Hapkido: Traditions, Philosophy, Technique (Hardcover)

by Marc Tedeschi (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
An exceptional work...It covers so much ground and its material is so well presented that no martial arts library will again be complete without it. -- Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Fall 2000

If you hold this book in your hand, words will fail you...You forget the time and you are lost in the apparently infinite information explosion. -- Hapkidoshop.com, December 2000

Interesting interviews, cool historical pictures, and a number of well-written chapters on many aspects of Hapkido not normally written about. -- Nebraska Hapkido Association Bookstore, December 2000

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1136 pages
• Publisher: Weatherhill; 1st edition (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0834804441
• ISBN-13: 978-0834804449
• Product Dimensions: 14.2 x 9.9 x 3.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #160,616 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 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)

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.

23 of 23 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 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.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Anthony Cataldo (Jupiter, Fl www.CombatDojo.com) - See all my reviews

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.