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Taekwondo: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior
Learn the Whole Story Behind the World's Most Popular Martial Art! Although millions of people around the world practice the fascinating art of Taekwondo, so little is known about its history, principles or philosophy. It is time to find out just what Taekwondo is all about! Learn how principles such as honor, perseverance, and dedication will enhance your daily life, how the philosophical and physical tenets combine to form not only a way of living, but a solid system of self-defense, and why these concepts are not just quaint ideals, but more important than ever in today's age. Taekwondo's Ancient Wisdom is not only a 'must read' for every practitioner of any other martial art, but for everyone who seeks to learn from our collective past to better navigate through today's confusing times.
- GenresMartial ArtsPhilosophy
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2001
28 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Doug Cook
9 books11 followers Master Doug Cook holds a 6th dan black belt in the Korean martial art of taekwondo and is certified as an instructor by the United States Taekwondo Association and World Taekwondo Federation. He is author of three best-selling books focusing on taekwondo entitled: Taekwondo--A Path to Excellence,released in 2009 a "finalist for the USA Book News Award",Traditional Taekwondo - Core Techniques, History, and Philosophy, a finalist for ForeWord magazine's "Book of the Year Award,"and Taekwondo--Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior. His fourth book, Taekwondo Black Belt Poomsae-Original Koryo and Koryo was co-authored with Grandmaster Richard Chun. All four editions are published by YMAA Publication Center.
Master Doug Cook currently shares his knowledge of taekwondo by writing articles for TaeKwonDo Times, Black Belt, and the United States Taekwondo Association Journal. He also writes a monthly column, Traditions, for TaeKwonDo Times magazine. In 2010, he led a group of students on a Taekwondo Training and Cultural Tour to Korea, "the land of the morning calm" along with Grandmaster Richard Chun, 9th dan black belt. Chun is one of the five original masters responsible for bringing taekwondo education to this country.
In 2004 while attending a training camp in Korea, Master Cook received a Special Citation from the Korean government for forging a stronger
relationship between Korea and the United States through martial arts. Here in the United States, he was invited to speak as a guest lecturer at the University of Bridgeport. This university is the only institute of higher learning in the country to offer a major in martial arts.
Master Cook owns and operates the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located in Warwick, New York--an institute specializing in traditional martial arts instruction and internal Ki development. He can be reached via email at: chosuntkd@yahoo.com and is available for interviews, seminars, workshops, and lectures. His web address is: http://www.chosuntkd.com
Master Doug Cook currently shares his knowledge of taekwondo by writing articles for TaeKwonDo Times, Black Belt, and the United States Taekwondo Association Journal. He also writes a monthly column, Traditions, for TaeKwonDo Times magazine. In 2010, he led a group of students on a Taekwondo Training and Cultural Tour to Korea, "the land of the morning calm" along with Grandmaster Richard Chun, 9th dan black belt. Chun is one of the five original masters responsible for bringing taekwondo education to this country.
In 2004 while attending a training camp in Korea, Master Cook received a Special Citation from the Korean government for forging a stronger
relationship between Korea and the United States through martial arts. Here in the United States, he was invited to speak as a guest lecturer at the University of Bridgeport. This university is the only institute of higher learning in the country to offer a major in martial arts.
Master Cook owns and operates the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located in Warwick, New York--an institute specializing in traditional martial arts instruction and internal Ki development. He can be reached via email at: chosuntkd@yahoo.com and is available for interviews, seminars, workshops, and lectures. His web address is: http://www.chosuntkd.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 17, 2021
This is a incredible book. It is just what I was looking for. I had searched for a book on Tae Known Do history and philosophy for some time before finding this one. All I had found was stuff about competitions, the World Tae Known Do Association rather than the art itself, and even stuff about the business opportunity involved in opening a dojo. It was depressing. Then I found this book.
This book is about the art itself. It talks about the techniques, and the forms, and the other physical aspects, but only so far as they relate to the mental and spiritual aspects. That is where the art is. The physical nature of Tae Known Do is only a manifestation of the mental and spiritual aspects. It is thanks to this book that I can finally, sincerely, believe that.
I have a black belt in Tae Known Do, 1st degree, which is the lowest ranked black belt. After over a decade of attending classes from two dojos, I had little knowledge of the mental and spiritual aspects. Those aspects were not taught, referenced, or alluded to in the classes that I attended, neither the all-belts version nor the advance version. I did not seek them out, so I didn't notice at first. Over time, however, it began to distress me.
I started to think that the whole point of this practice was for tournaments. Not for belt promotion, self-defense, or personal growth, but for winning medals in tournaments. I was not a competitive guy; wining medals in tournaments was not my goal. I mean no disrespect to anyone who takes pride in tournament competition, or finds meaning and fulfillment in tournament preparation. For me, personally, it wasn't something that inspired me. I wanted to use the physical practice to develop as an individual; competing against oneself, so to speak.
This book helped me to do that. It contains all the stuff that I wished I was taught in the classes. I would have liked to have attended Master Cook's classes, because they sound like the full package of physical, mental and spiritual conditioning.
1. This book speaks of the history of Tae Known Do: where it came from, who started it, why they practiced it, and how the development of personal virtue merged with the development of fighting ability.
2. This book speaks of the distinction between "martial sport" and "martial art", and how a given dojo might give more weight to one or the other. It advises that a perspective student should examine a particular dojo and evaluate if it is the variety that they want to invest their time and energy (and, of course, their money). The book is respectful to both, though I feel Master Cook gives the impression that too much emphasis on "martial sport" can lead to students missing out on the majority of the art itself.
3. This book speaks of the value of Tae Known Do in every day life, and every day situations that do not include physical fighting. There is a chapter that is bookended with three such situations, where only one of them involves any physical fighting.
