The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tae Kwon Do (Complete Idiot's Guides Ser.) (Paperback)

by Karen Eden (Author) "It's probably due to television, movies, and video games, but the words martial arts conjure up images of philosophy-spouting avengers who wipe out gangs of..." (more)
Key Phrases: sparring stance, black belt test, belt exam, Tae Kwon, Martial Arts Minute, Wise Sa Bum Tells (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Hungry Minds, Incorporated (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028623894
• ISBN-13: 978-0028623894
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #170,126 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #11 in	Books > Sports > Individual Sports > Martial Arts > Tae Kwon Do
  #35 in	Books > Sports > Individual Sports > Martial Arts > Karate

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Pre-beginners Only, November 29, 2000

By A Customer

I bought this book shortly after my first promotion, and quickly realized it was not going to help me move forward. The book seems to be intent on exposing people who may be thinking about studying martial arts to "the world of Tae Kwon Do", and it does this just fine. However, if you're looking for ways to learn or improve your techniques, you will need to look elsewhere.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only thing wrong with this book is the title!, November 9, 2000

By A Customer

As an instructor and a school owner, I have found this book to be the best resource for the new (and not so new) student or parent that I have yet come across. It is clearly written, well organized, an easy read, and is full of relevant information.

It immediately gained a place in my school library and I have recommended it to my members and their families. You are not going to learn to be a martial artist here, but you're not going to learn it from any other book, either.

The writers concentrate on the ideas and concepts of the art that are universal, rather than on being a step-by-step "how-to" manual on techniques: Something which is best left to the instructor, anyway.

One very nice thing: It is not specifically devoted to any one Taekwondo organization to the exclusion of all others, a flaw I have commonly found in other beginner books.

It's too bad this book is burdened with the unfortunate "Idiots" label, because it is a very smart choice.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Beginner's Guide to the Art, May 25, 2000

By	Chris Moon (London ON) - See all my reviews

For those parents who are unsure of the safety in the martial arts for theri children, or have any general doubts about how the martial art is designed and how it is run, this book is definetly for you.

I am currently study Tae Kwon Do several times a week, and I am assistant instructor with the school I study at. Many times, when we have parents coming to see what a class is like before letting their child participate, they have a lot of questions.

The biggest thing I have noticed, is that there is perhaps a bit of doubt for the parent in letting their child join.

This is were the terrific layman's terms book written by Karen Eden comes in. Karen has done a masterful job of explaining some of the quirks and etiquette of the martial, and in a very humorous way at times.

I read this book when I had already been in the Martial Art for a while, and I found it still helped to understand exactly who the head instructor thinks, and why the etiquette we have is in place.

I highly recommend this book to any student that is studying Tae Kwon Do, and also to any parent who is considering letting their child join. This book is a wealth of resources that will be sure to benefit you many years down the line in your studies.