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Taekwon-Do
Taekwon-do (The Korean Art of Self-Defence) - A Text Book for Basic & Advanced Students Hardcover – 1986
533 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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About the author
Choi Hong Hi
20 books9 followersGeneral Choi Hong Hi, also known as General Choi, was a South Korean army general and martial artist who is a controversial figure in the history of the Korean martial art of taekwondo. Choi is regarded by many as the 'Founder of Taekwondo' - most often by International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) organizations.
Choi is listed in the Taekwondo Hall of Fame with various titles: "Father of Taekwon-Do," "Founder and First President of the International Taekwon-Do Federation," and "Founder of Oh Do Kwan." Choi is survived by his wife, Choi Joon Hee; his son, Choi Jung Hwa; two daughters, Sunny and Meeyun; and several grandchildren.
~ Wikipedia
Choi is listed in the Taekwondo Hall of Fame with various titles: "Father of Taekwon-Do," "Founder and First President of the International Taekwon-Do Federation," and "Founder of Oh Do Kwan." Choi is survived by his wife, Choi Joon Hee; his son, Choi Jung Hwa; two daughters, Sunny and Meeyun; and several grandchildren.
~ Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 29, 2017
Being as my wife and I taught a very successful TaeKwon-Do class for over fifteen years, I feel somewhat qualified to comment upon this book, which is basically an instruction manual. It is not that I am claiming to be the toughest guy on the block but rather someone who knows how to teach. You see, it was common at the time for martial art studios in our area to have trouble staying open through a lack of students. The ones that did manage to keep the doors open more often than not had to combine everyone young and old into the same class. On our first day of class we had forty kids in our class and I memorized their names before the class even started. After that there was a waiting lists for kids to join our class. That said, I will comment on the book.
This book was written by General Choi Hong Hi, who was a real general in the South Korean Army, and ironically, a great humanitarian. The various martial arts have been around for centuries, but it was General Choi who organized and refined this art as we know it today. Applying scientific principals to the techniques, he made them all the more effective. And he made them teachable. Before that, some people may have been good at it but they might not really have known why. One guy might hit harder than another but was it simply because he was stronger, or was he doing something different? It isn't so much, 'Wax on, wax off" as in the movie 'Karate Kid' as it is when employing what General Choi calls The Theory of Power. What this means is that in all your moves, whether for attack or defense, one uses concentration, breath control, reaction force, equilibrium, mass and speed. The meaning of all this is explained in detail. General Choi not only refined the techniques but also laid the foundation to make TaeKwon-Do an international sport.
Every martial art has something that makes it just a bit unique. In my opinion it is the jumping and flying techniques that separate it from other arts. My son, who is only average height, could take three steps and jump your average backyard chain link fence, and impact the target with his foot like a Tomahawk cruise missile. He could put me on my rear end! What was really impressive was watching some little Korean guy do the same thing. But it is not all jumping kicks, so don't let that discourage you if you rather not be airborne.
This book explains so much, so thoroughly. I have several martial art books that merely scratch the surface. They are usually written by some guy who claims some military titles and is an nth degree Black Belt somewhere, and can kill you by just staring at you. In this richly illustrated book there are warm ups, stretches, exercises, explanations of attacking tools and target areas, forms, correct uniform to wear and how to tie your belt, history, teaching aids, paperwork for judging, self defense, and even the official TaeKwon-Do song, which I have to admit I have never sang. There is more too, but let me pause to mention a bit about forms.
What I refer to as forms are the set routines that you learn which consist of various attack and defenses moves much like a choreographed dance or gymnastic routine. When performed correctly that is indeed what it looks like. Often it is the women, such as my wife, who could make the moves flow with such grace and beauty that you forget they could very well be doing bodily harm to some creep who should have kept his hands to himself. This book demonstrates all 24 of the official forms.
My copy was bought years ago and I did not see an ISBN number in it. That is a shame, because this book is a classic. If one were really serious about acquiring one I would check online or an International TaeKwon-Do Federation school. This is a hefty book and worth every penny.
