Tae Kwon Do Techniques and Tactics (book)

Novices will have no trouble recognizing how to perform techniques. The chapters on the origins, traditions, and language of taekwondo provide a good introduction to the art, including advice on getting started and choosing an instructor. Experienced students will appreciate the level of detail and the tips for improving their techniques. They'll also appreciate the chapters on tactics, conditioning, and preparing for competition.

Sidebars on self-defense point out adaptations for effective street defense, whenever these differ from competition techniques or tactics. Advice on competition and tactics is especially strong since both authors were champion competitors. Seabourne is a two-time Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and Pan-American champion and a silver medalist in the World Taekwondo Championships. Park is an undefeated former Korean national champion who moved to America to coach the U.S. National Team.

AUDIENCE

Reference and trade book for students and martial arts enthusiasts. Course text for taekwondo classes.

CONTENTS

Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Getting Started

Introduces readers to physical and psychological benefits of taekwondo training, how to choose a taekwondo school, how a typical class is conducted, and how the belt system is used

Provides a brief history of taekwondo, from the beginnings of martial arts 5,000 years ago to the popularity and status of taekwondo today

Gives a short explanation of the respect inherent in Korean culture and provides a glossary-style list of important training and counting terms

Introduces two of the most important skills martial artists can possess for reducing the chances of injury

Covers seven common stances÷the foundation of all attacks and defenses and the source of power and balance

Provides detailed instructions and photographs for eight basic arm strikes as well as information on how to use strikes specifically in self-defense situations

Breaks down each of eight basic kicks into four steps÷foot up, foot out, foot back, foot down÷and includes information on how to use kicks in self-defense situations

Includes instructions for six basic blocks÷the last resort to stop your opponent if he or she has moved close enough to attack

Builds good stepping techniques for maximum power and improved balance and speed by giving detailed instructions and foot diagrams for four basic steps

Addresses the basics of taekwondo forms practice (poomse), the series of prearranged movements against imaginary opponents that allow students to practice techniques and combinations

Begins with a discussion of basic strategy, provides descriptions of five combinations and five counterattacks, and encourages readers to develop personal moves based on their own strengths and weaknesses

Includes basic information on ring size, referees, rules, and scoring, and offers guidance on physical and mental preparation, motivation, and mental imagery

Discusses the benefits of specific training for taekwondo, including approximately 40 key stretches and resistance, plyometric, abdominal, cardiovascular, punching bag, target pad, and breathing exercises

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Master Yeon Hwan Park is an eighth-dan black belt in taekwondo. He runs seven taekwondo schools on Long Island, New York, and serves as the secretary-general of the United States Taekwondo Union (USTU). Park's extensive experience and accomplishments include more than 30 years of competition, teaching, coaching, and developing instructional materials for taekwondo.

Master Park coached the 1988 U.S. Olympic team and the 1991 Pan-American Games team. Since 1984 he has also been the coach of the U.S. National team. Park created a series of six videotapes and has written four other books on taekwondo. Besides his dedication to taekwondo, he enjoys golf and swimming. Park lives in East Meadow, New York, with his wife, Kanie, and their daughter Nina and sons Edward and Elliot.

In writing this book, Park was assisted by Peter Zirogiannis, a freelance writer and 1992 silver medalist in the New York State Taekwondo Championships. Zirogiannis is a longtime student and assistant instructor for Master Park. His wife, Marianne, is a black belt, a former gold medalist in the New York State Taekwondo Championships, and a student of Master Park.

Tom Seabourne, PhD, is a sport psychologist and director of physical education at North Texas Community College. He has authored hundreds of articles and three other martial arts books. A third-dan black belt in taekwondo and Shorinryu karate, Seabourne is a two-time Amateur Athletic Union and Pan-American Games taekwondo champion and a silver medalist in the World Taekwondo Championships. He is a two-time member of the U.S. National taekwondo team.

Seabourne is a member of the USTU and serves on its medical board. He frequently presents programs to clubs, schools, and industry on achieving peak performance. A world-class cyclist who holds four world ultra-distance cycling records, Seabourne has completed the Race Across America. He lives in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, with his wife, Danese, and their daughters Alaina, Laura, Julia, and Susanna and son Grant.

WORDS OF PRAISE

"Masters Y.H. Park and Tom Seabourne have created a wonderful resource guide for both the novice and the expert. For the novice, it makes the complicated subject of the Olympic sport of taekwondo understandable. The experienced competitor, coach, or master will want to use the book as a teaching reference."

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