2 comments about Hap Ki Do: A Guide to Black Belt Studies.

1. This book is an extended version of Master Choe's other book, Hap Ki Do The Korean Art of Self Defense. The new book is arranged a little better and includes more text on philosophy, training and teaching techniques. This book is a great reference and is worth getting, even if you already have the other book.



2. The title of this book, in my opinion, is misleading. I was under the impression that it would lead a Hapkido student from white belt through black belt, but no. As you can tell from the table of contents, this book is not organized according to belt progressions. In fact, there is no mention which technique belongs to which belt/ranking category.

   I purchased this book, mainly because I was overwhelmed by the number of techniques that I had to learn from my Hapkido school, and I thought a book that showed details and sequences of those techniques would greatly aid my learning. (At my dojang, which belongs to Korea Hapkido Federation, most techniques do not have proper names but are simply numbered. e.g., Technique #1, #2, etc. It can test the limits of your memory when dozens and dozens of these techniques pile up on you.)

   For my own purposes, this book is of little use. Most of the techniques I have been learning are not even covered in this book. The author of this book, Master Choe, heads the World Hapkido Federation, different from Korea Hapkido Federation. Hapkido schools are divided into many federations, and apparently each federation adopts different teaching methods and techniques. If I had the chance to look over this book prior to purchasing it, I would have passed.

   While the book includes some nifty throws and grappling moves that are missing in other hapkido books, the bulk of the material is based on joint locks that can be applied in response to a wrist grab. There is no section on any kicking or punching.

   The techniques illustrated here can definitely help a hapkido practitioner. But a guide to black belt studies? I think not.

5 comments about Back Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 1).

1. The books in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series are very detailed and will be well suited for the adamant student of Korean systems.



2. Shawn Kovacich is a committed, highly regarded and honored practitioner of martial arts with a specialization in Kicking. Yet not satisfied to have achieved the degree of excellence in his craft, Kovacich has devised a series of books that extend beyond the usual 'self-help' category of writing. His considerably cautious eye and sense of balance, in sport and in life, has resulted in his publishing a series of books - ACHIEVING KICKING EXCELLENCE - that at this point are ten in number but promise in the near future to be doubled in amount. Each of these books, handsomely designed and with excellent photographic illustrations, takes one type of kick at a time and explore not only the development of that kick, but also inform the student reader the kinesiology of that kick as well as slowly advising how to develop and master that kick.
   
   Most books on martial arts fall into one of two categories: some are written in a format that is beyond the understanding of the reader who may be completely new to martial arts while others dumb down the reader with superficial 'quick fix' problems thinking the reader is already proficient in the fundamentals of Martial Arts. Kovacich respects his reader/pupil, and with great dignity of writing style and unfolds each kick mastery with surety of developmental skill and encouragement of each aspect of a single movement. This allows the reader who may be proficient in Kicking to buy just the one book written for the type of Kick the reader finds difficult to master: buying the entire set of books assures the reader that each stage of development will be respected from the beginning to the mastery of the ten Kicks Kovacich addresses.
   
   Each of these ten volumes is equally excellent. The ten volumes include Back Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Front Kick, Side Kick, Crescent Kick, Reverse Crescent Kick, Hook Kick, Wheel Kick, Axe Kick and Hatchet Kick. Having exposure to each of these ten volumes gathers respect for Shawn Kovacich not only as a man who is able to master a tough medium of sport, but also one who has discovered the perfect manner of teaching and communication. The ten volume set is well worth the investment, monetarily and educationally. Grady Harp, May 09



3. For many students, the back kick, especially the turning back kick, can be a real challenge to learn and to perfect. Done well, the kick is arguably one of the most beautiful to behold and, with little argument, one of the strongest in the martial arts.
   
   Shawn Kovacich's fine book, Achieving Kicking Excellent: Back Kick, is a tremendous source to guide you on the path of having the best back kick of which you are capable. Shawn is a long-time martial artist with an amazing history that includes competing in brutal full-contact tournaments, setting world records for the Guinness Book of Records (11,000 high kicks in 5 hours) and applying his fighting skill for real virtually every night as a bouncer in some of the toughest joints around.
   
   It should be noted that this book is just one of many in which Shawn Kovacich shares his knowledge of his kicking ability. Just keyword "Achieving Kicking Excellence" and you will find a variety of kicking books like nothing else on the market.
   
   In the Back Kick text, Shawn has crammed the book with solid information that every martial artist needs to make his or her kick absolute dyno-mite. If you favor lots of photos, you will find that in this easy-to-follow text. If you like lots of detail as to what all makes this kick work, you'll find that in this book, too. It truly is a book for every reader.
   
   Back Kick includes lots of exercises - weights and free-hand - that when followed for just a few months will develop all the specific muscles needed to develop your power, speed and accuracy of the straight back kick, turning back kick and all the other variations.
   
   Achieving Kicking Excellence Back Kick will improve your kick, maybe even make you a master of it.
   
   I've been training, teaching and writing about the martial arts since 1965, and I highly recommend this book.
   
