game where he fought for his life, through high-class geisha houses where the art was named, and into the Vietnam War where the martial art evolved into a killing art. The techniques cut across all realms—from the late 1960s when tae kwon do-trained Korean CIA agents kidnapped people in the U.S. and Europe, to the 1970s when Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and other Hollywood stars master the art’s new kicks. Tae kwon do is also a martial art for the 21st century, one of merciless techniques, indomitable men, and justice pumped on steroids.

Customer Reviews (15)

An excellent book that can get sidetracked
A very well researched and written book.All of the author's sources are listed and can be verified.This book does not mix fact with myth, and instead is one of the few factual history books of Taekwon-Do.'A Killing Art' is full of interesting and funny stories, while giving a very thorough recount of the trials and tribulation of Gen. Choi as he sought to change the world and make TKD a global martial art.If you are not used to korean names you may have a tough time keeping all the characters straight, but other than that, it is a very good book

An essential read for anyone practicing Taekwon-Do.

This book expalins a lot
If you have ever studied TKD, the material presented in this book will provide a solid background to what you have probably encountered in the dojang. The author points out how Tae Kwon Do is also been called Take My Dough. Korean instuctors I have encountered are interested in only one thing - money. They are unscrupulous ( by our standards) and basically uninterested in their students except as cash cows. This book reveals a history that puts this into perspective. The book explains how TKD evolved from a really rough, combat art in the 50's and 60's to the "foot tag"" we see pre schoolers playing around dojangs all over America. (Instructors will tell you if they taught the " old fashioned way" they wouldn't have any students; sort of proving the above points).The growth of TKD is a good testament to the adage that money ruins everything. There is no better example than Korean TKD. So, if you history with TKD I think you will find this book interesting, although it does get a bit tedious at times, with too many names and dates.

book review - A Killing Art
I have almost finished reading this book and it has been very revealing
and, if I am correct, the only book that has spoken about the history
of Tae Kwon Do in relation to the Korean grandmasters. Whilst it is honest,
it is also well written and diplomatic.Its existence is welcomed
as we are often asked questions that we have been unable to answer.It is
also quite sad to see the struggles. Jenny Treasure, 5th degree
martial artist.

NOT FOR THE FAINT AT HEART
This book is not for the faint at heart, nor is it for those new to the martial arts. If you harbor any preconceived notions regarding the virtues of taekwondo, this work will quickly relieve you of them. However, this story must be told and Mr. Gillis does it well. His research is deep and heavily annotated. I have read this book several times with great enthusiasm since it contains many valuable details and reads like a novel. Yet, being personally familiar with several of the protaganists portrayed, I feel a more balanced treatment would have resulted in an even more accurate work. This is the only reason I rated the book four stars rather than five. I have written three books focusing on traditional taekwondo and, regardless of information within this book, continue to feel that there are those both locally and in Korea, the homeland of taekwondo, who support the true heart of traditional taekwondo. So...read with care and maintain an open mind.

the killing art
What you didnt know ,but need to know the tragic discrediting of ITFby the KCIA for profit and gain for the WTF, the deception, lies , extortion kidnaping of foreign instructors and their families . ... Read more

Product Description
Written by Tae Kwon Do masters Yeon Hee Park and Yeon Hwan Park with American black-belt Jon Gerrard, Tae Kwon Do is the definitive and only international reference to the sport. A highly effective tool to assist students and aspirants build and maintain skills, this volume is illustrated with photographic "walkthroughs" of every posture and contains: a concise history of the art; warm-up exercises; clear instructions for learning the basic techniques; important tips and strategies for sparring; a glossary ofEnglish to Korean terms; 700 photographs throughout the text (25 new to this edition) to clearly illustrate each move. Endorsed by the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

The TKD Bible !
A fantastic read and reference point.
Indispensible parent's handbook in providing extra coaching for youngsters.
An invaluable tool in supplementing formal training.

A must....
....for those of us who need to refer to our poomsae quickly. Tedeshci's texts (taekwondo and hapkido) would be a lot better, but they're big and are rather expensive.
Park and Park gives you a lot of bang for your buck, and the book can easily be stored in your briefcase, gymbag, etc.

Great reference for beginner and intermediate TKDers
Overall great reference guide to starting and intermediate tae kwon do students. Lists the applications and effectiveness of all most aspects of TKD with slideshow pictures to demonstrate correctly. Of course, don't think you can learn the whole martial art from a book; you will need to accommodate by training with an instructor.

The Best Reference Guide to Tae kwon do I have seen to date
This book is above par.I am a soldier deployed in Iraq and I purchased this book to continue my study while on deployment.It has accurate information and pictures to explain everything from the basics, to advanced level forms, and top notch sparring techniques.A great purchase.

