Star Wars, Eragon, Eldest Brisinger,

1. Official Taekwondo Training Manual by Soon Man Lee (Author), Gaetane Ricke (Author) The Greatest aspect of Offical Taekwondo Training Manual is that it offers step by step directions for both the Taeguek and Palgwe Poomse. To be very honest this book has been a wonderful help in my Taekwondo Training. Our class does poomse once a week and we have a DVD to assist with poomse, however I am more of a read it first, watch it second and do it last type person so when I am unsure of a movement and I do not want to bother anyone from class I can refer to the book and figure it out. Unfortunitly there are times however where a movement is diffrent so when I come across this I made edits in my book. My book has gone around the dojan more then once with students how also really like it before they get thier own. Another thing that "Offical Taekwondo Training Manual offers is 5 of the most common used "Black Belt" Poomse.

2. Taekwondo: The State of the Art Taekwondo The State of the Art by Sung Chul Master Whang, Jun Chul Master Whang, Dae Sung Master Lee, and Brandon Saltz. This book was Written soon after Taekwondo become a Offical Olmpic Sport and is endorced by the World Taekwondo Federation. For training aspect this book offers many wonderful kicking, punching and mixed combinations as well as the Taeguek Poomse directions.

3. Fitness for Full-Contact Fighters: Training for Muay Thai, Karate, Kickboxing, and Taekwondo Fitness for Full-Contact Fighters: Training for Muay Thai, Karate, Kickboxing, and Taekwondo by Christoph Delp. Fitness for Full-Contact Fighters offers training material for everything from Weight training to cardio training. This book can be a wonderful asset for those looking to just work on getting into better shape as well as those looking to be prepared physically for competitions. Christoph Delp also has two wonderful books on Muay Thai and Kickboxing to his credit. These books both offer simple directions for single strikes as well as combinations ranging from 1 to 4 total strikes. Some of the combinations will not work in the competitive aspect of traditional martial art training, however as part of a self defense training program the combinations can be extremely effective.

4. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Kickboxing by Karon Karter, Guy Mezger, and Alpha Group. Guy Mezger the key auther of this book name has been assocated with MMA for years. He held belts in UFC, PRIDE and is now one of the Key Members of "The World CombatLeague". The book itself has a wonderful 8 week training program to get fighters ready for competitions, as well as many combinations that can be used in most traditional martial art competitions. The hand strikes may not win you points in Taekwondo competitons, however if you knock the wind out of a person with a hand strike a foot combination should certianly finish of the match.

5. The Shaolin Workout: 28 Days to Transforming Your Body and Soul the Warrior's Way. This book may not teach you Shaolin Kungfu like the Shaolin Monks, however it will help you to gain the strength and flexibility of them. The book focused on positions, holding them and moving fluidly into the next postion. In many way the Shaolin Monks system is simular to those of dance training where you are using your own body weight as resistance training.
Books for Thought
Bow to Life "365 Secrets from the Martial Arts for Daily Life"
By Joseph Cardillo
This book is basically a daily meditational thought book for daily life. The book has short themed stories that are a few paragraphs long and has daily exersies that are recommanded to follow. Bow to Life has been a stable in my daily routine since I first received it for my birthday in may of 06 until today.


365 Tao Daily Meditations
by Ming Dao Deng
365 Tao was writen back in 1992 and is still highly recarded in many martial art circles. Its concepts are the same as Bow to Life and has been a wonderful addition to my own martial art training since around 1998.

The Shaolin Way
by Steve Demasco
Steve Demasco is the head of the United Studios of Self Defense a wonderful martial art chain that teaches Shaolin Kempo. Steve himself is the American Represetative to the Shaolin Temple a high honor in many aspects. Demasco is also in the black belt hall of fame and contributes often to "Black Belt Magazine".

I love most martial arts with the exception of BJJ.

I enjoy spending time with my wife and our 2 k9's.

When I am alone and relaxing I usually have my nose in a book while listing to a movie or whatever is on TV. I am still a huge nerd and love Star Wars as well so thankfully Lucus came out with a number of books to futher the star wars stories and the Jedi order, and ofcourse the new show on the cartoon network was a wonderful idea.

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Kim's Academy
Wichita KS

I train mainly at the West Branch

This is always the most interesting question to answer.

I am 30 years old but due to heavy focused competitive martial art practice in my early 20's I feel as though I am in my 60's on most mornings. I am married to a great woman who just happens to be my best training partner.

Presently I am a Red Belt/Black tip, which for my school is just below black belt. I have been a red belt for 6 months now which means I may be allowed to pretest for black belt in feb. if my instructer believes I am ready.

I work extremely hard in my own training and am always there to assist and support my classmates in any way that I can. I managed to hit 8ish classes a week, practice 5 days a week and also mix in strength/cardio training and and a 3 yoga sessions as week. Thankfully my wife is right beside me in most of that so it makes life a lot easier.

In the past the main part of my training was in Shaolin Kempo, and I took Dragon Kungfu unoffically with a friend. In Shaolin Kempo I earned my 3rd dan.

When I met my wife she wanted to learn Self Defense so I started training her in Shaolin Kempo. After a year or so she did extremely well except she was taking too many of my habits which I decided may not be the best thing. To make things abit easier we signed up for Taekwondo classes and I am greatful that we did. I have met some wonderful people in the classes and I Taekwondo has certainly made me a better martial artist. The funny thing was I had no intentions of climbing another rank system, but that just sort of happened.

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