7 Taekwondo Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

The methods Grandmaster Tae Sun Kang developed while training elite martial artists in New York form the backbone of this fitness guide rooted in Taekwondo principles. You learn a 7-week routine progressing through belt-level stretches and exercises that enhance flexibility, balance, stamina, and mental focus, with practical chapters on Combined Dynamic Stretching and mindful eating. This book suits anyone committed to steady, sustainable wellness, whether you’re new to fitness or a seasoned practitioner seeking a structured plan grounded in martial arts philosophy. The eating plan avoids fads, emphasizing a balanced approach that complements your physical training over a lifetime.

Scott Shaw draws on decades of experience as a master instructor to demystify Taekwondo for newcomers and those with some experience. You’ll explore foundational elements like stances, blocks, kicks, and strikes, alongside practical guidance on finding the right class and preparing for your first training session. The book goes beyond basics, offering insights on conditioning exercises and training methods such as target practice and free-sparring to sharpen your skills. If you want a straightforward, approachable guide that bridges theory and practice without overwhelming jargon, this book fits the bill, particularly for self-motivated beginners and early-stage practitioners.

This tailored book explores the art and science of Taekwondo mastery, focusing on your individual background and goals. It covers essential techniques, forms, and fitness principles to build a strong foundation and advance beyond basics. By matching your interests and skill level, it guides you through personalized training methods and practical insights that deepen your understanding of Taekwondo’s physical and mental demands. This personalized approach ensures you engage with content most relevant to your learning path, helping you develop precision in forms, enhance fitness, and refine sparring skills. It reveals a pathway crafted specifically to accelerate your progress and enrich your martial arts journey.

What happens when an expert with four decades of hands-on martial arts experience tackles Taekwondo? Marc Tedeschi, a seasoned martial arts master and prolific author, offers an exhaustive guide that blends tradition and modern sport seamlessly. You’ll get detailed instruction on over 700 techniques, from stances and strikes to Olympic-style sparring strategies, all richly illustrated with thousands of photographs. The book also dives deep into Taekwondo’s philosophy, history, and forms, making it equally valuable for practitioners focused on self-defense, competition, or cultural understanding. If you want a single, authoritative resource that connects the art’s roots with its contemporary practice, this book has you covered.

KUKKIWON, as the official World Taekwondo Headquarters, brings unmatched authority to this guide on Taekwondo Poomsae, the formalized patterns essential to mastering the discipline. This text breaks down each poomsae sequence with detailed explanations and accompanying DVD demonstrations, allowing you to refine your technique through precise movement analysis. Whether you’re a competitor aiming to perfect your forms or an instructor seeking standardized teaching material, this book offers structured insights into the art’s foundational routines. It’s especially helpful for practitioners committed to advancing their skill sets within the official Taekwondo framework.

Doug Cook and Grandmaster Richard Chun bring decades of deep Taekwondo expertise to this detailed exploration of traditional practice, emphasizing the art's original focus on self-defense rather than sport competition. You’ll gain insight into over 3,200 self-defense techniques, the history tracing Taekwondo’s evolution from ancient origins to today, and methods for developing "Ki" or internal energy, supported by meditation practices. The book challenges the modern competitive approach by restoring emphasis on defensive strategies often lost in Olympic-style training, making it especially useful for practitioners wanting to reconnect with Taekwondo’s foundational philosophy and practical applications. If you seek a solid grounding in traditional techniques and philosophy, this is a clear, authoritative guide.

This tailored book explores a personalized approach to accelerating your Taekwondo skills over a focused 90-day period. It covers customized training routines designed to match your current abilities and specific goals, ensuring that every practice session contributes directly to your growth. You’ll find detailed guidance on progress tracking and technique refinement that aligns perfectly with your background and interests. By tailoring the content to your unique needs, the book helps you navigate complex expert knowledge efficiently, making your learning journey both engaging and effective. This personalized guide reveals how deliberate, structured practice leads to meaningful improvement within a short timeframe.

Il-pil Kang is a renowned Taekwondo master whose deep expertise shines through in this detailed explanation of official Taekwondo poomsae. The book meticulously breaks down each stance, block, strike, and form from Taegeuk 1 through Ilyeo, providing clear Korean-English terminology that enriches your understanding of poomsae's technical and cultural aspects. You’ll gain precise knowledge of movements often glossed over, making it a solid reference for practitioners aiming to refine their forms or instructors seeking authoritative material. While it’s especially useful for those dedicated to mastering poomsae, casual fans might find its focus quite specialized.

What happens when deep historical research meets Taekwon-Do practice? Ciaràn McDonald, with roots in Shotokan Karate and advanced Taekwon-Do black belts, developed this work to expose the hidden self-defense techniques embedded in traditional patterns. You gain access to over 200 pages of detailed color photos illustrating lost techniques like chokes, throws, joint locks, and counters rarely covered in standard curricula. This book suits practitioners eager to understand the practical combat applications behind their forms and those interested in the art’s historical ties to Karate and classical martial arts.