Good reference
It is a good starting reference for those beginning about the sport.The pictures of the poomse are helpful but nothing takes the place of good instruction.I found it hard to rely on the pictures to do the forms.
... Read more

Product Description
This subset introduces young readers to the exciting world of athletics by focusing on the often-colorful terminology specific to popular individual and team sports. As children explore the words they would hear at a game, meet, or match, they learn the basic rules and objects of each sport, the essentials of gear and equipment, and what happens in the most thrilling moments of competition. ... Read more

Product Description
With easy-to-understand text and clear line drawings and photos scattered throughout, this layperson's book explains in simple terms the concepts of tae kwon do. 100 photos. Diagrams throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Very Informative and Entertaining
This book was a fairly entertaining book covering a little of everthing in Tae Kwon Do.The book went into quite a bit of detail about rites and rituals that sometimes are not made clear in the Do Jang.I would recommend this book for a beginner.

It is the IDIOT's guide...
So I would disregard the reviews of the experienced Tae Kwon Do readers, this book is not intended for them. It is for those new to the sport, thus the term IDIOT Guide. It doesn't really mean for dumb people. LOL. So it is for people like me looking to learn more about the sport

guide for Mcdojangs.
This book is helpful for beginners in Tae Kwon Do, It gives you a brief base on Tae Kwon Do in a way. It is not a book I recommend for Advance Tae Kwon Do Practitioners, people who have been doing TKD for a long time will find this book useless, I almost found this book offensive in a way that it portrayed TKD, and the fact that this books seems to base its validity on the accomplishments of Keith Yates who is a "10th Degree" black belt, regardless of the fact that no respectable TKD organization has a higher degree than 9th (and has very few ninth degrees at that). In my Honest opinion its just another person trying to profit off of the American Mcdojang.

For someone who isn't sure whether they want to take TKD
I was a little disappointed in this book.I have been practicing Taekwondo for the past 3 weeks.I was hoping to get some information on forms and some more technical aspects, in order to advance in the class.Instead this book sounded like it was for someone who never took a class before in their life, and was not sure if they wanted to start.Although I am no expert, the book seemed to focus on just explaining how wonderful Taekwondo is, and some other basic information.Also, I found it focused too much on Taekwondo as a sport instead of an artform.As the title suggests, it really did seem a like the perfect guide for an idiot.

great beginner's guide!
Keith D. Yates -- 10th degree black belt, an inaugural member of the Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and one of the most respected martial arts leaders in America -- and co-author Eden have written a superb beginner's guide and introduction to Tae Kwon Do.There's a lot of good material in this book, including basics on blocks, hand-techniques, kicks, one-steps, free-sparring, self-defense, and beginning forms for several styles.I highly recommend this book to anyone exploring the martial arts, especially new martial artists, and parents interested in enrolling their kids in martial arts.For an in-depth book on forms (kata), also get Mr. Yates' excellent "The Complete Book of Tae Kwon Do Forms." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Master of the Human Spirit
My brothers, and now, my children, and nieces and nephews have all been students at Master Park's Dojang for over twenty (20) years. My brother met his wife at the East Meadow School, where they both attained their Black Belts. There is no question that the Grandmaster is the pre-eminent Tae Kwon Do practitioner and ...instructor in the States and, probably, the world. In a time when martial arts practice is devoid of the spiritual and mental context, it is refreshing to witness a program that cultivates the mind, the spirit and the soul as well as the body. It is so important, in our time, for our children to be reminded of the importance of discipline, honesty, hard work and perseverance. This is why in a field of so many Martial Arts Schools to choose from there really was no choice for me in where to send my children. They have benefited so much from the program and they love it. My youngest son has even improved in his concentration and his school work has improved. I am so pleased he has the chance to study in such a rich program.

On an additional note, I wrote that I have been honored to know Grandmaster for over twenty years. I recently was honored with a copy of his new book TAE KWON DO: My Life And Philosopy. I picked up the book expecting to learn little that I hadn't heard or learned over the years. How wrong I was. I was blown away by the book. I could not put it down. It is a bold, brave, intelligent and enjoyable work. As he always does, Grandmaster exercised great courage in writing a personal, revealing work that touched me. It also made me laugh out loud at times at the charming, witty stories of Grandmaster's international adventures. The book nicely summarizes the Philosophies that have helped to make the Grandmaster's programs so successful. I didn't think I could have more respect for Grandmaster Park. After reading this book I discovered he is not only a Grandmaster of Tae Kwon Do but also of the human spirit.