   Loren W. Christensen, author of over 40 books, martial artist, 8th dan.



4. I have been practicing the martial arts since the age of 14. This year will mark the 40th year that I've studied one system of combat or another. Additionally, I have been a police officer for 31 years and my profession has occasionally offered me the opportunity to use the thingS that I've learned in the Dojo. I have an entire set of Shawn Kovacich's superb series on Achieving Kicking Excellence (Vol. 1- 10) and can truthfully say that I have seen no more thorough books on the art of kicking in the all my years in the martial arts. The kicks covered (one per volume) include the back kick, the heel kick, the axe kick, the crescent kick, the reverse crescent kick, the front kick, the hook kick, the hatchet kick, the round house kick, and the side kick.
   Each volume begins with an overview of the kick and instructions on how to make the best possible use of the kick. Chapter 1 delves into the anatomy of the kick and which muscles are used, and in what manner, to achieve the maximum possible efficiency in kicking.
   Chapter 2 outlines a stretching program and offers helpful tips in that area for the student. Chapter 3 deals with the basic principles of kicking movement. These include the striking implement, target areas, stability (a biggie!), balance, alignment, sequence of movement, accuracy. Strength, speed, timing and distance, impact, retraction, and visualization. Each area is explained in detail as it relates to developing your kicking ability.
   Chapter 4 deals exhaustively with the primary kick. It follows the kick from initiation through each phase of the kick to impact, recoil, and recovery. He troubleshoots the problems that many martial artists experience with the kick at each phase and offers corrective actions for each problem.
   Chapter 5 goes over pretty much every variation of the kick known to man and these are dissected with master Kovacich's usual thoroughness.
   Chapter 6 is one of the strongest parts of the book for me. In this chapter, Master Kovacich discusses training and practice methods. He details skill, strength, speed, and power training. Learning how to do the kick is only half the battle. Developing the kick through specific training methods and exercises is the other half and is usually overlooked by other authors.
   As if he hadn't already done enough in this area, Master Kovacich outlines further specific trouble areas for the student in chapter 7. Chapter 8 covers kicking applications for tournament and street.. Master Kovacich shows how the kick is set up and how delivery can be affected by your opponent's actions as well as your own.
   In chapter 9 you can see why Master Kovacich's kicks are so good and why you should pay attention to his advice. He is in the Guiness Book of World records for throwing more high kicks in an afternoon that I believe I have thrown in my life.
   If you desire to become a more powerful, competent kicker, then these books represent an important investment for you . I can tell you that, even after 40 years of fighting experience, there are things in these books that have made me re-think some of my training methods regarding kicking.
   Master Kovacich will be coming out with a new series of books dealing with the combat applications of each kick in the near future. As I'm sure these books will cover combat applications with the same thoroughness of this series, I eagerly await their publishing.



5. Volume I: Back Kick in Shawn's Achieving Kicking Excellence series starts from the ground up. Shawn literally begins with human anatomy 101 from the foot, legs, hips, both skeletal and muscular structures that are used to form the kick. He has written an incredibly scholarly work. When I first heard that a martial artist had written 10 volumes on kicking - each on a different core martial arts kick, I thought, yeah - right. How much can you say about any one kick? I thought, there isn't that much knowledge in the universe about kicking that could fill 240 or so pages, even with pictures! Well I was wrong.
   
   What is so amazing about this book and the others in the series is that Shawn has created an easy to follow format that is also very easy to read. I very quickly found myself lost in the details of this book - wanting to absorb as much as I could. I've been teaching martial arts for more than 20 years and yet I never really thought about how much information an instructor might pass on to a student about any particular kick. Each day we cover a few more details and finer points with our students. What Shawn has done a magnificent job of here is capturing, structuring, packaging and synthesizing in one volume, everything a martial artist needs to know about a given kick. If you're going to practice for hundreds of hours, performing thousands of kicks, you need to get it right and understand what you're doing. This goes for the back kick, the side kick or any of the other kicks that Shawn covers in his other volumes.
   
   If you take the time to assimilate this easy to read book, practice the various concepts, drills and stretches, then you will be learning correct kicking from a true master of the art! I highly recommend this book. I have been involved in martial arts for a long time and yet still found a wealth of excellent material; some new to me and some which I already understood. Whether you are a sixth degree black belt or a white belt, this book will serve you as an excellent companion throughout your studies. This book proves that, no matter how long we may have been studying or teaching, there is still more knowledge out that that can help us improve and that we are still always white belts inside.
   
   Buy it! Enjoy it! and you will begin achieving kicking excellence!
   
   Kevin Brett: Author
   The Way of the Martial Artist: Achieving Success in Martial Arts and in Life!

5 comments about Hapkido: Korean Art of Self-Defense (Korean Arts Series).

1. As a Hapkido practitioner for over twenty years, this was the first book I purchased on the subject. It is written by one of the most respected masters of the art in the world and it presents the essential elements of this style in a direct and easy to understand format.
   
