Customer Reviews

A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, I guess the best way to start off this particular review is to list what my particular qualifications are in relation to this particular review, and why that is relevant to writing a review about this particular book.

I am currently a 4th Dan black belt in the Korean martial art of Tae Kwon Do and I am certified by the Kukkiwon out of Seoul, South Korea. I am also a 4th degree black belt in Japanese Karate (basically Shotokan/Kyokushin) and certified through one of my original instructors, Shihan Dennis Dallas.

Now before I go any further, I feel that I must emphatically state that I was fortunate enough to learn the actual martial art of Tae Kwon Do, and not the sport version which is so prevalent today, although in my original school we did often compete in numerous tournaments throughout the year. However, the primary emphasis on what we learned and practiced was the practical and realistic use of the techniques, not just how to "score a point" with a particular punch or kick. My original instructor, who was Japanese, taught me and numerous others the arts of Korean Tae Kwon Do and Japanese Karate, and if you know anything about the relationship between the Koreans and the Japanese, you can see the significance of this and how difficult things were at times, not only for my original instructor, but also his students.

And it is with this background and train of thought that I write the following review.

I have been eagerly anticipating the release of this book for quite some time now, and imagine my surprise when it arrived in the mail yesterday when the release date was listed as November 20th, 2008. I just couldn't wait to start reading it. Well here it is approximately 10 hours later and I not only have read it through in its entirety once, but also went back over several different chapters and read them a second time.

Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed at all in this book. As a matter of fact, this book was like a breath of fresh air, and some of the material that is in this book I had heard years ago by various instructors who had told me even then that there was a lot more to the art than what was known by most instructors, let alone the general public that were currently taking lessons in Tae Kwon Do.

Now this book is definitely going to stir the pot of controversy and there is no doubt in my mind that there are going to be a lot of Tae Kwon Do practitioners on both sides of the equation that are going to scream and holler and try and dispel the author and the material in this book as trying to mislead the reader, or even out and out call him a fraud.

Well let me assure you that the author is anything but, and in fact, is actually shedding a lot of light on an art that although it may be the most popular martial art currently practiced throughout the world, still gets a bad rap from many in the martial arts community for its focus on Olympic sport instead of following its true heritage of being a very deadly and effective martial art, which is what the true art really is.

The author has obviously done his research on the subject and has been fortunate enough to gain the trust of men who were either directly involved in the formation of the art of Tae Kwon Do, and/or those who were close to those very same men. The history is not always pretty, and as a matter of fact, is rarely so, and in some cases is downright ugly and repulsive, but therein lies the beauty of it. The author doesn't "sugarcoat" the events and people that created the art, he is straightforward, blunt, and to the point in relating the various stories and events that created the men that in turn created the art.

This book is very well presented and the material in it has been well researched and laid out for the reader to follow and understand. The author had included a lot of very significant historical photographs that really added to the overall appeal of this book and the incredible history that it conveys.

I can not recommend this book highly enough and I only ask that each reader approach this book with an open mind and an empty cup in order to read the material presented without any preconceived notions or biases towards Tae Kwon Do, and/or a particular branch or style. If you can do that, then you will truly realize the significance that this book has not only in the history of Tae Kwon Do, but also all of the martial arts.

Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Creator of numerous books and DVD's.

This book is not for the faint at heart, nor is it for those new to the martial arts. If you harbor any preconceived notions regarding the virtues of taekwondo, this work will quickly relieve you of them. However, this story must be told and Mr. Gillis does it well. His research is deep and heavily annotated. I have read this book several times with great enthusiasm since it contains many valuable details and reads like a novel. Yet, being personally familiar with several of the protaganists portrayed, I feel a more balanced treatment would have resulted in an even more accurate work. This is the only reason I rated the book four stars rather than five. I have written three books focusing on traditional taekwondo and, regardless of information within this book, continue to feel that there are those both locally and in Korea, the homeland of taekwondo, who support the true heart of traditional taekwondo. So...read with care and maintain an open mind.

I've been doing TKD for over 20 years. My background is actually much like the authors and I could immediately relate to him as I read. What I was worried about was that this book would repeat so many of the foundation myths (ancient Hwarang warriors and the like) that have been dismissed long ago.

But this is a well researched and informative book. Most of it fit in with rumors I'd heard over the years, but instead of hearsay you had interviews, etc from the actual participants.

If you have an interest in TKD, particularly in the ITF variety, this is a must have. I recommend it to my students all the time.

This book is not a how to do Tae Kown Do book, nor is it a book that protrays martial art grandmasters in a god like status. No this is a book that takes the founders of one of (if not) the fastest growing martial art across the globe down off of the pedestal and shows them for what they where/are very talented, driven, and often crooked men.

