Book Recommendation: A Killing Art by Alex Gillis
By Roy Rolstad, ITF Radix
What does it really mean to understand the martial art you practice? Most of us are introduced to Taekwon-Do through a structured curriculum, patterns, sparring, discipline, and etiquette. But underneath the surface lies a dramatic and often untold story about how this art came to be. That story is masterfully uncovered in A Killing Art by Alex Gillis, a book that every serious Taekwon-Do practitioner should read.
This book is not a technique manual. It’s not a motivational guide. Instead, it’s a deep dive into the complex world that birthed Taekwon-Do, one shaped by military ambition, Cold War politics, ideological battles, and the passionate (and sometimes dangerous) vision of one man: General Choi Hong Hi.
Gillis, himself a long-time Taekwon-Do student and investigative journalist, traces the history of Taekwon-Do from its roots in occupied Korea to its worldwide spread. What sets this book apart is its courage. It doesn’t shy away from controversy or contradiction. General Choi is portrayed not as a saint, but as a brilliant, stubborn, and deeply flawed man who willed Taekwon-Do into existence, sometimes through diplomacy, sometimes through manipulation, and sometimes through sheer force of personality.
What we learn is that Taekwon-Do was never simply about kicks and punches. It was a product of its time, influenced by Japanese karate, Korean nationalism, and Cold War espionage. In fact, one of the most fascinating aspects of A Killing Art is how the art was used as a soft-power tool by both North and South Korea, at one point, even infiltrating political systems and intelligence operations.
But this is not a story that tarnishes the art, it enriches it. Knowing the context behind our movements gives them weight. It reminds us that Taekwon-Do is not static. It is alive. It has evolved and been shaped by many hands, some clean, some not. And now, it is our responsibility to shape its future with integrity and clarity.
With ITF Radix, our work is rooted in this same understanding. We are not here to preserve Taekwon-Do in amber, but to explore its depth, revisit its structure, and reconnect it with its original potential, especially as a fighting system. A Killing Art provides critical perspective on where we come from, so that we can better understand where we’re going.
As an instructor, I’ve always believed that we must study not just techniques, but also the history and human decisions behind them. This book opened my eyes to things I had never considered, and it has made me a more conscious practitioner and teacher.
If you are a black belt, an instructor, or someone who simply loves Taekwon-Do and wants to understand its soul, read this book. Read it with an open mind. You may come away with more questions than answers, but that’s a sign of growth. And in Taekwon-Do, as in life, that’s the point.
This is history that punches hard, and stays with you.
– Roy Rolstad, ITF Radix
Here’s an interesting interview with the author Alex Gillis that is worth reading.
https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2020/10/25/alex-gillis-discusses-tae-kwon-do-and-a-killing-art-with-kung-fu-tea/