A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do

[StuartA]

Just seen this:



A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do
by Alex Gillis

Check out the blurb:
Product Description
Obscure documents, Korean-language books, and in-depth interviews with tae kwon do pioneers tell the tale of the origin of the most popular martial art. In 1938, tae kwon do began at the end of a poker game in a tiny village in a remote corner of what is now North Korea by Choi Hong-Hi, who began the martial art, and his nemesis, Kim Un-Yong, who developed the Olympic style and became one of the most powerful, controversial men in sports. The story follows Choi from the 1938 poker game where he fought for his life, through high-class geisha houses where the art was named, and into the Vietnam War where the martial art evolved into a killing art. The techniques cut across all realms—from the late 1960s when tae kwon do-trained Korean CIA agents kidnapped people in the U.S. and Europe, to the 1970s when Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and other Hollywood stars master the art’s new kicks. Tae kwon do is also a martial art for the 21st century, one of merciless techniques, indomitable men, and justice pumped on steroids.


About the Author
Alex Gillis is a university writing instructor and a professional journalist specializing in literary nonfiction and investigative research. He has trained in tae kwon do for 25 years and is a third-degree black belt. His instructors were some of the pioneers of the martial art, and he had rare access to these men and their families and disciples. He lives in Toronto.


Sounds interesting!

[rtkd-badger]

Thanks Stuart, I'll look it up.

[paddy ska]

i seen this review of the book, it got me all excited. Its out 1st November,
have a read then give it to someone for Christmas!!

In the world of martial arts, tae kwon do is often derided for having more bark than bite – due to its clubs’ high membership fees, the sport has earned the unfortunate epithet “take my dough.” Who would have thought that this high-kicking discipline beloved by suburban housewives and hyperactive eight-year-olds can boast of bar-brawl origins and a frighteningly violent history? In A Killing Art, Alex Gillis traces the sport’s unlikely and decidedly nefarious development.
Far from being ancient, tae kwon do was created in the 1940s by a larger-than-life character named Choi Hong-Hi. The book primarily follows Choi’s life: through childhood in rural Korea, schooling in Japan (where he trained in karate and tested new techniques on racist bullies), and imprisonment during the Second World War, to military power (teaching his new martial art to anti-communist forces in Vietnam) and political connections (including lucrative deals signed at Seoul’s geisha houses). But the nascent art escaped Choi’s control, becoming a tool of Korean autocrats – both in the North and South – seeking to foment nationalist fervour. Choi immigrated to Canada and watched as his creation became, in one incarnation, a tool of Korea’s ruthless intelligence services and, in another, a declawed, mass-marketed sport that, through underhanded means, found its way into the Olympic Games.
Gillis, himself a tae kwon do black belt, succeeds in debunking the sport’s mythology, but inadvertently perpetuates the myths of the art itself. When he writes about corruption and backroom dealings, his voice is compelling and the depth of his research astounding. When he retells with apparent credulity anecdotes of martial artists eviscerating opponents with their bare hands, though, he simply comes across as naïve.
Not that this should deter readers. A Killing Art is fascinating, fast-paced, and reads more like a spy novel than a history. Beyond that, it evokes a certain voyeuristic pleasure that comes with unearthing the sordid past of something seemingly harmless

[Van Zandt]

There are so many variations to the history of Tae Kwon Do and how it was "really" formed. Hopefully this book will shed light on the truth.

Cheers for the info StuartA.

Regards,

Dan

[StuartA]

Originally Posted by paddy ska

Gillis, himself a tae kwon do black belt, succeeds in debunking the sport’s mythologyhave a read then give it to someone for Christmas!!

Thought i already done that with my book

Seriously, where did you get all this further info from (about the author, writting style etc. not Choi per se)... it sounds almost as if you've already read it!

Stuart

[paddy ska]

I cheatingly typed in ALEX, GILLIS, KILLING into Google, and copied and pasted. and I think it was the 4th or 5th one down.
The website had quill in the title.........
I feel such a fake now...........

[Slindsay]

The story follows Choi from the 1938 poker game where he fought for his life, through high-class geisha houses where the art was named, and into the Vietnam War where the martial art evolved into a killing art. The techniques cut across all realms—from the late 1960s when tae kwon do-trained Korean CIA agents kidnapped people in the U.S. and Europe, to the 1970s when Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and other Hollywood stars master the art’s new kicks. Tae kwon do is also a martial art for the 21st century, one of merciless techniques, indomitable men, and justice pumped on steroids.

Seriously, are we sure about this because that last sentence at least sounds so ridiculous it makes me wonder if ther whole thing isn't a piss take.

[StuartA]

Originally Posted by paddy ska

I cheatingly typed in ALEX, GILLIS, KILLING into Google, and copied and pasted. and I think it was the 4th or 5th one down.
The website had quill in the title.........
I feel such a fake now...........

LOL.. can you link it perhaps, I ask as i know Alex is lazy with internet searches

cheers,

Stuart

[paddy ska]

http://www.quillandquire.com/reviews...review_id=6231

[aaron_mag]

Sounds like it will perpetuate a lot of myths and hype. Also will do no good to relations between WTF and ITF practitioners...

I should clarify that I'm not really into the whole 'secret history' that permeates all martial arts origins. This is not only TKD. The whole Oyama killing the bull with knife hand strikes (anyone who has seen this historical footage will see that the poor steer that Oyama is 'fighting' is merely trying to get the heck away from him. The expression is like, "I was just sitting here chewing grass! Why are you jumping on top of me?"), Gracie Jiu Jitsu versus the gangs of Brazil, etc, etc.

Isn't it enough we get value in the day to day training? Why the need for all these fantastic origin stories? When I see photos of Mas Oyama I am impressed with him as a physical specimen. When he casually punches through a stack of tiles I'm in awe. Why isn't it enough that he was a good martial artist without adding on these layers of, "He fought bulls..."?

[HwaRang]

It may just be the cynic in me but it sounds like an absolutely fantastic piece of fiction.

I might even buy it.

[Alexander]

Nice find - I'll enjoy going through it!

EDIT: If I have the time I'll try and post some comments up.

[wmks shogun]

At the very least, it should be an interesting read. I will probably pick it up and give it a go. Slightly off topic, but related: Does anyone know of any other biographical works on Gen. Choi, Hong Hi? Staurt, I know you have done a 'fair' (read: a lot) of background work into the patterns and the historical context in which they were developed, any recommendations (beyond your book, which I own, and its short history is brief, but very informative)?

[Rob T.]

Originally Posted by wmks shogun

At the very least, it should be an interesting read. I will probably pick it up and give it a go. Slightly off topic, but related: Does anyone know of any other biographical works on Gen. Choi, Hong Hi? Staurt, I know you have done a 'fair' (read: a lot) of background work into the patterns and the historical context in which they were developed, any recommendations (beyond your book, which I own, and its short history is brief, but very informative)?

Have you read 'Tae Kwon-Do & I' Gen. Choi, Hong Hi's autobiography?

Rob

[StuartA]

Originally Posted by Rob T.

Have you read 'Tae Kwon-Do & I' Gen. Choi, Hong Hi's autobiography?

Rob

Rob beat me to it! I hear Dr. Kimms "History of TKD" is due out soon (some say November)

Stuart