“Classic Taekwondo: Core Tactics, Record, and Philosophy” by Doug Cook is a ebook that all Taekwondo practitioners will want on their ebook shelf. It’s also a e book that will attractiveness to other Korean martial artists and even people who do not apply Korean arts but would like to fully grasp more about the “foot, hand, Way” from the land of the early morning calm.
The reserve is divided into three components, the to start with is History and Tradition, the second is Philosophy, and the ultimate section focuses on Method. The initially two sections had been great and will enable all those who observe the art of Taekwondo superior recognize the historical past, lifestyle, and philosophy uncovered in just the artwork. These are the sections that will also charm to other Korean martial artists and even other arts. The third component, Strategy, did an alright job of displaying a handful of procedures from the Taekwondo curriculum, but was not as powerful or as appealing as the initial two parts.
It is particularly tricky to boil a country’s history, especially a country like Korea that has a prolonged and intriguing historical past, into a several short chapters. I believe Prepare dinner did a incredibly great work of narrowing the history down to a few of the most pertinent and interesting historic references, starting with the legend of Tan-gun. He briefly addresses the A few Kingdoms and some of the essential gamers in Korea’s historical past. He has a little bit on the Japanese Occupation from 1910 to 1945 which is vital regarding Taekwodo’s advancement. The next chapter on the Formative Decades of Taekwondo is quite interesting and will be beneficial for all those that want to know much more heritage of the art.
The Philosophy section experienced chapters on the purpose of meditation in classic taekwondo, the progress and use of fight ki, and the relevance of poom-se in regular taekwondo. These chapters, yet again, ended up fascinating and instructional. I do imagine they supply the reader with a much more in depth glimpse at taekwondo than just the common activity sparring.
The third, and longest element, focuses on system. It is the longest for the reason that it is largely photographs, illustrating the approaches picked for the text. The chapters protect conditioning routines initial, and then a chapter describing education procedures. While I concur with most of what was prepared, there were a several things that I would have published in another way, primarily the description of ho shin sool, or self-protection approaches. It is accurate, that ho shin sool techniques give remedies to grabs as published, but ho shin sool strategies also contain defenses to strikes, kicks, and initiating moves.
I liked the recommendations concerning education, specifically the emphasis on regard and security. Then, for the strategies essentially demonstrated with shots, there are 18 Il Su Sik (Just one-Step Sparring) mixtures, 8 Sam Su Sik (A few-Move Sparring) mixtures, 18 Ho Shin Sool (self-defense approaches), and 16 defenses for women. You can glimpse at this a pair ways. To start with, just glance at this part as a little sampling of approaches you find in the taekwondo curriculum. Which is what it is. And as a modest sampling, Cook dinner did a fantastic work of introducing it. On the other hand, to learn the strategies from the book would be extremely tricky, just as discovering any martial art from a ebook is not advised, you will need a dwell instructor and a lover to prepare with. I did have a essential disagreement with the way some of the ho shin sool techniques were being demonstrated because suitable physique positions, motion, and weight placement had been not illustrated, and I also have challenges with a few of the methods totally. (i.e. blocking a pipe with your forearm) However, it is not the objective of this assessment to interact in practicality of techniques and so forth. So more than enough claimed.
There is a limited conclusion, and then the appendix sections. Appendix A was really exciting. It instructed of a training knowledge with Grandmaster Gyoo Hyun Lee in Korea. I found it attention-grabbing and it also produced me homesick to go back and practice in Korea. It really created me yearn for my subsequent trip over there to train. There have been also some Korean/English phrases and several martial arts organizations mentioned. Wonderful additions to the reserve, particularly the instruction knowledge with Grandmaster Lee.
For the Historical past and Philosophy sections, I charge this ebook a 5, and for the Approaches area a 3. Therefore, the guide is a 4 over-all and a ebook I advocate all taekwondo stylists examine and study from. I also advise it to any other people who want to better have an understanding of the record, philosophy, and methods of conventional taekwondo.
