A killing art : the untold history of Tae kwon do by Gillis, Alex instant download

A killing art : the untold history of Tae kwon do by Gillis, Alex instant download

xi, 244 pages : 26 cm, \"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\"--Product description, Includes bibliographical references (pages 231-238) and index, pt. I. Indomitable spirit -- Men of the sacred bone -- Though ten million opponents might rise against him -- A superpower on every border -- SuperNam -- pt. II. Perseverance -- Tae kwon do is named in a Korean geisha house -- One coup, two presidents, and the three spheres of power -- The ace team and the Korean CIA -- pt. III. Self-control -- Enter the cloud dragon -- As if in a Bruce Lee movie -- The exiles -- From spooky Kukki to WTF -- pt. IV. Courtesy -- Whaaa! -- Olympic mania and North Korean mayhem -- The olympic summer of love -- \"Branch trimming\" at the 2000 olympics and the street fight soon after -- pt. V. Integrity -- Like a cult -- The little giant dies and traditional tae kwon do falls apart -- WTF leaders go to prison and olympic tae kwon do faces oblivion -- Reprieve