Martial Arts Philosophy
Master Park has done a great job in putting his life story and his martial arts philosophy together in a very readable and enjoyable book.The story of his life prior to coming to America is enlightening but it is his life in America that is at times tragic but that tells the real story of his life and art.I admire Master Park for his willingness to share not only the high points of his life but also the incredible lows that seems to have strengthened his life, his family and his art.

I wish that I had the opportunity to train with and learn from Master Park.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Reference Set for Chang Hon Forms (old style)
The three volumes of Hyung by Master Cho are an excellent reference set for the Chang Hon patterns. The pictures are clear and the descriptions are fairly good. Used in conjunction with the excellent videos that are available through Master Cho should provide you with everything you need to complement classroom instruction and forms review. (There are even cheaper packages available from Master Cho with all of the books and videos packaged together).

The videos run through each form twice, once with Master Cho and a partner showing everything move by move and explaining it and the second with Master Cho doing it with "full speed and power". Seeing his intensity and focus will probably convnice you, as it did me, that these are the best videos out there for the patterns. The books and videos have a very few differences but not substantially.

WORD OF WARNING: Master Cho does his forms "old-style", without sine wave and with a very solid/powerful Shotokan-esque hard expression of the patterns. He learned the forms quite some time ago and the order he does them is different. He only has 20 of the forms and does Ko-Dang instead of Juche. So, if you are an ITF school, you may want to check out the order and the differences in doing them before committing to them. Personally I love the books and videos both. ... Read more

Product Description
AWARD FINALIST

Originally published in 1983, this authoritative work has been the guide for thousands of Taekwondo Black Belts as they advanced in their training. Whether your training is for self-defense, forms competition, or for preparation for Olympic games, this newly revised edition provides beginner/intermediate to advance level training to assist you on your journey in Taekwondo.

Contents include:

* History, Philosophy, and Meditation.
* Hand and Foot Techniques.
* Sparring Techniques.
* Self-defense Techniques.
* Breaking Techniques.
* Nine Black Belt Forms - required for promotion by the World Taekwondo Federation, and used in sanctioned international Taekwondo competitions.
* Eight Taegeuk Forms - required for promotion of all color belts and 1st dan black belt, and used in sanctioned international Taekwondo competitions.
* Rules and regulations of the World Taekwondo Federation including sparring and poomsae competitions.

The popularity of Taekwondo is ever increasing. This is apparent in the tens of millions of practitioners worldwide, and by the inclusion of Taekwondo in the summer Olympic games. With all its popularity, it is paramount that the art be handed down in a clear, knowledgeable, and sustainable way - this book does just that. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

advancing in /tkd
A must for all TKD students and instructors an invaluable resource , Richard Chun covers almost everything TKD

A core addition to any and all personal or professional martial arts instructional reference collections.
Richard Chun is a 9th Dan, making him one of the highest ranked masters of Taekwondo anywhere in the world. With "Advancing In Tae Kwon Do", Chun draws upon his more than fifty years of experience and expertise to introduce martial arts students to the history, philosophy, and meditation underpinnings of Taw Kwon Do, then goes on to provide profusely illustrated instructions on Tae Kwon Do hand and foot techniques, sparring techniques, self-defense techniques, breaking techniques, the nine Black Belt forms required for promotion by the World Taekwondo Federation and internationally sanctioned Taekwondo competitions, as well as the rules and regulations of the World Taekwondo Federation - including sparring and Poomsae (form) competitions. Authoritative, comprehensive, superbly organized, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "Advancing In Tae Kwon Do" is a core addition to any and all personal or professional martial arts instructional reference collections. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed to meet the needs of students who have mastered the basics and come up through the ranks of the lower-level belts, Black Belt Tae Kwon Do offers everything readers need to complete their training, from advanced sparring to breaking techniques. Following the format of its predecessor (Tae Kwon Do: The Ultimate Reference Guide to the World's Most Popular Martial Art, Updated Edition, 1999. ISBN 0-8160-3839-2), it combines a complete explanation of the physical aspects of the martial art with a full description of the philosophical elements of its training. Among the topics covered are: practice, warm-up, and advanced techniques and forms; self-defense techniques; and sparring strategies and techniques. Extensive appendixes include a special section on opening a successful Tae Kwon Do school; official rules of competition; and weight classes, governing bodies, and international organizations and associations. Two glossaries translate terms from English to Korean and Korean to English. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Referfence Book for ITF Forms
This is basically a reference book for students learning the ITF forms.Other than that it is pretty mediocre.