   People who have criticized this book do not understand the essential importance of the basics in Hapkido. This is what this book presents, the essential basics, which all of the advanced techniques of Hapkido are based upon.
   
   This book is a must for any library on Hapkido.



2. I agree with James Lee that the people who criticize this book don't understand its significance. It was one of the first books out in English on Hapkido, and so of course it presents the style's basic techniques in a non-technical and easy to understand way. At the time few people knew what Hapkido was, and O'Hara's book was designed as a basic intro to the art, not a definitive text. The book is brief and could have been longer, to be sure, but that's what further volumes are for.
   
   I also was fortunate enough once to visit Master Han's studio in Los Angeles back in the early 70s and had a chance to observe his class, and see one of his black belts teach, and they were practicing the same basics presented in this book.
   
   Of course, with the easy availability of inexpensive videos these days, older books like this are less important than they were at the time, since you can learn so much more by watching the techniques in action. But for its time, this was a pioneering effort and introduced the art of Hapkido to many people for the first time.



3. As I write this review, it has been just over a year since Grandmaster Bong Soo Han passed away. It was quite a loss for the Hapkido community. Many of us first learned of Hapkido in the 1970s from the Billy Jack movies, with GM doing the fight scenes in Billy Jack, and then having a speaking roll as a Hapkido master in Trial of Billy Jack.
   
   This book, published back when those movies first came out was one of the first English books on the art of Hapkido. Unfortunately, like other reviewers have already posted, the book offers nowhere near what Hapkido offers or the wealth of Hapkido knowledge GM Han possessed.
   
   The book has a tiny bit of history and philosophy (3 pages) and then four pages about tan-jon breathing, an important part of Hapkido training. Then the book illustrates pictures of the striking parts of one's body. After that, there are 20 some pages of basic warm up and stretching drills. After that, you have a basic picture text of fighting positions, strikes, blocks, and kicks. All of these are shown with photographs with brief written descriptions.
   
   The next section of Hapkido Defenses focuses mainly on punching and kicking back after blocking incoming strikes and kicks. The joint locks and throws that hapkido is known for are missing in these defenses.
   
   Finally, in the very last chapter titled Self-Defense Techniques, with a female performing the techniques and not GM Han, we see our first joint lock. It is an outer wrist lock applied against a cross arm grab. There is one other arm bar type technique, and that's about it for the devastating joint locks that the hapkido curriculum contains. (Joint locks, by the way, are probably my favorite techniques of hapkido, thus the reason I spend a lot of time teaching them in seminars and videos) The book also lacked any mention of the weapons hapkido contains.
   
   Overall, there are better resources for hapkido. And while there are not nearly as many books on hapkido as some other arts, this book is one of the most lacking in regards to joint locks, throws, and weapons that hapkido is known for.
   
   So why the five stars? Good question. I gave the book five stars out of respect for Grand Master Han. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet him at his school a number of years ago, and then to return to his school to take part in a black belt class he was teaching. He was one of the pioneers of hapkido and he lived and shared the art with so many. I knew the book was not the best book on hapkido when I purchased it. But because it was by GM Han, I wanted it in my hapkido library. For that reason, out of respect for one of the great hapkido Grand Masters, I recommend the book for any hapkidoin's library.
   
   Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.



4. "The purpose of this book is to introduce the student to Hapkido in the clearest terms, with special emphasis on the basic techniques and principles of the art." This quote by the author really put the scope of this book into perspective and its on that particular note that I base my review for this book.
   
   As a basic overall guide to the art of Hapkido, I would have to say that the author actually does a pretty good job especially when you consider the fact that this book initially came out in 1974. It really doesn't explain to you how to adequately perform any of the techniques shown as that is not what the author had intended. Instead this book gives you a really good overview of numerous different individual components that make up the art of Hapkido. Some of those components which are included in this book are as follows:
   
   HISTORY
   PHILOSOPHY
   BREATHING
   STRIKING AREAS
   WARM-UP EXERCISES
   PUNCHING & STRIKING
   BLOCKS
   KICKS
   HAPKIDO DEFENSES
   SELF-DEFENSE
   TARGET AREAS
   
   Each section gives you a brief overview of a variety of techniques that fall under each particular heading. For example; under the "Kicks" section, the author demonstrates how to execute several different kicks including:
   
   Front Kick
   Side Kick
   Roundhouse Kick
   Wheel Kick
   
   If you were looking to learn how to execute a particular technique, then this book would be somewhat of a disappointment. However, if you are looking for a good overview on the art of Hapkido, then this book would definitely be a good choice.
   
   Shawn Kovacich
   Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.



5. The person who originally instructed Han in Hapkido basics was Max Baer the famous pugilist.
   This book contains all the basic Hapkido boxing movements anyone needs to know. If you master all the techniques in this book, the student need not fear anyone.
   Muhammed Ali was another Hapkido student. If you review his early fights, he uses exclusively the first three boxing techniques seen in this book.
   Buy this book and hoard it as a classic. Once it is out of print, it will be gone.