But along the way you are treated to a detailed account of how TKD developed, how it got it's name, it's use during war time, life as viewed by koreans, the creation of the ITF and the WTF, the creation of a olympic sport etc. etc. The sanitized version probably all TKD martial artists are semi aware of, but this isn't the sanatized version this is the untold story of the founding and development of TKD as is practiced today.

The story includes war, prisons, politics, bribes, personal vendettas, kidnappings, family struggles, dealings with North and South Korea, how high men can climb and how low they can fall, and the creation of a martial art that has spread around the whole today. Best of all it isn't a made up story but one based on current events. Very well documented.

This book sheds light on the creation of TKD and the persons involved who molded and formed the TKD that many students practice today. I recommend it for anyone studying TKD, karate, or anyone in the martial arts that is interested in reading about martial art history. It is well written and I found it interesting so I completed it in a couple of days.

This book is amazing for anyone who enjoys martial arts, it is incredibly well researched and charts TKD for both ITF and WTF and reveals some amazing stuff regarding both the art and it connections to Korean politics (KCIA).

It read like a novel and will be interesting for anyone with a remote interest in how martial arts came to be (ie. their true roots).

The book is as alarming as it is saddening, it shows Gen Choi as a man who fought against the might of Korea for his art, how corrupt SK was and the lengths it went to and also some sad steps he took for that fight!

Highly recommended to one and all! And a must read for all who do TKD!

.... and oh so much more painful! WOW is what I have to say after reading this book. After 30 years of studying Tae Kwon Do, along with dabbling in other martial arts, I have long had a healthy distrust of all of the national and international organizations involved. I developed the attitude that they should just leave us all alone. At the same time, I have appreciated that there is some sort of codification and qualification process.

This book caught me by surprise, though. I was totally unprepared for just how insane, petty, and underhanded all sides of the founding members of this Art could be. Yet at the same time, they could be courageous, kind, and driven.

The author did an outstanding job of researching the material,interviewing the leaders and founders to gain multiple perspectives. He also carefully avoids showing too much favoritism to one side or another, showing the warts where they lie on either side. It is this careful research that is what makes this book truely extraordinary.

In addition,the author writes in a clean, flowing form that is easy and engaging. I had a hard time putting the book down at night. All of the pain it caused in revelations was balanced by how enjoyable it was to read. It has provided food for thought and stimulating conversations with my fellow students and masters.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in cutting through the BS, and understanding the origins and intent of Tae Kwon Do. Without understanding the intent, it is difficult to put the Art into practice.

My instructor, who studied with Han Cha Kyo (the actual developer of the Hwa Rang Form), recommended this book to me, and it is simply phenomenal! I will simply echo what others have stated. Stories that we had heard, indeed stories that our teacher had told us, and rumors are illuminated clearly with first hand interviews of the participants, and you will definitely appreciate the no nonsense, tell it like it is, approach that the author takes with the history of TKD. Some people obviously dislike the fact that some of their "historical" perceptions get shattered, but this book is a rare gem. This should be on every dojo/dojang bookshelf and is required reading for all instructors and students alike!

Informative and helpful in rounding out my black belt education. Author, however, seems openly biased for or against certain characters. He inserts tidbits (some fact, some opinion) out of direct context which slur the character of some of the founders and, in some instances, the art itself.
In all, a good read to expand the knowledge base of the advanced tkd student. I ended the book with a much greater appreciation for the founder, the pioneers and the lethal effectiveness of the art of tkd.

For years I have heard the "Ancient History" of Taekwondo and found it suspect. From time to time interviews with various Grandmasters and people, who were there, crop up and challenge the "history". This book lays it all out. If half of what is contained in this book is true then Taekwondo has a sad history indeed.
Don't read this book if you want to continue to believe the canned history pushed by many Dojos. If you want to stay in the dark about the true nature of the founders of the art. If you want to stay in a fantasy. Simply don't read this book and remain ignorant.
I do believe in the tenants of the art even if all the founders didn't always follow them. What should make a difference to you, the student, are the values of your Master, not the shame others have brought on by not following the very path they started.

A well written and sad book, but worth reading.

I have been a student of TKD since 1965. I had heard some of what is in the book and experienced other parts of it. In 1966 Choi Hong Hi visited my instructor, Jhoon Rhee and after that we changed from the Shotokan forms to Gen. Choi's forms. Mr. Rhee told me other things including his disagreements with Gen. Choi later. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a true history of TKD, not a fantasy story.