This book was written by General Choi Hong Hi, who was a real general in the South Korean Army, and ironically, a great humanitarian. The various martial arts have been around for centuries, but it was General Choi who organized and refined this art as we know it today. Applying scientific principals to the techniques, he made them all the more effective. And he made them teachable. Before that, some people may have been good at it but they might not really have known why. One guy might hit harder than another but was it simply because he was stronger, or was he doing something different? It isn't so much, 'Wax on, wax off" as in the movie 'Karate Kid' as it is when employing what General Choi calls The Theory of Power. What this means is that in all your moves, whether for attack or defense, one uses concentration, breath control, reaction force, equilibrium, mass and speed. The meaning of all this is explained in detail. General Choi not only refined the techniques but also laid the foundation to make TaeKwon-Do an international sport.
Every martial art has something that makes it just a bit unique. In my opinion it is the jumping and flying techniques that separate it from other arts. My son, who is only average height, could take three steps and jump your average backyard chain link fence, and impact the target with his foot like a Tomahawk cruise missile. He could put me on my rear end! What was really impressive was watching some little Korean guy do the same thing. But it is not all jumping kicks, so don't let that discourage you if you rather not be airborne.
This book explains so much, so thoroughly. I have several martial art books that merely scratch the surface. They are usually written by some guy who claims some military titles and is an nth degree Black Belt somewhere, and can kill you by just staring at you. In this richly illustrated book there are warm ups, stretches, exercises, explanations of attacking tools and target areas, forms, correct uniform to wear and how to tie your belt, history, teaching aids, paperwork for judging, self defense, and even the official TaeKwon-Do song, which I have to admit I have never sang. There is more too, but let me pause to mention a bit about forms.
What I refer to as forms are the set routines that you learn which consist of various attack and defenses moves much like a choreographed dance or gymnastic routine. When performed correctly that is indeed what it looks like. Often it is the women, such as my wife, who could make the moves flow with such grace and beauty that you forget they could very well be doing bodily harm to some creep who should have kept his hands to himself. This book demonstrates all 24 of the official forms.
My copy was bought years ago and I did not see an ISBN number in it. That is a shame, because this book is a classic. If one were really serious about acquiring one I would check online or an International TaeKwon-Do Federation school. This is a hefty book and worth every penny.
March 14, 2022
An invaluable tool for any student of Taekwon-Do. If you can get your hands on this one, do buy it.
I enjoyed especially the philosophical parts in the book; it is a shame that general Choi Hong Hi did not manage to develop this part fully during his life. Also, the fundamental techniques part is simply a great reminder what you can do in this art.
Reading the book in 2022, there were also some weird parts, like how to build your own equipment, or the self-defence parts displaying flying kicks. The book is also clearly lacking in parts: for example, some of the three-step sparring pictures are just drawings instead of photos, and weirdly, the oath is hidden in the middle of the book – I would’ve thought it as important as the tenets, and thus appearing at the beginning of the book.
One final gripe: as I'm practising the martial art in Finland, and we use the Korean terminology, it would've been probably more helpful to have both the English and the Korean words for all techniques. But this is just a minor inconvenience.
I enjoyed especially the philosophical parts in the book; it is a shame that general Choi Hong Hi did not manage to develop this part fully during his life. Also, the fundamental techniques part is simply a great reminder what you can do in this art.
Reading the book in 2022, there were also some weird parts, like how to build your own equipment, or the self-defence parts displaying flying kicks. The book is also clearly lacking in parts: for example, some of the three-step sparring pictures are just drawings instead of photos, and weirdly, the oath is hidden in the middle of the book – I would’ve thought it as important as the tenets, and thus appearing at the beginning of the book.
One final gripe: as I'm practising the martial art in Finland, and we use the Korean terminology, it would've been probably more helpful to have both the English and the Korean words for all techniques. But this is just a minor inconvenience.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews