Ana María Rodríguez

It all began in an island of mermaids.....Choon-Ok Jade Harmon was born in the South Korean island of Kojedo in 1956.She was the youngest of seven siblings in a large, destitute family that could not afford food, medical care, or coal for the frigid winters. They expected her to follow in the footsteps of a traditional Korean woman, but Harmon wrote her own destiny. Because of her will to survive and succeed, and despite the opposition from her family and other martial arts masters, Harmon is now the highest ranking woman in the Korean martial art of Kuk Sool Won, with a Ninth Degree Black Belt. The realization that she could only accomplish this dream in the United States---a world where women have options---ignited her fierce determination. Meet this outstanding woman that will inspire you to reach for your wildest dreams.

Praise for THE IRON BUTTERFLY:
"This memoir had me glued from the first page. The Korean culture, so alien to many readers, was fascinating as it weaved its way through the entire book. For example, during her American wedding ceremony her husband turned to kiss Choon-Ok and the young bride was aghast. In her native land, it was not appropriate to kiss in public. From the many examples of culture clashes to the explanations of daily life in Korea, this book provides an excellent look into the life of a Korean woman, both at home and in the United States.

There is also a fair amount of humor inserted into The Iron Butterfly. The above-mentioned culture clashes will keep the reader smiling, as will the many anecdotes of the author as she realizes her growing fighting skills. From helping a girlfriend who is being harassed in a movie theater, to protecting her mother from gang members, Choon-Ok’s skills came in handy. But her mother, always the voice of reason, would remind her by saying, “It worked! … Now, try not to use it often and stay out of trouble.” (pg. 95)

Above all, The Iron Butterfly is the story of one woman's amazing determination. Choon-Ok never considered giving up, she never considered giving up her beloved Kuk Sool. Her amazing will and determination should serve as inspiration to girls and young women today as they struggle to find their way in the world.

Quill says: The Iron Butterfly is a fascinating memoir of a woman who never gave up and after many years reaped the rewards of that determination."

“The Iron Butterfly is hard to put down once you start reading it, not only because it's an unusual and inspiring story, but also because the narrative flows easily from one chapter to the next. You want to find out how she will overcome the next obstacle in her life, what's going to happen next.” —Book Bargains and Previews