4. This book speaks of the role of a mentor in guiding students through their development as martial artists. In particular, it speaks of instructors who are worthy of being called a "mentor", and those who have no interest in truly teaching anyone, seeking only payment for classes.
5. This book goes into detail about the Tenants of Tae Known Do: Courtesy, Integrity, Preservice, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. I memorized these when I was a kid attending classes, but I didn't understand what they meant at the time (frankly speaking, neither in regards to the martial art or in general). This book explains what they mean in context of the martial art.
It is through Master Cook's book that I gained a deeper appreciation of my art. I was able to recognize, in hindsight, that the dojo I attended, particularly the second one, were more the "martial sport" sort of dojo. I was never going to find the "martial art" aspect that I was looking for at that second dojo because that was not its focus. That's fine.
Seriously, it's fine. It was a matter of contrasting expectations. I recall other black belts at the second dojo who excelled at "martial sport". At the time, they took practice and training more seriously than I did, so they were the better martial artists. I found what I was looking for in this book.
This is not a "how to punch/kick/block" sort of Tae Known Do book. This is book for those who want to know /more/ than how to do all of that. It can teach you the mental and spiritual aspects that underpin the kicking, punching and blocking.
Trickster Eric Novels gives Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior A+
This book is about the art itself. It talks about the techniques, and the forms, and the other physical aspects, but only so far as they relate to the mental and spiritual aspects. That is where the art is. The physical nature of Tae Known Do is only a manifestation of the mental and spiritual aspects. It is thanks to this book that I can finally, sincerely, believe that.
I have a black belt in Tae Known Do, 1st degree, which is the lowest ranked black belt. After over a decade of attending classes from two dojos, I had little knowledge of the mental and spiritual aspects. Those aspects were not taught, referenced, or alluded to in the classes that I attended, neither the all-belts version nor the advance version. I did not seek them out, so I didn't notice at first. Over time, however, it began to distress me.
I started to think that the whole point of this practice was for tournaments. Not for belt promotion, self-defense, or personal growth, but for winning medals in tournaments. I was not a competitive guy; wining medals in tournaments was not my goal. I mean no disrespect to anyone who takes pride in tournament competition, or finds meaning and fulfillment in tournament preparation. For me, personally, it wasn't something that inspired me. I wanted to use the physical practice to develop as an individual; competing against oneself, so to speak.
This book helped me to do that. It contains all the stuff that I wished I was taught in the classes. I would have liked to have attended Master Cook's classes, because they sound like the full package of physical, mental and spiritual conditioning.
1. This book speaks of the history of Tae Known Do: where it came from, who started it, why they practiced it, and how the development of personal virtue merged with the development of fighting ability.
2. This book speaks of the distinction between "martial sport" and "martial art", and how a given dojo might give more weight to one or the other. It advises that a perspective student should examine a particular dojo and evaluate if it is the variety that they want to invest their time and energy (and, of course, their money). The book is respectful to both, though I feel Master Cook gives the impression that too much emphasis on "martial sport" can lead to students missing out on the majority of the art itself.
3. This book speaks of the value of Tae Known Do in every day life, and every day situations that do not include physical fighting. There is a chapter that is bookended with three such situations, where only one of them involves any physical fighting.
4. This book speaks of the role of a mentor in guiding students through their development as martial artists. In particular, it speaks of instructors who are worthy of being called a "mentor", and those who have no interest in truly teaching anyone, seeking only payment for classes.
5. This book goes into detail about the Tenants of Tae Known Do: Courtesy, Integrity, Preservice, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. I memorized these when I was a kid attending classes, but I didn't understand what they meant at the time (frankly speaking, neither in regards to the martial art or in general). This book explains what they mean in context of the martial art.
It is through Master Cook's book that I gained a deeper appreciation of my art. I was able to recognize, in hindsight, that the dojo I attended, particularly the second one, were more the "martial sport" sort of dojo. I was never going to find the "martial art" aspect that I was looking for at that second dojo because that was not its focus. That's fine.
Seriously, it's fine. It was a matter of contrasting expectations. I recall other black belts at the second dojo who excelled at "martial sport". At the time, they took practice and training more seriously than I did, so they were the better martial artists. I found what I was looking for in this book.
This is not a "how to punch/kick/block" sort of Tae Known Do book. This is book for those who want to know /more/ than how to do all of that. It can teach you the mental and spiritual aspects that underpin the kicking, punching and blocking.
Trickster Eric Novels gives Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior A+
April 27, 2024
Extraordinary!
This book is a great introduction to Taekwondo. It touches on the history, philosophy, ethics, and spiritual training practices of this formidable art. If you're new to the practice of Taekwondo, as I currently am, reading this book will help you to understand the bredth and depth of the art, and how it can improve every aspect of your life.
I intend to read more books by Mr. Cook, as well as some of the books mentioned in the extensive bibliography.
This book is a great introduction to Taekwondo. It touches on the history, philosophy, ethics, and spiritual training practices of this formidable art. If you're new to the practice of Taekwondo, as I currently am, reading this book will help you to understand the bredth and depth of the art, and how it can improve every aspect of your life.
I intend to read more books by Mr. Cook, as well as some of the books mentioned in the extensive bibliography.
May 12, 2024
Excellent and very insightful start. You could probably skip the last 50 pages as there's a lot of rambling and revisiting of earlier ideas.
Very helpful to me as someone who got into Taekwondo later in life.
Very helpful to me as someone who got into Taekwondo later in life.
February 17, 2018
Another well-done book by Master Cook
June 12, 2019
A great read for anyone following the Way of Kicking and Punching.
August 11, 2022
Excellent book explaining the history and philosophy behind Taekwondo!!! Truly inspirational!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews