A Killing Art Audiobook By Alex Gillis cover art

A Killing Art

The Untold History of Tae Kwon Doe

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

A Killing Art

By: Alex Gillis
Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

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 United States and Europe to the 1970s when Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and other Hollywood stars mastered 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.©2011 Alex Gillis (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Combat Sports & Self-Defense Sports History Combat Sports Martial Art United States
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about A Killing Art

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    82
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    63
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    75
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Overall well written and researched.

The author is clearly in love with his art and, while not shying away from the ugly truths and foundation of lies in its history, he goes to some length to justify Why it's still worth living.
Overall a well written recent historical work.
Well done.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story well read!

Great story! Narrates well! when is the movie coming out? i am just getting into TWK. A good intro to the history of the sport.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting History of Taekwondo

I have been practicing taekwondo for many years and was recommended this book. At first was a little taken back by the actual history that I did not know as well. My instructor has gone over the main points and the ancient history, but this book tells the story of more modern history and creation of Taekwondo. After finishing I found myself enjoying this book quite a bit. It wasn't what I was expecting but very good insights into the founders of taekwondo and the masters that shaped Taekwondo for the world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This book deserves a movie

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There's all kinds of myth about the founding of Tae Kwon Do and the effect that ITF and WTF have now. If you want the underbelly, with lots of documentation, this is your book. You'll be going to resources again and again to supply some historical background for the events described, and you will read it again and again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book for Tae Kwon Do history!

Very engaging and hard to stop listening to. It is very well written and the reader does a great job! This is one of the best books I’ve listen too! The incredibly in depth (and perhaps unknown) history of Tae Kwon Do in this book is the best I’ve seen!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely awesome!

The historical value of this book to all practitioners of ANY branch of Taekwondo cannot be under-stated!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

You have to know the past to understand the present.

New to TaeKwon Do, this is a great book to learn and understand the history behind this wonderful martial art.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Eye opener

Great book that takes you to the life and dreams of tkd grand masters. As a 14 year practitioner of ITF, there was a LOT of pieces of the history of the art that was missing. 10/10 would recommend to anyone interested in the martial art.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

good story

I liked this book. was a very interesting story. I think it is a important reminder that all people are flawed regardless of what they have accomplished.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

An Ugly, Albeit honest, Look @ Taekwondo's history

I bought this book because I recently started training in Taekwondo. I love the art. It's a great workout, it helps me feel more confident, and I think it's a great mental practice. This book shows the ugly truth about the history of TKD, created by a dishonorable man who lacks the tenets of taekwondo: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, indomitable spirit. Well, perhaps he persevered, but he did it in some really discourteous and horrible ways. Suffice it to say, I have little respect for the man. I guess this is a good book to read if you are starting out in the art, but know it for what it is--a history of a sinful man creating something far greater than himself.

The reader is really stiff, too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful