Customer Reviews

Black Belt Korean Karate

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best martial arts books I have ever read. Most books fail to capture the way movements need to be executed by the entire body. This book caputers every element in a way that is easy for beginers to understand. A must for anyone who wants to become knowledgeable about the martial arts.

Recently, some friends from Taekwon-Do were married. Of all the books in my collection, this was the book that I tried to find for their present. When I started training, it was the only one available, so I have a special affection for it.

The one-strike TKD theory has become all but extinct. This book shows what one of the premier grandmasters of TKD expects from practioners and preserves some of the old traditions.

Of course, the whole section on forms is not "current".

What a shame this book is so tough to find! Author Duk-sung Son continues where he left off 15 years before in "Korean Karate: The Art of Tae Kwon Do" (1968), covering advanced material. This book is clearly geared towards high brown/red belts preparing for their cho-dan (first degree) test, as well as black belt level practitioners and instructors.

Son continues his style of completely examining each topic and answering just about any "why" a person might come up with. Throughout Son's tone is colleaguial, with advice given and concepts explained such as a parent might offer a beloved older child whom he wishes to see succeed. There is plenty to recommend continuous self-examination even for the highly skilled:

"If an instructor finds that many students fail their tests to move up to higher belt, he ought to examine his own methods. Perhaps his standards are higher than his ability to teach" (page 13)

Son also covers four additional black belt level forms, including Ship Su (hangetsu), Chul Gi 2 (naihanchi ee-dan), Yun-Bee (wan-su or Enpi), and Ja On (Jion). Son introduces this chapter with four solid pages of text explaining principles. One of several good examples of this would be:

"There is a principle which pertains to all forms, but particularely Black Belt ones. If it is fully understood and is incorporated into the practicing of forms, it becomes a part of the way the Tae Kwon Doist moves and is of great help to him as a fighter. It creates the essential element of balance. The principle is that, when the body is moved in any direction, it ought to be moved as if the center of gravity alone is being moved. [...]" (23)

Also of interest is the chapter on Women in Tae Kwon Do. It is clear that author Son rejected many of the "traditional" myths and stereotypes concerning female practitioners, offering insight to women and men about human nature and the realities of fighting. I believe also that the woman shown of pages 101 and 106 is Son's daughter, also an accomplished Chung Do Kwan practitioner.

This volume is definately more inclusive of sport elements, explaining tournament competition, rules, and advice for matches. Contents include:

1. Introduction: What, How & Why

2. The Meaning of the Black Belt

3. Four Black Belt Forms

4. Women in Taekwondo

5. Making the Black Belt into a Fighter

6. Breaking Techniques

7. Rules for Tae Kwon Do Matches

8. Match and Tournament Fighting

9. Street Fighting against an Unarmed Assailant

10. Street Techniques against an Armed Assailant

11. Conclusion

~Index

One of the better books out there on martial arts, specifically Tae Kwon Do and Karate.

Black Belt by Korean Karate is one of the best books ever written in regards to Taekwon Do martial arts. This book has provided me with great knowledge and has served as a very valuable source and supplement to my training. Thank you.

As a martial arts work, it is fair at best. But to students of Chun Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do, it is an essential addition to their library.