5 comments about Hap Ki Do: The Korean Art of Self Defense.

1. This book is straight to the point on joint locks and take downs. The book is broken down into chapters by how the joint is locked with varying grabs and attacks. One must already have good control and be familiar with stretching, striking and falling before applying this text. Master Choe's other book (Practical Hapkido Textbook) is a better introduction and includes some striking and falling techniques.



2. Excellent Hap Ki Do book. I'm a taekwondo'er and found this book very easy to understand with big clear pictures for illustration. I've purchased all three of Master Choe's HKD books and found a certain amount of redundancy in the techniques, but highly recommend all three any way. I originally found one of these in the library and realized right away that these books were the best I've found.



3. I would say if you are new to Hapkido, or looking maby to join a class then this book is a must. I just started several months I use it as a reference. The one thing you will find about Hapkido is there are slight varations fom school to school. The one thing I do recomened is if you are going at a school look at what federation your school belongs to. Just happends my school belongs to this association. I gave this a five rating for couple reasons. The pictures, directions are easy to follow,great if you want to have a reference,or you want to get a friend willing let to practice.The one negative I did find on this book was that it should went over breaking falls better. There isn't to many Hapkido books out there good as this! IT was money well spent, I am giving it ***** !



4. A complete waste of money. Way too basic to learn anything new for anyone that has even minimal experience in Hapkido. And some of the pictures were poorly taken and made it hard to see the grip applied throughout the entire technique. I looked at this book for all of MAYBE 5 minutes!



5. The title is a little disinformattive - this book is very good as a "traditional" Hapkido reference, but if you're looking for self-defence - try something else. Lucky for me I was aware of that fact when buying the book :)
   Nevertheless, it is a nicely written book that will give You a good overview of Hapkido from one of the its great masters point of view. So it is definitely worth buying.

5 comments about Side Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 10).

1. Shawn Kovacich is a committed, highly regarded and honored practitioner of martial arts with a specialization in Kicking. Yet not satisfied to have achieved the degree of excellence in his craft, Kovacich has devised a series of books that extend beyond the usual 'self-help' category of writing. His considerably cautious eye and sense of balance, in sport and in life, has resulted in his publishing a series of books - ACHIEVING KICKING EXCELLENCE - that at this point are ten in number but promise in the near future to be doubled in amount. Each of these books, handsomely designed and with excellent photographic illustrations, takes one type of kick at a time and explore not only the development of that kick, but also inform the student reader the kinesiology of that kick as well as slowly advising how to develop and master that kick.
   
   Most books on martial arts fall into one of two categories: some are written in a format that is beyond the understanding of the reader who may be completely new to martial arts while others dumb down the reader with superficial 'quick fix' problems thinking the reader is already proficient in the fundamentals of Martial Arts. Kovacich respects his reader/pupil, and with great dignity of writing style and unfolds each kick mastery with surety of developmental skill and encouragement of each aspect of a single movement. This allows the reader who may be proficient in Kicking to buy just the one book written for the type of Kick the reader finds difficult to master: buying the entire set of books assures the reader that each stage of development will be respected from the beginning to the mastery of the ten Kicks Kovacich addresses.
   
   Each of these ten volumes is equally excellent. The ten volumes include Back Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Front Kick, Side Kick, Crescent Kick, Reverse Crescent Kick, Hook Kick, Wheel Kick, Axe Kick and Hatchet Kick. Having exposure to each of these ten volumes gathers respect for Shawn Kovacich not only as a man who is able to master a tough medium of sport, but also one who has discovered the perfect manner of teaching and communication. The ten volume set is well worth the investment, monetarily and educationally. Grady Harp, May 09



2. Shawn Kovacich has been training in the fighting arts for many years, competing in some of the toughest bare knuckle tournaments around, setting world records for the Guinness Book of Records (11,000 high kicks in 5 hours) and working as a bouncer in places angels fear the tread.
   
   Shawn is an excellent all-around martial artist with kicks that could flatten the face on a statue. He shares his knowledge of his kicking ability in a large book series he calls "Achieving Kicking Excellence" that is like nothing else on the market.
   
   In the Sidekick volume, the author offers something for everyone. If you're a visual reader, there are tons of how-to-do photos that show the many forms of the sidekick from every angle. For the more technically minded, the author breaks down every facet of the kick so that you know exactly how and why it's executed mechanically, to include which muscles are involved and how precisely to align the skeletal system.
   
   The book also includes exercises - weights and free-hand - that target the specific muscles needed to develop your power, speed and accuracy in the sidekick.
   
   There is a small applications section that he uses to clarify certain points about delivering the sidekick. One section I really liked was the troubleshooting guide. It's a little like getting personal coaching since you'll probably find a question answered there that you have been wondering about.
   
   The word "complete" is overused in reviews but not in this case. Achieving Kicking Excellence Sidekick is a complete book on developing your optimum sidekick kick. Every martial artist - veteran and newbie - will benefit from the insightful instruction in this book, written by a guy who has truly mastered kicking and applied his knowledge in the ring and in the street.
   
