Book Review - Taekwondo Guide 태권도 지도론 (2003)

Discussion in 'Tae Kwon Do Resources' started by Thomas, Feb 24, 2009.

  1. Thomas

    Thomas Combat Hapkido/Taekwondo

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    Han Sang Jin 한상진 , Taekwondo Guide 태권도 지도론, (Doseo Publishing:Seoul), 2003, (softbound, 326 pages) ISBN – 89-8444-156-2

    One of my students brought back this handy guide from Korea. It’s a fairly typical reference book for (WTF) Taekwondo that can be found there.

    It starts with a history section with the typical WTF/Kukkiwon line with the obligatory Muyedobotongji references and attempts to link it to Taek Kyeon and such. Nothing new or really relevant in this section.

    From there though it lays out the basics of Taekwondo pretty well, with lots of pictures of techniques and Romanized Korean terms for them (This is the only English characters used in the entire book). There is no equivalent English names for any technique but I found the Korean terms pretty useful (in Hangeul). There are pictures and Korean terms for basic stances, strikes, kicks, and so on.

    On page 55, there is a concise summary of a typical KTA/WTF/Kukkiwon curriculum as found in many schools in Korea.


    Entry Level
    (9th Geup) - Warm-ups and Stretching; Basic Stances/Postures Motions; Front Stance, Back Stance, Walking Stance; Kicks (Front Stretch Kick, Front Kick, Roundhouse Kick); Wearing and folding of the uniform; Tying of the belt. How TKD works as a sport; When to use TKD and when not to; Training schedule and time management; Etiquette; Hand and Strike terminology; Mind and Spirit development; Importance of home training.

    Beginner Level
    (8th – 5th Geup) - Basic Stances/Postures in Detail; Basics (Blocks, Punches, Strikes); Poomsae study (Taegeuk 1-4); Sparring (controlled, 1 step, 3 step); Kicks (Front Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Side Kick). Importance of warmups; Etiquette; Kihap and where to look; Terminology and importance of vital areas; Home training.

    Middle Level
    (4th – 1st Geup) - Free study of basic stances and motions; Poomsae study (Taegeuk 5-8); Kicks (Back Kick, Spinning Heel Kick); Sparring (Free, 1 step, 3 step). Etiquette; Use of power and weakness in Taekwondo; Sparring (in defense and attacking);

    High Level
    (1st – 4th Dan) - Basic Stances and Motions (Power and Speed Studies); Self Defense; Rules Judging and Umpiring; Sparring; Breaking practice; Poomsae (Koryo, Keumgang, Taebaek, Pyeongwon); Kicks (Free Study), Taekwondo refereeing; How to guide home study; Study of tactics; Practicing for strength; Taekwondo history and traditions.

    Research Level
    (5th – 9th Dan) - Basic Stances and Motions (Study of the Mechanics); Kicks (application and adaptations), Special Kicks; Poomsae (Shipjin, Jitae, Cheongwan; Hansoo, Ilyeo); Creative Poomsae Creation. How to guide students in Taekwondo; Taekwondo philosophy; Match rules; Planning and writing a Thesis paper; Creative Poomsae Creation; Study of leg mechanics.
    (translated by reviewer)

    In the center of the book is a great little reference section on all of the Tae Geuk and Black Belt patterns up to 9th dan. Each is presented on a single page with the pattern’s movements, line of motion and details. As a reference for people who know the forms already, this is a very handy resource. It really isn’t very good for “learning” the pattern itself though.

    There are also sections on refereeing and sample stretching/warm-ups material, both with lots of pictures.

    Overall, this is a book that costs w20,000 (about 14 USD). It is all in Korean with lots of pictures and good information on patterns, warm-ups, and techniques. As an instructor who teaches these patterns, I found the patterns section to be very useful as a reference.

    Available from http://www.aladdin.co.kr/shop/wproduct.aspx?isbn=8984441562
     

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