'Clearly written, easliy understood...one of the most significant contributions to the art of foot-and-fist fighting.'-The Japan Times

'The effect of movement, blckng your opponent's potential counterattack, the launching of your own second attack, and similar material are probably better than any other book on the subject.'-Black Belt

In this classic volume, illustrated with nearly 1,000 photographs, the author explains when, where, why, and how to best apply the deadly techniques of Tae Kwon Do. This book gives pinpoint explanations of the advantages and disadvantages of each move, analyzing them step by step from offensive, defensive, and counterattacking perspectives. The techniques presented are applicable to any martial arts system, making this book of interest not only to practitioners of Tae Kwon Do but also of karate and kung fu.

Sihak Henry Cho is one of the world's top experts in Tae Kwon Do and is a pioneer of the martial arts in the U.S. His list of credentals is impressive: chief instructor of the Karate Institute in New York City; organizer of some of the first open karate tournaments in the U.S.; president of the United Karate Federation; and captain of the Korea University Tae Kwon Do team.

Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Part I The development of karate
1 Historical background
2 Tae-kwon do, the Korean karate
3 Tae-kwon do and Japanese karate
4 Tae-kwon do, the modern karate
Part II Calisthenics and stances
5 Calisthenics
Neck exercise
Shoulder exercise
Back and forth exercise
Side exercise
Twisting exercise
Hip exercise
Knee exercise
Leg-stretching exercise
Push-up exercise
Loosening-up exercise
6 Stances (chwa seh)
Natural stance (cha-yun seh)
Horseback-riding stance (Kee-mah seh)
Side stance (Yup seh)
Forward stance (Chun-gool seh)
Back sance (Hoo-gool seh)
Cat stance (Tuit-bal seh)
Others
Part III Free fighting basics and foot moves
7 Basic position and adjustment for distance
Vital spots of human body
Adjustments for distance
Fake
8 Foot moves
Stepping (Bal ohmkigi)
Body shifting (Mohm ohmikigi)
Part IV Blocking techniques (Makgi)
9 Arm block (Pahl makgi)
Low block (Hah-dan makgi)
Middle block (Choong-dan makgi)
High block (Sahng-dan makgi)
10 Applied arm block
Double-arm block (Yahng-pahl makgi)
X-block (Kyo-cha makgi)
Others
Part V Hand techniques (Sohn tsugi)
11 Straight fist punch (Chang-kwon chigi)
How to make the straight fist punch
Practice of the straight fist punch
How to use the straight fist punch
Defense against the straight fist punch
12 Knife-hand strike (Shooto chigi)
How to make the knife-hand strike
Knife-hand as a block
How to use the knife-hand strike
13 Other attacks
Back-fist punch (Choo-muk-dung chigi)
Palm-heel attack (Chahng-kwon chigi)
Elbow attack (Pahl-koom-chi chigi)
Miscellaneous attacks
Part VI Front kick moves (Ahp chagi)
14 How to ake the front kick
Front-limbering-up kick (Ahp ohlligi)
Front snap kick (Ahp cha-pusugi)
Front thrust kick (Ahp cha-tzirugi)
Front-pushing kick (Ahp cha-meelgi)
Flying front kick (Dtuiyu ahp-chagi)
15 How to use the front kick
Basics for front-kick application
Front kick in combinatin attacks
Front-thrust kick following fake moves
Front-fake kick to adjust for distance
16 Defense against the front kick
Simple defense
Counterattck against the simple fornt kick
Counter shifting (Pahng-kong yeedong)
Part VII Side-kick moves (Yup chagi)
17 How to make the side kick
Side-limbering-up kick (Yup ohlligi)
Side-rising kick (Yup cha-ohlligi)
Side thurst kick (Yup cha-tzirugi)
Rising-heel kick (Yup duiro-chagi)
Flying side kick (Dtuiyu yup-chagi)
18 How to use the side kick
Basics of side-kick applications
Side kick in combinatin attacks
Side-thrust kick follwoing a faking move
Side fake kick to adjust for distance
Side kick as an insant counterattack
19 Defense agasint the side kick
Simple defense and counterattack
Counter shifting
Immediate couner punch with a smothering move
20 When the kicking leg is grabbed
Part VIII Roundhouse-kick moves (Tahllyu chagi)
21 How to make the roundhouse kick
Roundhouse snap kick (Tohllyu cha-pusugi)
Roundhouse thrust kick (Tohllyu cha-tzirugi)
Short roundhouse kick (Pahn tohllyu-chagi)
Flying roundhouse kick (Dtuiyu tohllyu-chagi)
22 How to use the roundhouse kick
Basics for roundhouse-kick application
Roundhouse kick and following attacks
Roundhouse kick following other moves
23 Defense against the roundhouse kick
Inward arm block
Double-arm block
Arm and leg block
Defense with body shifting
Instant counterattack against the roundhouse kick
Part IX Other kicks
24 Knee kick (Moohrup chagi)
25 Stamping kick (Naeryu chagii)
26 Hook kick
27 Miscellaneous kicks
Back kick (dui chagi)
Crescent kick
Outer-edge-crescent kick
Index