Volume Contents:
1. History of Taekwondo, Tenets, and General Information
2. Stances, Attacking and Defending Tools, Training
3. Hand Techniques
4. Foot Techniques
5. Sparring and Self Defense
6. Class Exercises
7. Leading a Class
8-15. Patterns Saju Jirugi - Tong Il
Review:
Overall, this encyclopedia is well written, well translated into English, and has few errors. The volumes have thousands of images and explanations to serve as the best explanation possible for understanding taekwondo and its techniques. I feel it is easier to review the 15 volume encyclopedia in several sections: history, techniques, training and teaching, and forms.
History:
Volume one begins with a lengthy introduction of taekwondo and its philosophy. There is a relatively lengthy historical perspective on the roots of Korean traditional martial arts, culminating in taek'kyon and subak gi. Choi does address the idea of the origination of martial arts in China and then Japan, and does attribute much of the taekwondo he teaches to his training in Japan during the occupation of Korea. Choi is explicit in stating that "although Karate and Taek Kyon were used as references in the course of [his] study, the fundamental theories and principles of Taekwon-Do are totally different from those of any other martial art in the world". This statement does conflict with the similarities of Shotokan karate to early taekwondo, and one should take the meaning as 'it was important that Korea made karate in its own way, as a symbol of nationalism and freedom from Japanese culture and traditions'.
Choi then speaks at length on the importance of morality, respect, and other positive values and the importance of those values in taekwondo training and mastery. There is a section on taekwondo and its positive effects on physical fitness. Information is given on the system of rank, taekwondo training secrets, some basic methods of instruction, competition, and a very brief overview of the materials found in the next fourteen volumes.
Stances, Tools, Training:
Volume two explains the theory of power in taekwondo, then focuses on attacking and blocking tools of the hands and feet, with images of each one. There is a section on vital spots on the body, and the different attacking tools that one can use on different parts of the body. There is a lengthy section on stances with images, detailing every possible stance in the martial art. The last section discusses methods of training, some training equipment (like the official uniform) as well as some general exercises and calisthenics for training.
Volume three and four show all the different methods of attacking with the hands, feet, and different body parts. There are hundreds of pictures of the uses of the attacking tools shown in volume two.
Volume five then discusses the different methods of sparring for taekwondo, the benefits and downsides of each type, and a large amount of self-defense techniques. It is interesting to note that Choi included self-defense from seated positions, prone, and many others. In addition, the last mention is defense against an attacker with a gun, at which Choi advises the defender that they have basically already lost, unless they are really close, really quick, really lucky, or have their own gun. Also of note: the only section that has pictures of any taekwondo stylist not in uniform is here, where he apparently showed up with a black track suit for the photos.
Class Exercises and Leading a Class:
Volumes six and seven