First of all is the section on history. Most of the history goes on and on about the ancient arts of which little is known and which is not very relevant for what is being done today...as with most TKD histories, they are trying to tie the ancient glory days with what they do today.The reality of the situation is that by the 20th century not much was known of the old martial arts...people in villages practiced a folk art involving kicking and while this was a pretty good self-defense, it was mostly practiced as a competition between the young men, like villagers in Europe would practice various styles of wrestling.In Eastern thought, being kicked would be a real put down, much more than being hit with the hand.In the 1940s Koreans who had been sent overseas were returning, a number had studied Japanese and Chinese styles but evidently Shotokan was the most common.Several of the founders of Tae Kwon Do styles were low ranking Black Belts in Shotokan and up until the 1960s, Shotokan forms were practiced by the Tae Kwon Do schools.My last point in regard to the history is that the WTF authors never mention the men who founded the different styles and put the TKD organization together, thus avoiding any mention of their major competing organization the ITF which really did much of the foundational work and spreading the style of TKD around the world.

The section that really deserves criticism is "Practical Applications."It shows a series of self-defense situations but does not use TKD in the defense movements...just standard semi-jujitsu moves that you see most everywhere.Where are the great TKD kicks when you need them?The first scenario shows a double handed grip on the victim's wrist and the defense is to reach through the attacker's hands, grab your own wrist and pull up on it to free the hand, then attack with an elbow.To start with, the attacker has tied up one of your weapons with two of his.This gives you the opportunity to use your free hand and either of your feet in a counter attack...why not hit the guy in the face a couple of times, or use a side kick to the stomach?Also either of the two knife defenses gives the attacker great opportunity to cut the hell out of your arm...especially the second, blocking a downward knife strike with a upper block...even if you block it, it is just too easy to get cut.Mr. Gerrard's bio says that he teaches law enforcement officers...hopefully he knows better and didn't have much input into this part of the book.This section, and perhaps the section of sparring should have been left out of what is a decent reference work.

I was amused by the chapter on Rule of Etiquette for TKD practitioners. My favorite was "When having a conversation with another person, you must be careful not to spray saliva." "You must eat food with your mouth closed so as not to show the inside of your mouth" was another.

Awesome Reference Guide
Note: I wouldn't suggest that anyone try using this book (or its companion for the first eight forms) without an instructor. Learn your forms at the Do Jang. I find, though, that my Master shows me a form, but when I get home I find myself stuck on a detail. These books are excellent for refreshing my memory.

When I got the books I took them to show my 7th dan WTF Master. Not only did he say they were great books, but he was friends with two of the authors. That reassured me that the books must be accurate. He wouldn't recommend one if he thought I'd learn something incorrectly!

Helps Out
Mr. Park has created a great set of books for any Tae Kwon Do student. It has really helped me when learning or reviewing forms.

good reference book for WTF forms
This is a good reference book to have on one's shelf. It offers good advice in the matters of teaching others and operating a quality school.It clearly illustrates (with photos and text) all the currently approved WTF black belt forms and some advanced sparring techniques.In my opinion however, most of the sparring techniques discussed do not utilise the tighter, more streamlined kicks available to the taekwondoist.

Excellent book on TKD
First, you should know this book is for the WTF style and forms, not the ITF, which is different. But whatever style you practice, all told, about 40 million people in 167 countries do TKD, making it probably the world's most popular martial art.

I am mainly a karate, kung fu, and escrima practitioner and teacher these days, but I also have a black belt in TKD, and learned many of my most important lessons and basics from first studying TKD. My teacher was the great Ju Hwarn Kwark, who very few people know of, but he was possibly the greatest kicker and puncher I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot.

The book starts with a brief history of TKD, the presents two brief chapters on basic techniques, prearranged sparring, and advanced techniques. The author discusses its popularity as a sport and much of the book seems aimed at helping a prospective instructor become competent enough to open his own school.

Most of the book, however, is devoted to the forms. In fact, 142 pages of the book is just on that. So if you're looking for a book mainly on sparring and practical techniques this might not be for you, although there's a good chapter on that after the forms.

There is also a section on self-defense, and several useful appendices, including rules of competition, weight divisions, referee signs, and a glossary of terms.

One little piece of trivia. You may notice that the stepping pattern of the last form, Il Yo, follows a Swast_ka pattern--except the Oriental version of this is the reverse of the N_zi one. In fact, this symbol on maps in Japan denotes a Buddhist temple, and is a common Buddhist symbol.

... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the origin, techniques, promotion system, equipment, and competition system of tae kwon do. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Tae Kwon-Do Book for Kids
I got this book for my 8 year old when she started TaeKwon-do last year. The only good thing about the book was it told you what order the belts went and what the meaning of them were. The kicks were hard to follow and there was not any basic kicks in it.

Don't you mean "The Incomplete Tae Kwon Do for Kids"
There are minimal photos in this book and except for the cover, they were all photos of black-belt-looking adults doing kicks that only an expert kid could do.I'd recommend the other "Tae Kwon Do For Kids."There are excellent demonstration photos and the book is cheaper to boot.Much better for beginning kids.

