We’re thrilled to share a milestone moment: the cover artwork from Breaking Through: The Secrets of Bassai Dai Kata was selected for the May 2023 Issue 171 of Totally Taekwondo Magazine (see TotallyTKD on Facebook).
The issue also featured a full article titled “Breaking Through: The Writing of a Martial Arts Book,” which traced the journey behind the project: reaching out to publisher GM Mike Swope of Moosul Publishing LLC for guidance, shaping the manuscript through the pandemic, and launching the book in Dallas with the support of GM Keith Yates and the American Karate and Taekwondo Organization during their annual seminar in March 2023.
A huge thank‑you goes to Editor Stuart Anslow, who took a genuine punt on promoting a book that, at first glance, looks like a karate publication. The irony, of course, is that the insights in Breaking Through were forged through decades of traditional Taekwondo training. We’re grateful Stuart spotted that line of thinking, and his willingness to introduce the book to a wider Taekwondo audience.
The accompanying article offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at the writing process, the research, the unexpected discoveries, and the long, sometimes stubborn journey of turning one kata into a book. It highlights the mindset and methodology that shaped the project, and the community that helped bring it to life.
Being featured on the front cover of Totally Taekwondo is a celebration of shared roots, overlapping histories, and the mutual respect that continues to shape an open‑minded martial community of engaged, intellectually curious practitioners. We invite you to explore the cover, read the article, watch our short video snippet, and enjoy this moment with us.