Taekwondo is unlike any other martial art and it deserves some special attention because of its importance as a sport with a unique history and influence. This anthology, as part of our projects to provide stellar articles from the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, provides high quality materials about taekwondo you will not find elsewhere. Topics include fascets of taekwondo history, practice, competition, health, education, character, techniques, and sport/athletics. You'll find the notes, bibliographies, illustrations, and index are also valuable. We have been very fortunate to include the writings of Dr. Willy Pieter, a pioneer in the scientific study of taekwondo. Other articles in this book provide details of taekwondo history, such as the detailed work by Dakin Burdick. The earlier version as published in the journal caused quite a stir among Korean martial art afficionados, particularly in the clear exposition that taekwondo's roots are found in Japanese/Okinawan traditions. Some chapters focus on specific techniques, especially the pieces by Udo Moenig, Louis Bercades and Willy Pieter. The interview by José Suporta with Juan Moreno is very insightful as it includes a discussion of the differences of taekwondo practices for the martial artist and sport athlete. In her chapter, Marzena Czarneca uncovers the social relationships that often develop between students and teachers. The emotional and psychological bonds formed during classes are often difficult to notice and define, but she does so with a unique research methodology. Van Reenam's chapter gives a refreshing portrait of childhood development through taekwondo practice. His conclusions will benefit those who teach, as well as the youngsters and parents involved in taekwondo. Authoritative works dealing with taekwondo are published occasionally. This book is a milestone in taekwondo literature. Hopefully you will enjoy reading each page of this important anthology. Besides being a convenient collection of special readings on taekwondo, we also hope the chapters will inspire future research and writing in this field.
About the Author: Luigi T. Bercades, M.S., CSCS, received his master's in physical education from the University of Oregon and is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Dakin Burdick, Ph.D., began his study of martial arts in 1980 at Indiana University. where he received his academic degree. He has earned 3rd and 4th dan rankings in taekwondo, hapkido, and iaido. For his Ph.D. work, Burdick wrote The American way of fighting: Unarmed defense in the United States, 1845-1945 (1999). Marzena Czarnecka, M.A., (d. 1997)-when she wrote for the Journal of Asian Martial Arts-was a 3rd degree black in taekwondo, instructor with a Calgary taekwondo club, and national-level coach/competitor. She completed a master of arts in anthropology at the University of Calgary. John Heijmans, Ph.D., studied at the University of Oregon. He collborated with Dr. Willy Pieter in the Oregon Taekwondo Research Project. Heijmans recieved a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1992 and a Ph.D. degree in 2007, specializing in anesthesiology. In 2014 he finished a three-year course in acupuncture for medical doctors. Udo Moenig, Ph.D. is a Professor at the Department of Taekwondo, Youngsan University in Yangsan. He has a Ph.D. in physical education. He has practical experiences in martial arts for over thirty years. Willy Pieter, Ph.D., received his doctorate in physical education from the University of Oregon in Eugene. He initiated the first multi-disciplinary scientific research project on elite adult taekwondo athletes at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. José Saporta, M.D., is a psychiatrist in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts. He received his medical degree from University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has been involved in taekwondo largley because his daughter, Sondra Saporta, was a two-time Olympic National Gold Medalist in the sport. Dennis Taaffe, Ph.D., holds a doctorate in the area of exercise physiology from the University of Oregon, and a D.Sc. from Charles Sturt University. For this chapter, he conducted research at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Derek Van Rheenen, Ph.D., received his degree from the University of California, Berkeley in Cultural Studies. His research interests include the connections between sports and learning, and the history of intercollegiate athletics in the American university system.