A Great TKD Book for Kids
I'm 10 years old and a brown belt. I really liked reading this book. I met Mr. Perez at the National Championships last summer. He's a really good teacher in person and he's a reaaly good author too. He doesn't teach youthe "super secret flying whirly kick" but how to win with thebasics instead. My dad likes it too.

A great comprehensive guide for beginner Taekwondo students.
A wonderful book in a crowded category of muddy manuals and poorly written translations. It's everything a kid (or parent) who aspires to pursue Taekwondo needs to know and what to expect. Herb Perez is not only anOlympic Gold Medallist and a terrific role model but also an articulateauthor spokesman for the martial art.

A Well Written Guide to Taekwondo for Kids and Parents
As a parent of of a budding martial artist I found this book to be very complete and demystifying. Taekwondo is a complicated and demanding sport and Mr. Perez goes through the basics thoroughly but without resorting tokarate jargon. I bought the book for my son for Christmas. In addition tobeing a world class athelete Mr. Perez is an accomplished writer. I canhighly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Presenting a clear and authentic introduction to the Korean national sport, this book explores both the physical and the intellectual essence of Tae Kwon Do. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

THE Best Reference for Tae Kwon Do
I bought this book in 1985, and here in 2006, I still consider it to be THE best reference for Korean Martial Arts. While many martial arts books have come and gone, this book is one of a handful worth keeping.

Chen has taken on the challenge of explaining the movements required for each form in the sequence of belt level by first describing how the basic movements are made then putting together for the individual forms.

The burden for success in this approach is on the photography - and that is where this book excels.

Quality Book Containing Quality Information
In an age where low quality has become the rule, Richard Chun's Book "Tae Kwon Do: The Korean Martial Art" is an exception.This was the first of the widely available large taekwondo books covering World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) style.

Author Richard Chun himself is originally of the Moo Duk Kwan, and was part of the contingent which split from Grandmaster Hwang Kee to remain with the Korea Taekwondo Federation (later the World Taekwondo Federation).In observing and considering the techniques in this book, those who have experienced other martial arts will be able to see the "old" style of Taekwondo, with the wider stances and solidity reminiscent of Japanese karate.

This volume contains the information required for the rank of Cho-Dan (first degree black belt) in most Taekwondo schools.Chapters cover history, stretching, strength exercises, stances, walking and moving, striking, vital points, hand, arm and head techniques, blocking, kicking techniques (including wheel kicks, jumping, and a technique I've never seen anywhere else--the handstand double foot kick!), advanced stances and combinations, sparring, self defense, breaking and special techniques, equipment in training, sport taekwondo (WTF style), and 9 forms: ki-cho 1, and the 8 Pal-Gwe.

The volume is hardcover, with cloth-covered boards and dust jacket.The photographs are crisp and clear, the paper is quality acid resistant, and the binding is (gasp) sewn.This book really is a work of art and a fine tribute to the practice of Taekwondo as a martial art.

Tae Kwon Do The Korean Martial Art
I used this book years ago when taking the sport myself and now my children are referencing it with great success.Excellent illustrations of basic stances, kicks, punches, etc.Outstanding section detailing Pal-Gwe forms.The down side is, Taegeuk forms are not included.

The Best D*** TKD book, ever!
Well, it's one of the bext out there, judging by the reviews posted so far.I have a personal conncetion to this book, as my "Tio Jimmy" was featured throughout the book along with several of his students.My "Tio Jimmy" was James Rene Diaz, a 4th Level Master who as a young adult, started to study as one of Master Chun's original students in New York.He eventually came to Miami and started a school on South Beach in the 70's.While there, he taught over 20 black belts, until his untimely death from cancer in April 1983.Many of the outdoor photos were taken at the Japanese Gardens and Tea Houses on Watson Island, just between downtown MIami and South Beach.

The Essential Book of TKD
Mr. Chun has done a marvelous job. Tae Kwon Do explains everything that a White Belt to Black Belt should know. For the beginner , it has a complete discussion and illustrations of stances, techniques, and forms. For the Black Belt, a complete review of all techniques (except the Koryo forms 1 and 2)I was hoping for an informative section on breaking but it was obvious that the iron hand techniques were too advanced for a non All Black Belt Book (1st dan up)The breakdown of the forms in short and long depictions is excellent, especially when you don't remember all of the steps in a form,or when you are first learning a form. He omits the compleat Kicho forms ( but includes them is his other two books)The self defense section however,is for the beginner only. Black belts should be able to invent better additions for self defense applications. This book is used as an "informative bible"and review primer in my dojo. A MUST BUY. ... Read more

Product Description
Forms are the central curriculum of Tae Kwon Do. Developing a repertoire of effective techniques to battle multiple opponents is essential to becoming a true martial artist.

Inside these covers are detailed descriptions for 21 classic Tae Kwon Do forms--fully illustrated, move by move. The author analyzes various actions, reactions, and combinations for their purpose and intention. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great Reference book for students of Chung Do Kwan
This book does exactly what it says it does, it acts as a reference book for students of the art of TKD, Chung Do Kwan.While learning the forms from this book would be hard to impossible if you didn't have a background in Chung Do Kwan, learning forms you didn't know, or sequences you couldn't remember if you have a background in Chung Do Kwan is pretty easy.

The pictures are well drawn, and the descriptions help quite a bit, especially if you have learned the forms, or know how the CDK forms flow and what eccentricities they have.

A Must Have Reference
Learning new forms can often be difficult and remembering them can be equally challenging.This book is an awesome resource to have around.Its unique format allows you to quickly find that spot in the form where you are "stuck" and gets you back training in a matter of minutes.Once you have learned the "navigational lingo" (one reviewer saw this as a weakness in the book) you will have no trouble working through the forms.Short of having Grandmaster Hillson standing by your side, this book is the best thing you can do for your forms development.As a 4th degree black belt, I have opened this book many times as I have progressed through nearly every form presented in its pages.

Indispensible Study Aid
I have turned to this book virtually every week since first obtaining a copy from Grandmaster Hillson about four years ago.It has been of immeasurable value in reviewing previously learned forms and aiding dojang study of newly taught forms.The text for each form is concise with every move sequentially depicted by a clear drawing.Numerous applications are explained furthering the reader's bunkai study.In many cases, variations of movements are provided.Even if your school teaches these forms with slight differences, noting these alone is a great learning tool.The short, enjoyable, narrative preceding the forms section on balance, mind, importance of forms and history can't help but cause reader introspection.This book is an absolute must for practitioners studying the included forms and also for those of us wishing to expand our horizons.Brad Bransky, Flagstaff, Arizona.

Good book.
I like this book. It has helped me work on forms for competition that are outside the traditional TKD forms that I do.I wish there was a compliment book for ITF forms. The drawings are surprisingly easy to follow.

Gift
This book was given as a gift.The person that received the book is taking a class on Tae Kwon Do and this book should help him to do well in the class. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (15)

Great Book for Beginners
This is the only taekwondo book I own and it has served me very well.The section on stretching is wonderful.The photos, in general, are great.I refer to it regularly, especially the chapter covering the poomsae.I feel that this book has the right balance for anyone in their first year of taekwondo: clear instruction, great photos, and enough depth to give a feel for the subject.

Great book, great man, I love my dad...
Tae Kwon Do Basics, Techniques and Forms: The Indomitable Martial Art of Korea

This book was a long time coming and I'm proud that our father's technique is being shared in this book. The hope is that many would be able to learn from this book and instill confidence, self-discipline and self-respect in those that choose to practice it.

Congratulations and Happy New Year!

Book for any TaeKwonDo student
I really enjoyed learning from this book.There are so many Martial Arts books out these days, it's hard to find one that is really good.After looking at many books, I found that the author is the most qualified teacher in the TaeKwonDo world.Grandmaster Park is the best by far!Great Book!!!

Best Martial Art Book Ever
I bought this book for my Grandson and he just loves it!He said it was the best Christmas Gift ever!He loved all the color photos and the description was so easy to understand I could follow it too!Can't wait until GrandMaster Park's next book comes out!!!

This Book is A Gold Medal Winner!
This book co-authored by Taekwondo Hall of Famer GM Dong Keun Park
offers much for both the beginning and advanced student. The photos and
explanation of techniques are clear and crisp. Highly recommended!

Gerard Robbins,
3 Times National Taekwondo Champion
Competitor / 2nd World Taekwondo Championships ... Read more

Product Description
Tae Kwon Do is a combination of art and sport, defence and discipline. The author gives a lesson in the techniques and training needed to perfect this art with diagrams and illustrations to clarify techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

This book is confusing
This book is basically lists of things rather than text which makes ithard to learn from. The forms drawings are small and hard to follow (andsome of the names are spelled wrong). There are a lot of better books outthere that cover each of the subjects in this book in more detail.

Doesn't show alot
This book shows pal-gwe forms 1-8, tae-kook forms 1-8, koryo, kumgang, andtae book.If you are looking for a book on the technique of kicks,punches, etc., then don't by this book(it shows some but doesn't have muchpictures for them).The pictures of the forms are sort of detailed butvery small compared to the ones in "Tae kwon do: the ultimatereference guide to the world's most popular martial art." Anotherthing is: the stances and hand/kicking techniques are explained in korean.This may help u study korean terms better but it is sort of a waste oftime. For a book thats $10.36, i'd say its not bad for the price.

