[Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-do Hae Sul - Real Applications to the ITF Patterns: Vol 2] [By: Anslow, Stuart] [July, 2012]

by Stuart Paul Anslow

..". the art merely became like a domesticated wild cat, content to sleep whilst still retaining a savagery at its heart enabling it to bare its teeth when required." - John Dowding, 4th degree Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-do Hae Real Applications To The ITF Patterns, Vol. 2 continues where the ground breaking Vol. 1 left off. In Vol. 2 the senior patterns of the Ch'ang Hon System up to 2nd Dan, have gone through the same in-depth analysis as the lower grade patterns originally did, with each one having been examined, dissected and rebuilt to help the student of Taekwon-do to understand what is really contained within the patterns we practice in Taekwon-do. Patterns Hwa-Rang, Choong-Moo, Kwang-Gae, Po-Eun, Ge-Baek, Eui-Am, Choong-Jang, Ko-Dang and Juche have been examined in-depth to find more realistic applications for their movements - based upon what the author refers to as their 'DNA'. In this volume, even the ready postures and stances have been examined and the results are documented in step by step photographic detail, using over 2,200 photographs. Comprising over 350 pages, this book not only shows more realistic applications to the Red Belt, 1st Dan and 2nd Dan patterns, but also explains how it is possible to achieve these applications in the first place, why General Choi, Hong Hi, the founder of Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-do couldn't make the same conclusions, as well as expelling a falsehood that has been with Taekwon-Do since its inception! After reading this book, the patterns of Taekwon-do no longer seem just a collection of movements, performed in a dance-like fashion for competitions or gradings, but become realistic techniques that can actually be utilised as real world self defence applications - making this a must-read companion to Vol. 1, for all students who study and practice Taekwon-do.

Hardcover

First published July 1, 2012

Reviews

[Bert Edens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A continuation of Volume 1, this volume is just as good. It does not get into the in-depth discussions of the origin of the patterns and taekwon-do itself, which is fine, as that's adequately covered in Volume 1. This allows Mr. Anslow to focus on the nine patterns included in this book.

Anyone who is interested in not just taekwon-do, but the applications behind martial arts techniques in general, should check these series out. It will definitely make you think.