Training Books

This book certainly raises lots of issues not covered in school and provides a logical and ethical methodology to thinking through, however the book falls short of suggested resolutions that the therapist may entertain. The book is well written and clearly laid out but I was left feeling many "endings" were left off. I am faced with decision trees that involve ethics daily in my practise but I would like to have some insight into what my colleagues decision trees look like. I can always raise the ethical questions myself. Overall good reading but not a book I would reference. The book would be good reading for group discussion.

The variety of sensitive issues that psychotherapists must deal with are addressed in this stimulating book. In a respectful context, the authors challenge us to address a variety of topics that are almost never discussed in training, supervision, or consultation study groups among psychotherapists. This reading provides a wealth of topics and guidelines for thinking through issues such as, what to do during a psychotherapy session when we feel distracted, annoyed, drowsy or sexually aroused? What to do when personal values differ significantly from those of our clients/patients? Many more interesting taboo topics are addressed! I am recommending that my feminist therapy study group read this book for discussion!

In graduate training, we are trained to follow ethical principles, but discussions are limited. Students and professors seem afraid to openly discuss the taboo topics, like therapist feelings of fear, anger, hatred, and sexual attraction. This book provides the context for open, respectful, and insightful discussions in graduate-level ethics courses. Thank you, Dr. Pope!

This is the MOST PRACTICAL book on boundaries and ethics I have read in any language. It is an ideal text for professional training programs in psychology or other mental health fields. But it is also something one could use to guide practicing clinicians and/or plan inservice training. Last but not least, for the consumer who is wondering what "the rules are," this is far easier to understand than an ethics code. Nothing available in the professional literature can match this contribution by three widely acknowledged leaders in the field who have provided a virtual cornucopia of useful guidance. They cover many vital things including some rarely discussed. It's worth many times its price. This is the first book I think which could actually be used as a text in a professional training program which is seeking to truly cover the realities of the practice that their students face in the future.

If you're in the mental health field or preparing for a career in it, this book raises a lot of excellent questions that you'll want to think through. I wish it provided more answers, but I understand that its purpose is to raise the issues so you can think through them for yourself.

Great book that shows the perils of continuing to work for others. I loved the comparison of jobism and communism. If you need a boost toward self employment, this is it!

This book is great for anyone thinking about starting their own business. If you have any insecurities about leaving the world of jobism, they will all disappear after reading this book.

A great book to learn why Jobs = slavery and Self-employed = Freedom and that it's your choice as to which direction you go. And why. And what to do about it.

A great book with a simple idea that most Americans never realize.

I've been free from a job for years now. I just wish I'd had this book to read when I got out of college. I would have started my action plan to freedom sooner. Now I help others "plan their escape" by consulting them on how to become free by starting their own business. If I weren't there to guide them, I'd toss 'em this book instead.

This book was written back in 1996 and boy didn't Hedges call it right?Many of those people who hung their hopes on a J-O-B now find themselves out of work and attacked Hedges for this book and it's predecessor, "Who Stole The American Dream", are probably wishin they had listened to Hedges instead of attacking him.The very popular Rich Dad series of books is interestingly sending out the same message only to a larger audience---you must go from employee to self employed if you want to succeed. The best and fairest boss that you will ever have is the one you see every morning in the mirror.I also recommend "Who Stole The American Dream", "Cash Flow Quadrant", "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "Wave 4."

This is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to go into business for themselves. It is educational for those with an open mind and stuck in the (J)ust (O)off (B)roke (JOB) mentality.

Anyone who may ever encounter a dog should read this book. Everyone should. Janine Adams brings up issues often ignored by many first-time dog owners, and reminds long-time dog owners that there are many ways to handle dogs and their problems, some more effective than others, and some more radical than others. Ms. Adams' writing is refreshingly clear and open, and she touches on just about all the issues from housebreaking and puppyhood to letting go in the end, and everything in-between. This is an easy-to-read book that can serve as simple reference for everyone. You can read it straight through, or in a few sittings, or you can refer to a chapter at a time as you see fit. You should read this book. Your dog will thank you. Everyone should read this book, it's really that good!

This book is great. It told me everything that I was doing wrong when I was training my min pin. It did'nt even hhousebreak yet because of this book. I got it trained in a day!

This is a profound, one-and-done reference for a new dog person, whether he or she is rescuing an adult, adopting a puppy or dogsitting for a friend. Without qualification, I think it should replace a book with monks as a primary reference tool. Experienced dog guardians will also enjoy this as a refresher or for a new way of looking at conventional training methods.

The author draws on her own experience with 2 poodles ... as well, as the training & trouble solving methods of other trainers ... this approach alone makes the book rather unusual and refreshing ... too many writers believe that theirs is the best or only way ...

Contains sound sensible advice, adopts gentle training methods ... with interesting chapters on dog nutrition and medication/inoculations that take an alternative (holistic?) approach ... worth considering ...

Oh ... and don't let the number `25' fool you ... the author covers almost all the issues commonly faced by dog owners everywhere ...

This book is very clearly written, well organinsed and makes for easy reading ... useful for all dog owners ... very good for first time dog owners ...

Janine Adams talent is that she can make her books relevant to everyman. This book isn't for trainers, or for breeders, or people with pedigreed dogs - but for the ordinary dog lover. Anyone who wants a dog to share their life should pick up this book and read it cover to cover. If you already have a dog - what are you waiting for?? Get this book - it's a great Christmas gift!

All people, team members as well as their leaders, simply want to feel appreciated and recognized. Everyone wants to feel important. We want to know that what we do makes a difference that goes beyond the numbers on the financial reports. This book can show you how to do that. Because the fundamental truth is, it's not the money you spend on rewards, but your ability to connect with your employees in a meaningful way that really makes the difference. This book can help you do that. You may also want to see Motivation at Work: Transform Your Business in 6 Extraordinary Steps

365 Ways to Motivate and Reward goes the extra mile in providing an understanding of the difference between the Band-Aid approaches to employee motivation and the understanding of true motivation from the employees' perspective. Podmoroff provides statistics from studies that looks at the employees reasoning behind needed recognition, acceptance and that good ole pat on the back. Inspired and motivated employees from management to the janitor foster a highly motivational workplace and this resource provides example after example of tips and techniques that help to create the motivated employee.
Helping the employee to claim ownership in his/her, organization is paramount to creating the positive workplace environment necessary for healthy, growing organizations and Podmoroff has provided 365 ways to do this.

Excellent book! Dianna Podmoroff's book "365 Ways to Motivate and Reward Your Employees Every Day: With Little or No Money" is a must have more every organization. I would recommend this book to everyone in management. As someone who has to watch the bottom line very closely in my company I found that Dianna's book has several excellent ideas to tap into peoples feeling of being acknowledged and rewarded. I have already passed this book on to my Executive Team for us to get started on some of Dianna's great ideas.

'365 Ways to Motivate and Reward Your Employees Every Day--With Little or No Money' is a terrific book for all managers and business owners. This book teaches you how to think like an employee, rather than thinking like a big wig. Then it gives you all the suggestions you need to motivate your employees and keep them motivated for an infinite amount of time. And that last part is really the key to this book. You don't want to motivate your employees for a day or a week. You want to keep them motivated for as long as they work for you.

I enjoyed reading the parts of the book that explained the importance of motivation, but I was even more impressed by all of the great techniques. This book is written in a fun, easy manner that made me excited to get to the `good stuff.' The gift ideas are all very clever (like supplying morning coffee for a year) and so are the suggestions on how to make the office fun (like adding a "Whine Cellar"). I especially liked all of the ideas on how to give employees time off of work, because it honestly never even crossed my mind to reward productivity with down time.

Overall, I think this is a terrific book and I can't wait to implement these ideas in my workplace. If you are a business owner or manager, I strongly recommend that you read this book. Even if you only follow a few of the suggestions, I think your company is bound to improve.

This is one of those books where you expected one thing and are pleasantly surprised to receive something else. Well, not entirely something else, there certainly is a list of 322 (not 365!) ways to motivate your employees, but that's the last half of the book. The first half is a great business book on motivation and the necessity to create a motivational work environment.

In fact, I found the fist half of the book more interesting than the second half and I say that without knocking the second half whatsoever. 365 covers motivational theory, internal and external motivational factors, management methods and also provides a series of motivational questions to ask employees and new hires to ensure you are able to provide the best motivational environment for their needs.

The second half of 365 covers a number of easy-to-do motivational rewards. While most businesses won't be able to do all of them there are a number of cheap and easy ideas that every business should implement. Not stopping with their own list, the book concludes with a monthly calendar of special days that will allow you to make your own motivational rewards.

Regardless of your work environment, every company can use a few motivational tips. 365 provides 322 of them and a framework to create hundreds more of your own. This is a book that won't be put on my bookshelf, but will remain close by as a reference for things I can do to reward my employees.

