Grandmasters Kyu Hung Lee and Sang H. Kim have combined their extensive taekwondo knowledge to teach you not only the 25 official taekwondo poomsae, but the meaning of the forms, the principles of Poomsae performance and the philosophy that underlies the techniques. -- from Amazon.com.

This is the first introductory text to accurately portray the world's most widely practiced martial art, Taekwondo, in its entirety. Inclusive of virtually all Taekwondo styles, including Olympic-Style, this unprecedented work integrates traditional and modern approaches, sport and self-defense, in a single concise text. Clearly written and expertly designed and photographed by the author of the landmark 896-page Taekwondo: Traditions, Philosophy, Technique, this unique book is essential reading for anyone seeking a succinct, unbiased, and accurate overview of Taekwondo's history, philosophy, and techniques. • Over 530 high-quality photographs and 62 illustrations • Comprehensive chapters on history and philosophy • Over 150 techniques, spanning basic skills, sport, and self-defense • Concise overviews of Olympic-Style sparring and solo forms • Precise anatomical drawings of 80 common vital targets • Basic material to guide novices during their initial training • Essential reading for anyone seeking a concise overview of Taekwondo

This martial arts book digs deep into the standard Taekwondo patterns to extract proven fighting methods that unite ancient philosophy and strategy to teach effective, tactical self defence. The book follows the history of the Korean people, starting with the myths of its origins dating from 2333 BC, and its culture, focusing on the important historic influences of the surrounding nations. All of these have combined in the development and evolution of the Korean fighting art of Taekwondo. These ancient and deadly fighting techniques have survived over several millennia, ever since people first defended their lives and property from wild beasts and ravaging bands of criminals. The first part of the book shows simple techniques that have been refined using analysis gained by Koreans over the centuries. It is presented in a careful mix of physical exercises that are designed to develop spontaneous response from muscle memory in the event of an unavoidable attack. The second half introduces more advanced students of the martial arts to more complex fighting tactics and the profound philosophy taught to black belts, and is aimed at uniting body, mind, and spirit.

According to the World Taekwondo Federation, there are over 90,000,000 taekwondo practitioners worldwide. Every level 1 black belt student is required to learn Poomsae Koryo. Yet few are familiar with the ancestral form known as 'Original Koryo'. Written specifically for black belt students, this book presents Original Koryo and Koryo, as well as the martial applications encoded in these forms.

"Black Belt Tae Kwon Do combines a complete explanation of the physical aspects of the martial art with a full description of the philosophical elements of its training. This reference and study guide for black belt-level students is mindful that the ultimate aim of Tae Kwon Do is to bring its practitioners into harmony with the universe and help others achieve the same goal." -- Cover, p. [4].

A comprehensive instructional guide to the world's most popular martial art. 16-pp. photo insert. 350 illustrations. Media attention.