Hapkido: Traditions, Philosophy, Technique [Hardcover]

Marc Tedeschi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2000

This ground-breaking work is the first to comprehensively document the traditions, philosophy, and techniques of one of the world's most varied, exciting, and practical martial arts—Hapkido. More than 9,000 photographs introduce over 2,000 martial techniques, including strikes, kicks, blocks, avoiding movements, holds, joint locks, chokes, throws, falls, tumbling, ground fighting, and weapons. Numerous closeups show precise grips, leverage methods, pressure points, hitting surfaces, and direction of force.

In addition to self-defense techniques, chapters are included on East Asian philosophy, martial arts history, anatomy, meditation, healing, and pressure point fighting, as well as in-depth, previously unpublished interviews with the world's preeminent Hapkido Grandmasters and renowned Grandmasters of related martial arts. Because of similarities between Hapkido and many other martial arts, including Taekwondo, Jujutsu, Aikido, Judo, and Tai Chi Chuan, this book is a useful reference for practitioners of all martial arts styles, from novices to masters. This unique work of exceptional quality is the definitive text on Hapkido, and destined to become a classic of martial arts literature.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is in my experience the most comprehensive ever written on a single martial art. It is superbly organized, highly informative, and contains thousands of outstanding photographs. An authoritative presentation of basic principles and techniques, integrated with modern innovations, makes this work indispensable to martial artists of virtually any style."—Professor Wally Jay, founder and grandmaster of Jujitsu America

"Hapkido is an overwhelming achievement. Its comprehensiveness and the quality of the writing and design are unmatched in martial arts literature. The author's integration of history, philosophy, and technique into the larger framework of martial arts as a whole makes this book invaluable to any martial artist. Tedeschi's treatment of weapons techniques is honest, practical, and well worth studying."—Nicklaus Suino, author of The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship

About the Author

Marc Tedeschi is an internationally respected artist, designer, educator, and martial arts master, who has practiced martial arts for more than 25 years, training extensively in Hapkido, Taekwondo, Jujutsu, Judo, and Karate. Tedeschi's unique ability to blend his skills as a designer, writer, and martial artist has resulted in numerous books, widely acknowledged for their design excellence, outstanding imagery, and clarity of content. He is the author of twelve works, including a unique series of general martial arts books that provide an in-depth look at the core concepts and techniques shared by a broad range of martial arts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1136 pages
• Publisher: Weatherhill; 1st edition (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0834804441
• ISBN-13: 978-0834804449
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 3.1 x 14.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #419,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Thorough of the Big Hapkido Books!, February 15, 2003

By 

C. J. Hardman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hapkido: Traditions, Philosophy, Technique (Hardcover)

There are two groups of people who will want a book this thorough: serious practitioners of Hapkido or Hapkido bases systems (kuk sool, hwarangdo, etc.), and martial artists who are serious about studying and understanding techniques from any source. Author Mark Tedeschi has worked hard to provide a complete and non-biased book on the subject of Korean Hapkido. From the beginning, Tedeschi offers a series of interviews with the masters of Hapkido based systems, allowing each teacher to offer his knowledge in his own words, rather than lumping this information together to form a general history (he has included a section on history as well, which includes pictures of Hapkido founder Choi Yong-shul and the logos of prominent hapkido associations). We hear the voices of Choi Yong-shul (1982 interview by Jong-bae Rim, Joseph sheya, Ken Cross, and Chin-il Chang), Han-jae Ji, Bong-soo Han, Kwang-sik Myung, Tae-man Kwon, Jong-bae Rim, Merril Jung, Joo-bang Lee, In-hyuk Suh, He-young Kimm, Wally Jay, and Willy Cahill. There are detailed sections on anatomy, accupoints and meridians, pressure points, philosophy, etc. The first part of the book, which includes all of this pertinent information (this is BEFORE the section on techniques!) is 180 pages!

Tedeschi doesn't skimp anywhere. Every section is complete--the technical portion of the book opens with revival techniques (most other books have this information at the end, if at all). Sections move on to stancesm rolling (for falls), attack points, hand strikes, standing kicks, knee strikes, ground kicks, kicks for blocking, jumping kicks, etc. Thoroughly covered are holds, locks, throws, strikes, combinations, etc. Tedeschi shows common and uncommon uses, and differs from the vast majority of books on Hapkido and other martial arts by offering the HOW and WHY of each technique, as well as helpful advice one would normally get from a teacher after oh say, 3-7 years and deep research on one's own. There are sections on weapons (the traditional hapkido weapons--staff, sword, short sticks, rope, cane, etc.), and a bibliography and index at the end. This is also the LONGEST book on ANY martial art that I know of, at 1136 pages. Tedeschi keeps no secrets, and puts on no airs. He is honest, humble, and to the point.

I can only wonder at the effort it has taken to assemble this volume, and the drive of the author to be so complete in his assessment and documentation. Although the other big Hapkido books are nice (Suh and Seo's books on Kuk Sool, Kimm's and Myung's books on Hapkido, Joo Bang Lee's volumes on Hwarangdo), nothing, on any grappling or striking art, compares to the depth of this single volume. That this book is so affordable surprises me--books with half the information sell for more! This volume is a value and a treasure.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hapkido Bible, January 18, 2001

By 

C. Emerson (beloit, wisconsin United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hapkido: Traditions, Philosophy, Technique (Hardcover)

This book has set the standard so high, that all martial artists should demand this kind of quality and indepth overview from the author on any given subject in the martial arts. Tedeschi gets specific about Hapkido. We all know how difficult it is to get any concrete information on the art of Hapkido. There is now concrete and complete information. This book will save you alot of money, because there will be no need to buy another Hapkido book. The reason why we have a library of books on a specific style is because we don't understand the art the way we feel that we should. If we did, we would not be wasting money on the same book with the same material and learning nothing new. This book answers the questions that we all have, I'm a 3rd Dan in Hapkido who has questions about the art. Tedeschi has done a wonderful job of cutting through the Korean B.S. of being very general about Hapkido and that it is the almighty superior everything to everyone art. He is refreshingly respectful to all of the other martial arts and not claiming to be better then the rest. I was suprised to find out that my Master in Rockford Il. was one of the first influential Hapkido masters according to Tedeschi's book. But that still doesn't say much for me or my master if I have questions as a third dan and don't feel comfortable asking him because of his general answers and apparent irratation that I'm asking him specific question. This book has filled in the gaps and allowed me to spread my wings. Until this time there has not been a complete text that has been readily availible that has established the parameters of this art. After reading this book you will understand that there are really no parameters but core ideals, philosophys and techniques. With that in mind this book has become my companion that will help me to be the best that I can be in Hapkido and life. I hope that this review has helped you. Thank you Marc Tedeschi, your years of hard work are much appreciated.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hapkido:Traditions,Philosophy, Technique, August 1, 2001

By 

Anthony Cataldo (Jupiter, Fl) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hapkido: Traditions, Philosophy, Technique (Hardcover)

As a student of the martial arts for over 23 years and a 6th dan in Hapkido, I must say this is one of the best books on the martial arts ever compiled. It is without a doubt the most accurate and in depth manual on the Korean art of Hapkido. This book will be beneficial to all students of any martial art and those interested in self-defense. It is very well researched and written. Mr. Tedeschi is to be commended on his excellent work. Mr. Tedeschi makes his instructors, students and ancestors proud with the quality of book he produced.This book shall become a resource to be visited and revisited over the years. This book is without a doubt the most complete and top quality resource ever produced on a martial art. It is well worth the money. For other quality books on self-defense please refer to my "Listmania" suggestions.