Product Description

This ground breaking first book studies the history and development of the Ch’ang Hon (ITF) Taekwon-do patterns as devised, taught and developed by the founder of Taekwon-do General Choi, Hong Hi.

Ch’ang Hon Taekwon-do Hae Sul is an in-depth study of the Ch’ang Hon Taekwon-do patterns, their history, their roots, Taekwon-do’s evolution, its genetic make up, its differences with other martial arts and the techniques and movements which define the system, detailing for the first time since its inception, realistic interpretations for the patterns Chon-Ji, Dan-Gun, Do-San, Won-Hyo, Yul-Gok, Joong-Gun and Toi-Gye, as well as Saju Jirugi and Saju Makgi.

Over 17 chapters, covering over 350 pages, with over 1,600 photographs, the patterns are examined, dissected and rebuilt to help both students and instructors understand the applications that are really contained within the Ch'ang Hon patterns, many of which were previously unknown and undocumented.

Learn what the techniques and combinations of each of the Ch’ang Hon patterns are actually for, in step by step photographic detail, and how turn your patterns into a realistic way of training actual self defence techniques that work and turn them into something much more than they are practiced today.

Along the way, the reader is treated to a fascinating insight into the history of the Ch’ang Hon patterns as well as Taekwon-do itself, with many of its previously unknown, undocumented or understudied principles revealed. Read what helped to shape the art which became so feared on the battlefield of Vietnam that enemy soldiers were told not to engage the Korean soldiers, whether armed or not, due to their knowledge of Taekwon-do.

A historical study of Taekwon-do and its patterns, a training manual and an encyclopaedia of realistic applications make this book a must read for all those that study and practice Taekwon-do.

A milestone for the development of Taekwon-do.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48845 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 360 pages

Iain Abernethy Readers News Letter
The first thing that strikes you about the book is just how much work has gone into it!

Combat Magazine - November 2006
Far more than a simple 'how to' manual, entering instead, the
realms of essential reference.

Combat Magazine - November 2006
...this book is a mammoth undertaking that is as much an important
historical document as it is a technical volume.

Customer Reviews

not bad, but flawed in places.
I'll give this 5 stars for the debate it provokes about the way in which many TKD schools practice. More books like this are needed to get back to the core strengths of this immensely powerful martial art.
But the author has some misconceptions in places, he seems to not appreciated the true purpose of the chamber positions in movements, and he states there is no use for the ready positions in patterns, which is worrying for someone of his obvious ability as the ready positions are fundamental movements of great use in self defense.
And I won't even go into the suggested use of an X-fist pressing block to jump ontop of a rifle being pointed at you! I'd really love to see this actually attempted, there is no way it could ever work.

But all in all a good book, and even if you should treat it with caution and discard the more obviously ridiculous applications, it should promote discussion and make people look again at why we practice patterns, and what they are actually intended for.

A wonderful eye-opener
This is a wonderful book, a must-have for every Tae Kwon-do student and instructor, and a worthwhile purchase for serious students of related arts such as Shotokan Karate.

Stuart Anslow has opened a door to a hitherto unknown world of combat applications of the Tae Kwon-do patterns. To take one example, the four-directional punch exercise performed by the beginner, which is so simple as to not even rank as a pattern, Stuart shows how the basic movements that are taught as a block, punch, and turn can also be used to effect a basic throw, and a simple chokehold.

This volume deals with the patterns from beginner level to red belt, and will provide the basis for many hours working with the patterns, not through endless solo repetition, but in partner work, trying out and practising these applications. Those students (and instructors) who at the moment find patterns work dull will discover a whole new world of interest. Of course, not everyone will agree with every one of Stuart's ideas, but in the process of trying them out, practising, teaching, questioning, improving, and developing alternatives, not only will the depth of understanding of and capability in Tae Kwon-do grow, but also the patterns will be given their rightful place at the centre of the art, as the link between learning individual techniques and applying them in combinations for sparring and self-defence.

The most important book published on ITF (or derived) Tae Kwon Do since General Choi's encyclopedia.
This book is fantastic! It fills in many of the blanks and answers many of the questions that we should, as TKD students, know the answers to (even if some of our forefathers didn't).

The book really gets to the heart of how some of TKD has lost understanding of the nature of combat/self defense due to overemphasising sport and aesthetics, not to mention possibly not understanding all of it in the first place! (Not that any one person or style can, of course.)

There are many simple and effective pattern applications detailed that I had previously not suspected, to say the least. I have also lost count of the number of applications for which I have skeptically thought "I'm not sure that one would work for me" only to be practising a form when that moment of realisation hits and it turns out they actually could work for me

I bought this book for the specific TKD applications knowledge/theory and it doesn't disappoint. The really surprising thing to me though is that the book has so much else in it. There is a huge amount of history on TKD and its ancestors and a great deal of TKD common sense and good practise knowledge.

I love all the sections on common misunderstandings e.g. "You move backwards to block" and how TKD should work "The meaning of a black belt" etc. Stuart Anslow obviously knows a lot about how to do and how NOT TO do TKD!

Overall I have found that the real, enormous value of this book is that it really gets us thinking about what we are doing, what it means and why we are doing it!