Great reference for TKD Forms!
This book is useful to the student of TKD if only for thedetailed drawings and descriptions of the taegeuk, palgwe, koryo, etc. poomse.Also contains some history, Korean-English vocabulary, and descriptions of basic TKD techniques ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The best on the ITF forms of Taekwondo
This is probably the best and most efficient account of the Taekwondo Hyungs. The photographs are clear, and the movements are relatively obvious. I have read this book for a long time. However, on the downside, Iwould like to add that the verbal description of the forms is very short.What is most irritating, is that the application of the forms are notexplicitly dealt with. There are some verbal indications given at thebeginning of each Hyung, but the lack of explicitly shown applications,stops me from giving it 5 stars.

Also, it could have benefitted from somearrows, indicating movement.

Perhaps these minor downpoints could beremedied in later editions?

In all, still probably the best serieswritten on the Hyungs. ... Read more

Product Description
AWARD FINALIST

Originally published in 1976, this authoritative work has been the guide for thousands of Taekwondo practitioners as they advance in their training. Whether your training is for self-defense, forms competition, or in preparation for the Olympic games, this newly revised edition provides beginner to Black Belt level training to assist you on your journey in Taekwondo.

Contents include:

* History, Philosophy, and Principles
* Calisthenics
* Stances
* Basic Striking - Human Weapons, and Vital Points
* Movements and Footwork
* Strikes, Blocking and Kicking Techniques
* Sparring and Breaking Techniques
* Self-Defense Techniques
* Eight Palgwe Forms - recommended for promotion of all color belts and 1st dan black belt by The United States Taekwondo Association (USTA), and used in sanctioned International Taekwondo competitions.
* Eight Taegeuk Forms - required for promotion of all color belts and 1st dan black belt by The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), and used in sanctioned International Taekwondo competitions.
* Rules and regulations of the World Taekwondo Federation, including sparring and Poomse (forms) competitions

The ever-increasing popularity of Taekwondo is apparent by the dedication of the tens of millions of practitioners worldwide, and by the inclusion of Taekwondo in the summer Olympic games. With all its popularity, it is paramount that the art be handed down in a clear, knowledgeable, and sustainable way - this book does just that. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

I'm very impressed.
I just recieved this book in the mail yesterday, and finished reading the entire thing last night. It was arouind 1:00 AM befoe I went to bed.

I had been looking for a Taekwondo manual to use as a referance for some time, but I've been consitantly disapointed by the quality of books printed nowadays. They tend to focus entirely on Taekondo as a sport (something that irritates me, coming from a strictly non-competitive school that pursues Taekwondo as an art) and have rather poor instructions for poomsae.

This book is much different. While it does have a chapter devoted to Taekwondo as a sport and the rules of tournaments (a chapter I skipped), the majoirty of the book is focused on basic techniques, training, sparring, self-defense, and poomsae. The pictures are very clear and serve well to demonstrate the different positions and movements.

I am also pleased see the deep stances of Mr. Chun and his students. Not as quite as deep as my master teaches, but a refreshing change to the lazy, relaxed stances of the World Taekwondo Federation these days. This, along with the various punches and hand strikes (something ignored by many dojangs) make it a valuable resource for pratitioners of traditoonal Taekwondo.

I have only a few issues with the book. First, the history section is a little revisonist, useing the name Taekwondo for much older Korean martial arts such as Taekkyun that are almost nothing like the modern martial art. This is probably a politically motivated attept to distance Taekwondo from Karate, the style it is most directly related to. Second, there are a variety of self defense techniques, but they tend to be a bit complicated. They would certainly work, but I prefer much more straight forward methods. In defending against a grab to the wrist, Chun teaches a variety of arm locks to break the elbow and wrist, where I would simply punch the attacker with my free hand. Perhaps I'm just more of a cave man than him. Also, the book includes self defense against a hand shake (the first self defense demonstrated), making me question Mr. Chun's sanity. Finally, while there is a lot of detail in explainging the palgwe poomsaes, the taegeuks are not shown as thoroughly. Since they were not in the original edition, there were no photos of the positons to use, and so they use drawings instead rather than take new photos that would look out of place next to the ones from 1976.

Complaints aside, I would consider this a very valuable asset for anyone who does Taekwondo and is probably the best and most complete book available on the subject.

Good, but if it matches your style
The patterns that are in this are specific to what Mr. Chun learned. The TKD patterns I learned where from a different federation. The reason I bought this bought was mainly to review them. So make sure they match up. Overall, its got all the kicking, punching and blocking detail you could ask for.

