Recommended Reading Materials:
Modern History of Taekwondo (Free PDF)
Modern History of Taekwondo (Free PDF) - Alternate Version
"A Modern History of Taekwondo" was written by KANG Won Sik and LEE Kyong Myong in the Korean language and translated by Glenn Uesugi. This book shows the modern history of Taekwondo by describing major events and facts and episodes that have not been known to public in modern Taekwondo society in Korea. It traces the changes and development of modern Taekwondo up to now: beginning period when various Kwans were created and flourished; period of unification of different Kwans to Taekwondo; period of development of Taekwondo as a national martial art of Korea; globalization of Taekwondo; and inclusion of Taekwondo in Sydney Olympic Games as an official sport & continued effort to make Taekwondo as a mandate program of the future Olympics.
Evidence of Taekwondo’s Roots In Karate (Free PDF)
An Analysis of the Technical Content of Early Taekwondo Literature
Udo MOENIG, Sungkyun CHO, and Taek-Yong KWAK
Abstract
The taekwondo establishment presents taekwondo as the descendent of ancient Korean martial arts. However, during the last two decades, some scholars have begun to question this presentation, contending instead that taekwondo is the product of Koreans who studied karate in Japan during the Japanese colonial years, and then introduced karate to Korea after coming home. A comprehensive survey of the existing Korean martial arts literature published between 1945 and 1970 strongly supports the argument that early “taekwondo” had in fact been Japanese karate, or more specifically, Funakoshi Gichin’s Shotokan karate. Therefore, the assertion that early taekwondo had its roots in Korean martial arts is difficult to sustain.
The Bible Of Karate - Bubishi (Free PDF)
Bubishi: The Classic Manual Of Combat (Paperback @ Amazon.ca)
Treasured for centuries by karate's top masters, the Bubishi is a classic Chinese work on philosophy, strategy, medicine, and technique as they relate to the martial arts.
Referred to as the "bible of karate" by famous master Chojun Miyagi, for hundreds of years the Bubishi was a secret text passed from master to student in China and later in Okinawa. All of karate's legendary masters have studied it, applied its teachings, or copied passages from it. No other classic work has had as dramatic an impact on the shaping and development of karate as the Bubishi.
Karate historian and authority Patrick McCarthy spent over ten years researching and studying the Bubishi and the arts associated with it. This is the first English translation of this remarkable martial arts manual. A goldmine for researchers and practitioners alike, its pages are filled with notes, explanations and groundbreaking research from McCarthy on Okinawan and Chinese history and the fighting and healing traditions that developed in those countries.
The Tao of Jeet Kune Do (Paperback @ Amazon.ca)
Compiled from Bruce Lee’s notes and essays and originally published in 1975, this iconic volume is one of the seminal martial arts guides of its time. The science and philosophy behind the fighting system Lee pioneered himself—Jeet Kune Do—is explained in detail, depicted through hundreds of Lee’s own illustrations. With the collaboration of Lee’s daughter, Shannon, and Bruce Lee Enterprises, this new edition is expanded, updated, and remastered, covering topics such as Zen and enlightenment, kicking, striking, grappling, and footwork. Featuring an introduction by Linda Lee, this is essential reading for any practitioner, offering a brief glimpse into the mind of one of the world’s greatest martial artists.
Fight Like A Physicist (Paperback @ Amazon.ca)
Fight Like a Physicist provides an in-depth, sometimes whimsical look into the physics behind martial arts for sport and self-defense. Whether you are an experienced martial artist or a curious enthusiast, this book can give you an "unfair advantage" by unraveling the complex science of effective fighting techniques and examining the core principles that make them work.
In addition to breaking down the principles behind the punches, Dr. Thalken, a computational physicist with a long history of martial arts across various styles, applies the mind-set of a physicist to a number of controversial topics in the martial arts:
Making physics your "unfair advantage," in the ring and on the street
Examining center of mass, pi, levers, wedges, angular momentum, and linear momentum for martial artists
Protecting the brains of fighters and football players from concussions
Reducing traumatic brain injury in contact sports
Exposing the illusion of safety provided by gloves and helmets
Overturning conventional wisdom on compliance during an assault
Busting Hollywood action myths
Giving the mystical side of martial arts a much-needed reality check
Dr. Thalken invites readers to take a scientific approach to training and fighting, and provides all the tools necessary to get the most out of their experiences and make their training count.