I was so pleased with the Taekwondo program that I am in the middle of reading the manual for the second time. I have been comparing my "Old School" teaching with your "New School" teaching methods and philosophies.

I must admit - I'm still in a state of shock! Your ideas are very interesting indeed. I have watched the DVD and found it an excellent companion to the manual. It was excellent to hear you explaining your ideas and being able to see the exercises performed. Reading helps to fix ideas and methods in your mind but seeing those put in to action adds a new dimension.

As soon as i have finished reading the manual again, I will embark on my journey of discovery. I will write back soon and let you know how I'm progressing. Thank you for opening my eyes even further. I look forward to being a better tkd'ist.

Yours in taekwondo,
Mark Allen
mark.allen@interbrew.co.uk

I received my book yesterday and starting reading it right away and once I read it I read it again, all I can say is WOW! everything you talk about and do is right on and to have someone like yourself 100% dedicated to making Taekwondo athletes the best of the best is right up my alley. 

I should probablly tell you about myself, I started Taekwondo in 1975 under a ITF Master, lot's of no touch sparring, 1 & 2 step crap and poomse, then a few years later I started with a WTF Master and I started to learn how to move and fight, but other than the technique it was old school conditioning, lot's of running, tons of sit-ups and doing things in excess until exhaustion, lot's of injuries not from fighting but from conditioning, I even managed to tear my achilles from so much running.

2 years ago I decided to open my own club part time, that's where my journey started, I wanted to be the best and most dedicated instructor around, so like you I searched high and low for better ways to teach and make myself and my students better, I purchased books, DVD's, searched the internet and even took the time to become a certified fitness trainer with the ISSA, I was starting to see that what I was taught by my instructor about conditioning was the complete opposite but I wasn't sure how to change or what types of training was benificial for Taekwondo athletes.

That was until I read your book and that's when I realized everything I wanted to do was right before my eyes.  I just wanted to thank you for taking the time and effort in making your program and I can guarantee you that because of it my students will be the best of the best in this part of the world, I have to say I'm very pumped and excited about the future.

Tim Bell

whitestkdhalifax@hotmail.com

I received Training the Taekwondo Athlete about a month ago, and I think it's fantastic. I'm a graduate student at the University of Kansas, so I realized that I can't truly start the program as directed until the end of May when school is out, but I have been working on the ab section by itself here and there....I didn't realize how important the ab muscles were until I read this material, and you are absolutely right! Thanks for showing me the way!

Thanks so much,
Anne Rabe

dithstephens@hotmail.com

Tae Kwon Do students have been blindly following their instructors for many years. If you want to spend MANY YEARS learning to be a better TKD practitioner, then continue doing it the same way. If you want to make a quantum leap in your skills and conditioning, LISTEN TO FRANKIE !

If you practice forms, you will get good at forms.  If you practice breaking boards, you will get good and breaking boards.  Have you found that strength training made you slow? Is it difficult to increase your endurance and stamina? TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

Frankie clearly explains what is wrong with the “old school” mentality and proposes an alternative “new school” program. This program will make you stronger and won’t slow you down. This program will increase your strength and endurance SPECIFICALLY FOR FIGHTING!

Great job Frankie!
Master Jay Armstrong, 5th Dan, WTF

jaya@specialtycontrol.com

I really have enjoyed the program. It is straightforward and easy to follow. I feel stronger, my kicks are not only faster but stronger as well.

Regards,
Guillermo Garcia
gar545@aol.com

Mr. Faires,

I received your "Training the Taekwondo Athlete" last night...your approach to TKD training is RIGHT ON TARGET. You are "a voice crying out in the TKD wilderness" here in the US of A.

I have been fortunate to have trained in Korea from 1992 to 1999 under one of the best TKD coaches in the country, Mr. S. K. Seo of Sungnam City, Kyong-Do. Since my return I have had the unfortunate experience (repeatedly at that) of training in dojangs across the US of A. Each and every one of these dojangs has been an utter let-down. Why? You know...you described it in your find book.