   I've been training, teaching and writing about the martial arts since 1965 and I highly recommend this book.
   
   Loren W. Christensen, author of over 40 books, martial artist, 8th dan.



3. I have been practicing the martial arts since the age of 14. This year will mark the 40th year that I've studied one system of combat or another. Additionally, I have been a police officer for 31 years and my profession has occasionally offered me the opportunity to use the thingS that I've learned in the Dojo. I have an entire set of Shawn Kovacich's superb series on Achieving Kicking Excellence (Vol. 1- 10) and can truthfully say that I have seen no more thorough books on the art of kicking in the all my years in the martial arts. The kicks covered (one per volume) include the back kick, the heel kick, the axe kick, the crescent kick, the reverse crescent kick, the front kick, the hook kick, the hatchet kick, the round house kick, and the side kick.
   Each volume begins with an overview of the kick and instructions on how to make the best possible use of the kick. Chapter 1 delves into the anatomy of the kick and which muscles are used, and in what manner, to achieve the maximum possible efficiency in kicking.
   Chapter 2 outlines a stretching program and offers helpful tips in that area for the student. Chapter 3 deals with the basic principles of kicking movement. These include the striking implement, target areas, stability (a biggie!), balance, alignment, sequence of movement, accuracy. Strength, speed, timing and distance, impact, retraction, and visualization. Each area is explained in detail as it relates to developing your kicking ability.
   Chapter 4 deals exhaustively with the primary kick. It follows the kick from initiation through each phase of the kick to impact, recoil, and recovery. He troubleshoots the problems that many martial artists experience with the kick at each phase and offers corrective actions for each problem.
   Chapter 5 goes over pretty much every variation of the kick known to man and these are dissected with master Kovacich's usual thoroughness.
   Chapter 6 is one of the strongest parts of the book for me. In this chapter, Master Kovacich discusses training and practice methods. He details skill, strength, speed, and power training. Learning how to do the kick is only half the battle. Developing the kick through specific training methods and exercises is the other half and is usually overlooked by other authors.
   As if he hadn't already done enough in this area, Master Kovacich outlines further specific trouble areas for the student in chapter 7. Chapter 8 covers kicking applications for tournament and street.. Master Kovacich shows how the kick is set up and how delivery can be affected by your opponent's actions as well as your own.
   In chapter 9 you can see why Master Kovacich's kicks are so good and why you should pay attention to his advice. He is in the Guiness Book of World records for throwing more high kicks in an afternoon that I believe I have thrown in my life.
   If you desire to become a more powerful, competent kicker, then these books represent an important investment for you . I can tell you that, even after 40 years of fighting experience, there are things in these books that have made me re-think some of my training methods regarding kicking.
   Master Kovacich will be coming out with a new series of books dealing with the combat applications of each kick in the near future. As I'm sure these books will cover combat applications with the same thoroughness of this series, I eagerly await their publishing.



4. Here we go again. I have read all but two of Shawn's books on kicking and it is amazing how he has managed to get so much information on kicks into each book. What is of interest to me is the fact that you will learn variations of the side kick. You won't have just learn a side kick but a hop/sliding side kick a jumping side kick plus more.
   Shawn has taken the time to give you real skills and a way to build on those skills. He shows you, with pictures, which part of the body you will be using for the side kick. There are target references (a kick is no good if it doesn't hit a viable target). You will get tips on how to build up your speed, power and execution.
   The only thing left for you to do is practice but practice correctly. Shawn says in the book it is better to practice 100 times correctly than 1,000 times incorrectlly. I agree!
   These are not just words on a piece of paper but personal experience that has taught Shawn this is the way to properly execute a side kick. What you won't learn in this series is timing and distance. That is reserved for another series of books on Application of Kicks.
   There is not a lot more I can say about Shawn's books that I haven't said already. Get it, put it in your library and refer to them often.



5. In Achieving Kicking Excellence - Side Kick, Mr. Kovacich has again provided a great service to martial arts practitioners. Side Kick provides a very detailed description complete with photos on the proper way to perform a side kick and variations. I have found that this book has helped with my kicking and also in the way I teach the kicks to my students. I would highly recommend this book to all beginning and intermediate level martial artists and maybe advances practitioners may pick something up as well.

5 comments about Roundhouse Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 9).

