Customer Reviews

Hapkido: Korean Art of Self-Defense

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you don't know how to kick and have never thrown before - this book is for you. If you are currently taking hapkido lessons, are beyond your first couple of belts and want to supplement your master's curriculum - I wouldn't reccomend this book. Mr Shaw makes some broad statements about the history of Hapkido which may not be supported by the entire Hapkido community. However, Mr Shaw provides a very knowledgeable account of Korean history and lots of clear photographs.

As a practitioner of Hapkido for fifteen years and an Instructor for ten, I think this is a great book on Hapkido -- it really takes the reader to the essence of the art.

Hapkido is such an elaborate system of self defense, I think few people really realize how impossible it is to truly illustrate this art in the form of a book. Master Scott Shaw, does just that, however. Through very clear detailed descriptions and photographs, he instructs the reader in the true self defense aspects of Hapkido.

As one of the few practitioners of Hapkido in Hong Kong I have read Scott Shaw's articles on Hapkido in magazines like Black Belt and Taekwondo Times for years. So, it was no surpirse to me when I picked up this book that I found it to be well put together and a great source of information on this advanced system of self-defense. There are two things I really like about this book. The first is the presentation of the true history of Hapkdio. The second is that each self-defense technique is clearly and completely described. This book is a great source of reference on Hapkido. RECOMMENDED.

Having practice the martial arts for over ten years, I find this book to be an excellent resource for both the Korean martial art of hapkido and self defense. The history section is great. The ki section is very interesting. The self defense section is very detailed and teaches true hapkido. This book is a necessary addition to anyone library. Recommended.

Like most books on self-defense, Hapkido by Scott Shaw comes off as extremely difficult if you're a solitary practitioner. I recommend buying this book if 1) you're enrolled in a program and need a little extra practice, or 2) you have a sparring partner. This may seem like common sense, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't realize this. As far as the philosophy goes, he does have a good intro section detailing the birth and rise of Hapkido. His breathing meditations can't be beat, as I have used them in everything from relaxing to preparing for a test. Pick it up if you so please, but be forewarned.

Great book on Hapkido. The best one I have seen. No nonsense. This book really teaches straight ahead, usable, self defense.

The self defense techniques in this book are very well illustrated. Mostly, what I found exceptional is the historic truth that Master Shaw provided in detailing the history of the Korean martial arts and particularlly Hapkido. It really made me understand many things that as a history buff I had previously questioned about Hapkido.

I think this book does a great job of presenting an overview of the self defense techniques and the overall philosophy of Hapkido. I also like the history of hapkido that is presented in this book. It does a good job of providing the reader with a deeper understanding of the art.

This book is a good resource and a good addition to anyone's self defense library.

This very thin book covers some good variations on locks & throws as well as some interesting self-defense options. The information is a good supplement if you already have a strong foundation in these types martial arts techniques.
A very big drawback is that the sequential pictures are not clear at all, contrary to what is stated in the editorial review. Fortunately the instructions of each technique should suffice, but only if you are familiar with the type of technique presented.

I picked this book up a couple of years ago, read through it, and put it on the shelf with my hundred or so other books on the martial arts. After recently reading Scott Shaw's, "The Tao of Self Defense," I decided to take another look at it. I really enjoyed it the second time. As a Korean martial art stylist for virtually my entire life, what I really appreciate about this book is that it exactingly describes each Traditional Hapkido technique which is demonstrated in its photo illustrations. From this, the reader is allowed to gain a deeper understanding of how to actually peform each self defense application. The other books I have seen, and own, on Hapkido do not do this. They are mostly just filled with photos. Though this book has numerous photos, as well, the detailed description of each technique is what really sets this book apart. I would love to see a second volume.