TKD by Richard Chun
What is not covered in advancing in TKD is covered in this volume , highly recommended.

Fantastic companion
This is an ideal book for someone taking Taekwondo.This, like most books, has the brief section in the front of the book discussing history and those sorts of things.Its a very brief section, however, because most of the book is filled with material from the art. (If you want history and philosophy I recommend Doug Cook's Taekwondo Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior).

The bulk of this book consists of well-taken photographs which demonstrate strikes, blocks, kicks, stances, etc.With names in both english and korean to help the students learn the terms.

The photographs are taken step-by-step (when applicable) and will help the student study the strikes or forms between classes.It is very easy to follow, and is well put together.

Another element of this book that I'm fond of is the fact that they cover basic falls, rolls, throws, and even a couple of techniques from the ground (i.e. You're mounted, etc).These are things which people in any martial art should be familiar with.Also there are some realistic scenario drills.Such as techniques for being pickpocketed, or how to defend yourself if you're seated at a table.

And finally (the reason I bought the book), is the fact that they book covers all 8 palgwe forms (Also, all 8 taegeuk forms as well).The diagrams are well-drawn, easy to follow (assuming you're learning the form in class as well).The diagrams include instructions for which strikes/blocks to execute, and include a pattern to demonstrate floor movements.

Unlike the other taekwondo book I reviewed, which was more history and philosophy, this book is almost all technical.Its great, and well worth the cash if you're looking to make your study a bit easier.Recommended.

Everything I Expected
This book was helpful in reinforcing techniques I am learning in my Tae Kwon Doe class.It is a little dry, but it gets the point across. ... Read more

Product Description
In this classic volume, illustrated with nearly 1,000 photographs, the author explains when, where, why, and how to best apply the deadly techniques of Tae Kwon Do.This book gives pinpoint explanations of the advantages and disadvantages of each move, analyzing them step by step from offensive, defensive, and counterattacking perspectives.The techniques presented are applicable to any martial arts system, making this book of interest not only to practitioners of Tae Kwon Do but also of karate and kung fu. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Super Book.
This is the best book on Traditional TKD, or Katate I have ever seen. Keep in mind, this is not Olympic style TKD of the 21st century, this is good old solid Ji Do Kwan, Tae Kwon Do. Master Cho covers things in this book that show TKD to be the "art" it is. Anyone can do the things in this book. It just takes time, and practice.
This book also shows that TKD does indeed have good, solid hand techniques, and defenses.
This book is NOT magic, and do not exspect any "tricks" to make you a master overnight. Master Cho has given a lot of information, and it works. All you need to do is practice!
Get the book!

Recomendado para los quehablan espanol.
Aunque no sepas mucho el ingles podras entender el libro, ya que tiene suficientes fotos bien esplicadas de cada tecnica. El maestro y autor del libro es muy bueno, yo pertenesco a su federacion de TAE KWON DO.

The Korean Martial Arts Bible
this book is the ultamate book on free fighting and actual combat situation, it covers all grounds on the primary techniques needed to do either and it is very well compiled and written and done in an easy to understand way , you cant get better information on this subject anywhere

No better reference work available on the subject.
Outstanding demonstration and explanation of this highly popular style ofkarate which,moreso than most places great emphasis on foot technique.Thetext is easy to understand and its' thoroughness of detail and display ofskill in technique make it second only to Jordan Roth's masterwork BlackBelt Karate.It must be said that this book would probably not serve anovice student too well as there are some moves which could prove difficultto master,like the front and side-limbering kicks and the flying roundhousekick.This book should perhaps be best viewed as a companion piece to Roth'sas there are several techniques notcovered in that book,such as the hookkick and the rising heel kick.Great emphasis is placed onsparring so Iwould say that it is absolutely essential to work with a partner whenreferring to this book.As one who enjoys the kicking techniques of karatethis book definitely comes highly recommended.Class cover shot of aperfectly executed side thrust kick enhances this book's alreadyconsiderable appeal and usefulness. ... Read more

Product Description
Softcover Size: 8 1/2 x 11 with 274 pages. Written by Grand Master Sell and his wife Master Brenda Sell. Has been proclaimed as the most complete book in Taekwondo. It represents 26 years of continuous study in the art and science of Taekwondo. It contains the best teaching methods, tecniques and curriculum for each belt level, plus the new Taegeuk Poomse. It also has hundreds of photos and illustrations showing basic stretch tecniques, basic fundamentals, poomse (forms), one-step spar, free style sparring, self-defense, breaking techniques and much more with simple explanations and philosophy of each. It is must for student, instructor and master. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent!!!
This is the most informative book. I use it in conjunction with class. Both the pictures and the explanations together help for the history, forms and kicking and punching techniques. ... Read more