1. I have been practicing the martial arts since the age of 14. This year will mark the 40th year that I've studied one system of combat or another. Additionally, I have been a police officer for 31 years and my profession has occasionally offered me the opportunity to use the thingS that I've learned in the Dojo. I have an entire set of Shawn Kovacich's superb series on Achieving Kicking Excellence (Vol. 1- 10) and can truthfully say that I have seen no more thorough books on the art of kicking in the all my years in the martial arts. The kicks covered (one per volume) include the back kick, the heel kick, the axe kick, the crescent kick, the reverse crescent kick, the front kick, the hook kick, the hatchet kick, the round house kick, and the side kick.
   Each volume begins with an overview of the kick and instructions on how to make the best possible use of the kick. Chapter 1 delves into the anatomy of the kick and which muscles are used, and in what manner, to achieve the maximum possible efficiency in kicking.
   Chapter 2 outlines a stretching program and offers helpful tips in that area for the student. Chapter 3 deals with the basic principles of kicking movement. These include the striking implement, target areas, stability (a biggie!), balance, alignment, sequence of movement, accuracy. Strength, speed, timing and distance, impact, retraction, and visualization. Each area is explained in detail as it relates to developing your kicking ability.
   Chapter 4 deals exhaustively with the primary kick. It follows the kick from initiation through each phase of the kick to impact, recoil, and recovery. He troubleshoots the problems that many martial artists experience with the kick at each phase and offers corrective actions for each problem.
   Chapter 5 goes over pretty much every variation of the kick known to man and these are dissected with master Kovacich's usual thoroughness.
   Chapter 6 is one of the strongest parts of the book for me. In this chapter, Master Kovacich discusses training and practice methods. He details skill, strength, speed, and power training. Learning how to do the kick is only half the battle. Developing the kick through specific training methods and exercises is the other half and is usually overlooked by other authors.
   As if he hadn't already done enough in this area, Master Kovacich outlines further specific trouble areas for the student in chapter 7. Chapter 8 covers kicking applications for tournament and street.. Master Kovacich shows how the kick is set up and how delivery can be affected by your opponent's actions as well as your own.
   In chapter 9 you can see why Master Kovacich's kicks are so good and why you should pay attention to his advice. He is in the Guiness Book of World records for throwing more high kicks in an afternoon that I believe I have thrown in my life.
   If you desire to become a more powerful, competent kicker, then these books represent an important investment for you . I can tell you that, even after 40 years of fighting experience, there are things in these books that have made me re-think some of my training methods regarding kicking.
   Master Kovacich will be coming out with a new series of books dealing with the combat applications of each kick in the near future. As I'm sure these books will cover combat applications with the same thoroughness of this series, I eagerly await their publishing.



2. After reviewing this book I can't without hesitation that I learned quite a lot about the proper execution of the roundhouse kick. For a kick that I thought looked simple, I was surprised to see how many details there are to it. It's a surprisingly technical type of kick that requires much practice to deliver it properly.
   
   I've been doing martial arts for the past years and I've had competent instructors show me how to perform the roundhouse kick. However, I was never told the little details about the kick that really makes it work correctly. Either my instructors didn't tell me the details or they were unaware of them. That is why I think it's very important to read this book if you want to learn the roundhouse kick properly because even instructors can miss details with techniques.
   
   The roundhouse kick is broken down into various stages of it's delivery, Shawn writes each stage in extreme detail covering everything about the roundhouse kick. Also included in the book: the basic anatomy of the kick, warm up and stretching, variations of the kick, training and practice methods, trouble shooting guide and even a small section of the applications of the kicks.
   
   Reading this book has definitely improved my understanding of the roundhouse kick, it was very helpful for me to really understand why the kick is done the way it is. Now that I have a better understanding of it, I just need to practice thousands of repetitions :)
   
   Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced martial artist you will still benefit, even advanced students will learn something from this book.
   
   While it is important to train hard, it is even more important to train smart. This book will show you how.
   
   Thanks Shawn



3. As a student of Martial Arts holding 2nd Dans in Taekwondo and Shotokan Karate and a amatuer competitor in sports karate ,I wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Kovacich's books.
   I own several of Mr. Kovacich's books , Axe Kick , Back Kick , Crescent Kick , Front Kick ,Hook Kick ,Roundhouse Kick, and Side Kick .
   each book stands on its own fully describing each particular kick to the nth detail.
   The muscles needed to throw the kicks , the proper methods to throw the kick different various ways to throw the kick for example front leg , rear leg , spinning , jumping etc are fully described , the strength and conditioning exercises used to help develop the kick. Even common mistakes are discussed.
   I really feel its must reading for any serious student of Martial Arts that uses kicking as a technique to really amp up their kicking abilities.
   Im actually hoping my competitors don't read these books.
   Seriously a great read.
   Well Done Mr. Kovacich . OSU



4. There are four kicks that are the bread and butter of kicking. The front kick, the side kick, the back kick and the roundhouse kick. Shawn has managed to convey to the reader the mechanics of all four and with this book the roundhouse kick. If you have never learned the roundhouse kick try the instructions Shawn gives you in this book. When you think you have it go to a martial arts school in your area and try it. I'm not asking you to challenge anyone, just try the kick. See if yours is at least as good if not better than theirs. This doesn't mean you don't need a teacher only that, this is a good substitue until you can find a teacher to your liking.
   
   Shawn gives you solid training techniques to learn the roundhouse kick. You get to see the progression of the kick in pictures. Shawn also asks you at the end of the book if you see anything improper. That helps to train you to look for errors in your kicking. Shawn Kovacich, has done his research to make sure you have the best information to perform the roundhouse kick correctly. The only way to get better is to get a teacher or at the very least a training partner.
   
