Customer Reviews

Tae Kwon Do: The Ultimate Reference Guide to the World's Most Popular Martial Art

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is above par. I am a soldier deployed in Iraq and I purchased this book to continue my study while on deployment. It has accurate information and pictures to explain everything from the basics, to advanced level forms, and top notch sparring techniques. A great purchase.

I am a 4th dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do and believe this is a critical book in my Tae Kwon Do library. In fact, I have found this book so useful that I require all my students to own a copy. The Taeguk forms are covered very well, there is a great section on WTF sparring rules, and there is a good glossary of Korean terms. I highly suggest it for any WTF Tae Kwon Do student.

The beginning of this book is full of great information--stretching, basic blocks, stances, kicks, etc.

HOWEVER, this book is based on WTF (sport) style Tae Kwon Do. I study ITF (traditional) style Tae Kwon Do, so I found the bulk of this book's information, such as the Tae Guek forms and WTF style rules, to be useless. If you study sport TKD or WTF style, this book might be useful.

If you study Traditional TKD/ITF style, don't waste your time or money. There are better choices out there.

I have been studying Tae Kwon Do for over a year. I have read this book and my master also uses it in school for students to reference when studying forms. This book is great value to someone who is studying Tae Kwon Do and wants to be able to have a reference point of some sort. I find it extremly helpfull in my training, but do not suggest it to anyone who is not training formaly in the art of TKD.

The book provides a good intro for beginners. The best part is the description of the Tae guk forms, although it's essentially limited to the sequence of movements. It won't help you if you know the forms and aim to improve your performance. The remainder of the book, covering basic techniques and basic sparring moves, is simply too basic to be useful. The book briefly describes how to do a basic move, but never discusses the many things you can do wrong. Conclusion: no use beyond the green belt.

Explains, with photographs and descriptins, the basics of warm-ups, stretches, punches, kicks, etc. Has a very good section on the Taeguk forms, but makes absolutley no mention of Palgwe forms. That's kind of dissapointing. Look for sections on sparring and bits of self-defense techniques. The small but essential chapter called "The Philosophy of TaeKwonDo" should be moved to the front of the book, but at least it's here. There are also a couple of fantastic sections relating to Korean terminology. A chapter in TaeKwonDo history should have been included in this book. This is one of the better reference books on WTF TaeKwonDo, with tons of pictures, but nothing replaces real training in a real TaeKwonDo school.

I am a student of Yeon hwan Park and a First Dan black belt. I have learned a lot from this man. Before I joined Tae Kwon Do, I was a wreck. However, Mr. Park helped me in becoming a better person. Sometimes I would have problems with my forms, and if I had to go home before finishing the forms, he would allow me to read a copy of his book. I read it, and I got so much better at not only my forms, but also my kicking as well. He is a great man that helps others change for the better not only physically, but mentally. He's poured a lot of his knowledge in this book, and it helps me a lot in Tae Kwon Do. Currently, I am now reading his Black Belt guide, studying the Koryo Poomse (form) and as I read on, I can see myself getting better at remembering the stances, and which direction I should be facing. If you're a student of the WTF Tae Kwon Do, or is in the sport, then I highly recommend this book. This has helped me get better at not only my forms and kicks, but also the history of Tae Kwon Do.

I purchased this book because I was beginning studies in TaeKwanDo. It is the only book on TaeKwanDo that I have purchased (although I do have books on various other martial arts). This book was fabulous. It contained at the essential basics of TaeKwanDo (at least as my instructor taught them) and also included the TaeGuk forms, rules on the sport, and everything that is required for a beginner to advanced (first dan) levels of TaeKwanDo. Not only that, but this book was very well designed and set out, an absolutely fabolous editing job. Additionally it presentation of the TaeGuk forms far exceeded the quality of other books on the forms that I have seen.
This book is a must for all beginning artists.

I was taught the art of Taekwondo from this book, and now, as a Black Belt and a teacher of my own school, I teach from this book and it's Black Belt companion book, and I recommend for my students to use these books. I'm not familiar with any other books in Taekwondo, and for good reason, because these books alone have been wonderful enough, and I haven't had to search for others to compensate! I highly recommend this and the Black Belt version!

It is a good starting reference for those beginning about the sport. The pictures of the poomse are helpful but nothing takes the place of good instruction. I found it hard to rely on the pictures to do the forms.