Since my return to America in 2000, I although I have gone in and out of various dojangs, most of my training has been alone...and it will continue to be that way. Your book provides a fine 12 week schedule for TKD athletes - another GREAT concept that you have that is wide-spread in Korea, but, unfortunately not here in America. In fact, I am going to train using your 12 week schedule to prepare for the 2005 TKD season. You will be hearing from me in the near future with training questions.

Thanks, Sir. I look forward to other products you might issue.

Kenneth E. Kops
3rd Dan, Korea Taekwondo Association
kennkops@hotmail.com

"What makes Training the Taekwondo Athlete different from other programs is that it is the first that has been specific to TKD players. For instance, I bought High-Performance Sports Conditioning and gleaned what I could from it (its by Frank Deford and uses such sources as Tudor Bompa and others), but it was mostly complex and confusing.

Training the Taekwondo Athlete is somewhat of an epiphany: it is the first time that anyone has brought together the knowledge and expertise of personal training, physiology and advanced strength training and coupled it with an intense desire to give Taekwondo players a guide specific to their sport. It seems that I am excluding your criticisms of the old school training. I loved these criticisms. To hell with 9 mile runs!  It was as if I were reading my own thoughts.

(After TTKDA) I can do pistols now with ease without warming up or preparing at all.  I couldn't do them at all when I started, even had trouble with the airborne lunges.  I'm training less.... I see it as more intensity, no waste, in less time....trimming away the fat, if you will....the extraneous movements and drills.

Frankie, you've done what someone else would have done (I was planning on it, believe it or not) eventually, but I feel that there is great felicity in the timing of your book (Lopez - recent Olympic exposure - People mag, mcdonalds, etc) and great wisdom in how you executed it.

Eric Conroe,TKD Player

conroeric@hotmail.com

"Wow! I ordered "Training the TKD athlete", and it was everything Frankie said it was going to be! I've always read different authors that are on the cutting edge of Strength and Conditioning for sports while I've been in Taekwondo. I had a lot of knowledge and facts all jumbled up in my head, and I did my best to apply them to my training. But Frankie's course really "connected all the dots" and focused a lot of complicated information into one concise, easy to understand, training program. Even better,If I hadn't known so much about Sport science in the first place I would have after reading the first part of the book as--Frankie explains the reasons behind his training methods (once again in plain english). And He even personally helped me tailor the program to challenge my strength and conditioning levels! Overall, worth MORE than every penny spent on it!

Caleb Osborne,TKD player

sin_the_jackal@hotmail.com

quick
adj. quick-er, quick-est
1. Moving or functioning rapidly and energetically; speedy.

According to the Webster-Merriam Collegiate Dictionary, this is the definition for the word quick. The entire precept behind Sport Taekwondo is speed, and if someone can kick faster, move quicker, and think more rapidly than the person facing them, then that person will emerge victorious.

It seems as if this program was designed specifically for me. Some of the GT Sport Taekwondo Team members are half my age, and though my spirit is willing, the body doesn't always follow. Frankie has helped me to see that anyone with a desire to improve and a will to further their skills in Sport Taekwondo will indeed be successful. I have trained over twenty years in a style of Taekwondo that was contrary to the fast-twitch muscles that are necessary for success in Olympic-style Sport Taekwondo. I became quite proficient at that which would ultimately work against me as far as my sparring skills are concerned, but this particular training regimen have allowed these fast-twitch muscles to experience an awakening and a rebirth that I never knew was possible.

I still have much learning and much training to experience, but I feel wholeheartedly that Frankie has given me a giant head start with his program. He is concerned about the total success package; he would frequently pepper our workouts with basic sports psychology, even taking the time to write out individual workouts or even meal plans tailored specifically for a student with questions.

A good attitude, a great coach, and a desire to accomplish big dreams is key when it comes to success at any sport for any athlete; Frankie is simply a secret weapon who will encourage any student of any age to become their very best.

Elizabeth MacDonald
angryaznbeauty@yahoo.com