   Shawn has done you a service by repeating certain training techniques throughout the book and the series. You don't have to keep flipping pages to find information you need. That was done, I believe, intentionally because this is a reference book. Something to be referred to again and again to help you learn the roundhouse kick.
   Note: For those of you who have an awesome kicking regimine might I suggest you try Shawn Kovacich's kicking application series, who knows you might learn something your classmates don't.



5. As are all Mr. Kovacich's kicking books that I have read, Achieving Kicking Excellence - Roundhouse Kick is a must read for the martial arts practitioner. The Author provides a very detailed breakdown of the roundhouse kicks and variation. As this is one of my most used kicks, I found this publication useful in understanding what I was doing right and what was wrong. I highly recommend this book to all that want to master this important kick.

5 comments about Hap Ki Do: The Korean Martian Art of Self Defence: Practical Hap Ki Do Textbook.

1. This is an excellent reference book for anyone starting in hapkido. The pictures are detailed and easy to do. I really enjoyed working through is book.



2. This is the book to start with for Hapkido. Master Choe's other book (Hap Ki Do - The Korean Art of Self Defense) focuses mainly on joint locks and takedows and how they can be varied from different grabs. This book however, shows a variety of striking techniques and counters in addition to the joint locks. Also, more realistic situations and the effective techniques are presented here. Although both books are lacking in text they are definitely worth getting as excellent references.



3. As a beginner in hapkido i would recommend this book for others that are also interested in starting hapkido. This book offers step by step pictures on how to execute kicks and basic self defense, and plus it is very short on words which makes it interesting and easy to learn techniques.



4. Looks a lot like his work. Good book. Should give credit where it is due however.



5. Excellent Hap Ki Do book. I'm a taekwondo'er and found this book very easy to understand with big clear pictures for illustration. I've purchased all three of Master Choe's HKD books and found a certain amount of redundancy in the techniques, but highly recommend all three any way. I originally found one of these in the library and realized right away that these books were the best I've found.

5 comments about Hapkido: Korean Art of Self-Defense.

1. Having practice the martial arts for over ten years, I find this book to be an excellent resource for both the Korean martial art of hapkido and self defense. The history section is great. The ki section is very interesting. The self defense section is very detailed and teaches true hapkido. This book is a necessary addition to anyone library. Recommended.



2. This is a straight to the point book on Hapkido Self Defense. No nonsense, just straight-ahead techniques. Recommended!



3. As one of the few practitioners of Hapkido in Hong Kong I have read Scott Shaw's articles on Hapkido in magazines like Black Belt and Taekwondo Times for years. So, it was no surpirse to me when I picked up this book that I found it to be well put together and a great source of information on this advanced system of self-defense. There are two things I really like about this book. The first is the presentation of the true history of Hapkdio. The second is that each self-defense technique is clearly and completely described. This book is a great source of reference on Hapkido. RECOMMENDED.



4. This very thin book covers some good variations on locks & throws as well as some interesting self-defense options. The information is a good supplement if you already have a strong foundation in these types martial arts techniques.
   A very big drawback is that the sequential pictures are not clear at all, contrary to what is stated in the editorial review. Fortunately the instructions of each technique should suffice, but only if you are familiar with the type of technique presented.



5. I think this book does a great job of presenting an overview of the self defense techniques and the overall philosophy of Hapkido. I also like the history of hapkido that is presented in this book. It does a good job of providing the reader with a deeper understanding of the art.
   
   This book is a good resource and a good addition to anyone's self defense library.

1 comments about Combat Hapkido: The Martial Art for the Modern Warrior.

1. The book is an ideal reference book for Combat Hapkido students and instructors.
   
   GM Pellegrini's Combat Hapkido system is very well supported with a vast video reference library and many seminars around the world. What has been missing in print form though is a good overview of the system and the underlying principles. This book addresses that very well. The opening few chapters describe the core concepts for the system (applicable for any martial art as well) in a clear and easy to follow format.
   
   The remainder of book shows a selection of Combat Hapkido techniques from strikes to locks to throws. There is a wide range of categories and a few techniques for each one shown in excellent full color photography. Although the books shows a wide range of scenarios, unfortunately it overlooks a few of the additional Combat Hapkido modules that help to round out the art. Missing are sections on the Ground Survival Program, the Stick and Knife Program, The Anatomical Targeting Program, and the Cane Program. It would have been nice to at least have a few representative techniques shown. As far as the material shown though, it does not encompass the entire curriculum and the numbering of the techniques shown does not correspond to the video reference library at all.
   
   Another area that seems to be lacking is that there is not a lot of details provided as far as the history of the International Combat Hapkido Federation. I would have liked to see a more detailed biography of GM Pellegrini and of the other senior students who have build this into a worldwide art.
   
   These are minor quibbles though; the strength of this book is to provide an excellent overview of the art and the underlying principles of it. It does so in a great format - everything is well organized, well presented, and lavishly illustrated. This is a beautiful reference book. As such, I highly recommend that each Combat Hapkido school add a copy of this to their library. Individual instructors will find this a great resource for explaining concepts and individual students will find this a great reference. Students or instructors of other arts may find the material and system very enlightening and informative as well, but it really works best as a reference book for Combat Hapkido students and instructors.
   
   Contents:
   
   Introduction
   Chapter 1 - The case for self defense training
   Chapter 2 - Brief history of Hapkido
   Chapter 3 - Evolution into Combat Hapkido
   Chapter 4 - Fundamental Principles and Concepts
   Chapter 5 - Striking and Kicking
   Chapter 6 - Closing the Gap with Trapping
   Chapter 7 - Defense against Grabs and Chokes
   Chapter 8 - Defense against Punches and Kicks
   Chapter 9 - Defense against Weapons

5 comments about Hapkido: Traditions, Philosophy, Technique.

1. This very fine, but BIG, "Classic" has a great over-all style with clarity down to small detail. "Hapkido" is of excellent quality and quantity; as a textbook, and in its content. It is very well-bound and sturdy, with good paper and print, in a clear style and font. It offers a generous quantity of technique with a quality of skill, style and meaning. This is made possible by a very well done modular pattern of presentation of precise explanations, diagrams, pictures and photos -- easily matching the best of academic works.
   
   "Hapkido" has a nice balance of arts -- striking, avoiding and blocking, holding, throwing, weapons, internal and healing -- tradition and creation -- subtle and direct -- soft and hard. This reflects well the Art of Hapkido. Of a quiet, modest, eclectic Kenpo style, I especially enjoyed the honest respect in this "Classic" -- as shown by the page fifteen "Comparison of Eclectic Arts". Such a modest attitude and book-price for such a wonderful work +++



2. This book is really a great overview of Hapkido. Just don't expect to learn the art just from reading it! Also remember this is not "traditional" or "purely korean" Hapkido - a seasoned practicioner will see influences from many other, "modern" martial arts - like taekwondo and wing chun for example, so i like to refer to it as "modern" Hapkido. This is not bad, just remember this when buying the book.
   I personally think, that the interviews section could be omited, or sold as a solo book.
   Also, some of the photographs have a slightly distorted art/information ratio, but this was to be expected as the author is a professional photographer ;) But this also shows in the overall quality of pictures - they are beautifull and (most of them) very informative!
   Overall - this is a VERY good book if You want a VERY good overview of Hapkido. And if You're ready for a LONG read (over 1000 pages!) ;)



3. Being a martial artist myself, I have always been looking in ways to study other people's philosophies, techniques, and training tips. I have purchased a few martial arts books in the past few years and this book is so full knowledge, not just information about Hapkido, but just great information about martial arts itself and the history and philosophy. I am still working my way through the book because it has so many aspects of striking, blocking, foot work, self defense unarmed/armed, weapons, holds, locks, breaks, and so on. Defiantly worth having in your library as a great source of information.



4. This book is outstanding, as my title tells. I did not expect to receive all the information that I did, and I certainly didn't expect the book to be practically two inches thick! This book is chalk full of information, much of which I have already had exposure to from other different styles...I was not aware that Hapkido made much utilization of Chin Na (joint locks) and pressure points, two very important aspects of a system's regime (in my opinion) and a must for any martial artist intending on making his/her "martial walk" a lifetime effort.



5. These two 1,1300-or-so-page books,one titled "Hapkido"and the other one "Taekwondo", are quite unique in the field. Anyone who is a serious student of Korean martial arts should have both these books.
   
   Since I have given the highest accolade to them both, let me make a few caveats:
   
   The physical book: Mr. Tedeschi's 'resume' tells us he is, among other things, a "designer." The books were "designed and illustrated" by Mr. Tedeschi. I feel Mr. Tedeschi's obvious talent as a book designer should have an outlet---but not in these books. The shield on the inside back cover annotating the fiercely technical methods used to produce this book is impressive. But the result? Large, large pages--often with big spans of white space. The paper used is obviously high quality--and expensive. Many--many--of the photographs appear to be art work--and are too large and not enough crowded. I am assuming the typical martial arts student who will choose to purchase this book is not presumed to be
   well-off. When seeking reading re martial arts, he has no interest in a coffeetable book, an art book. For all its other merits, that is what this is. This book is not made to plop down on the bus seat, jam it in a book bag, hazard a cup of coffee near it. Such routine use, with its ordinary hazards, etc., are not for a book that should never leave the library with your other books.
   
   Substantively, I would review the table of contents, and query what appears immedidately---'offensive' techniques, 'striking' techniques, do appear until the last couple chapters---and they aren't lengthy. Mr. Tedeschi has employed a very novel approach---the methods of hapkido are overwhelming DEFENSIVE. The kicks and punches that comprise the bulk of most manuals, are, here, given, comparatively, VERY minor space.
   
   Mr. Tedeschi's books are the most ingenious and innovative works of the last thirty years. All serious students of Korean martial arts must have these books.