WOW! This book is a must for anyone looking to purchase a horse, owns a horse or is anticipating the ownership of a horse. This should become the bible in the horse world! Hats Off to you Tom Lutton!! Excellent book! Highly recommended!!

As an advanced rider and Level 3 certified riding instructor I looked forward to reading this book and applying it's techniques although I remained very skeptical regarding how much this could really help me. I enjoyed reading this interesting book and have applied the basic principles to working with my intelligent, high-strung gelding with very unexpected and positive results. Over the last 20 years I have taken many lessons and clinics from some of the best Dressage and Hunter/Jumper trainers in the country but Tom's easy techniques have transformed my horse in a way I simply didn't think possible. I don't believe I'll ever give a lesson or work with a horse in the same way I would have prior to reading this book. I also highly recommend his clinics as I had the advantage of having Tom work with me and my horse for 1 hour a day over 4 days and I feel like I have walked away with a different horse. It's simple, the results are fast and I believe these training methods will improve any horse & rider in any discipline.

Lisa Hirsch
East Hampton, NY

Simply put, I was amazed by the progress my horse and I made after following the simple steps in Tom Luttons book! With colorful and easy to discern illustrations and a simple but articulate narration I had no problems at all understanding and following his excersizes! This is a book for any equestrian looking to have a trusting and willing companion in their equine partner whether you trail ride, areana ride, game, jump or just like to spend time in the pasture Tom explains how to enjoy each experience you share together. This book will eliminate all sources of miscommunication and most behavioral issues with your horse, it certainly has with mine! My horse is a happier, calmer and more cooperative friend and I am a much more attentive and patient owner! We have gained so much confidence and contentment since I read and practiced Tom's techniques! WELL WORTH THE MONEY!!!

"This book is a must have for any horse owner! Very easy to read, detailed instructions on how to communicate better with your horse. This book goes step by step! I not only found out what I had been doing wrong, but how to fix my methods and develop the skills I need to be a better rider! I recommend this book to anyone who rides--- or just enjoys being around horses--- and wants to have a better understanding of their equine partner!"

Tom Lutton clearly loves and respects horses and teaching riders and horse owners to effectively communicate with these wonderful animals is the goal of his book. Not only will you become a better rider by reading this book, you'll become a better owner. The style of this book is straightforward and easy to understand, and riders of any level have much to gain from it. In fact, it's the kind of book worth rereading periodically to make sure one is consistent with one's habits. This book is a "must read."

Photoshop CS3 is a very "deep" application, and I think that this book can be an excellent resource for virtually any CS3 user (especially those who classify themselves as intermediate users of Photoshop). The author does not assume that you have already read a user manual or other book. He covers in detail many of the tools in detail that are frequently used to color correct, mask and composite images, and do many other common tasks. "Hints" and "Notes" can be found throughout the book in small green boxes, and I found them very helpful. For example, in Chapter 10, the author explains in a Hint box how to apply sharpening settings from one image to a batch of images in Bridge.

Weinrebe supports his lessons with good screen shots throughout the book. Just a small selection of the tools that he covers very well (in a step-by-step fashion) are the Healing Brush, Lens Correction tool, History Brush, the Bridge and Camera Raw (including a suggested Bridge/Camera Raw Workflow), tinting with a color layer, batch renaming, converting to DNG, creating contact sheets, creating panoramas with Photomerge, and actions.

One of the most interesting parts of the book are the artist interviews. These Q&A sessions with such luminaries as John Paul Caponigro, R. Mac Holbert, Pedro Meyer, Graham Nash, Maggie Taylor and Joyce Tenneson generally run from about 4-7 pages and include fantastic imagery and insight about the artists' background, their art, what motivates them, and how they approach and use various technologies. I believe that this series of essays could easily be a very strong coffee table book on their own. They are a really special.

I also like the Chapter Reviews questions and Exercises at the end of each chapter, which can definitely help people to learn more about the Photoshop techniques that were covered in the chapter. Having all the exercise files on a CD in the book is also a nice feature. Also, it really helps that Weinrebe is a professional photographer who has been preparing files for clients for years. His work really shines throughout the book.

The development of pigments by chemists changed the art of painting in the Renaissance. The development of film sensitivity changed the art of movie making in the 20th century. How will Photoshop and other image processing software change the art of photography?

This book provides instruction in the use of Photoshop, in an unorthodox manner. Most Photoshop books are organized along workflow lines, although a few work their way through each of the Photoshop tools and menus in order. Weinrebe follow his own order, dealing with light and shadow, curves, black and white processing, color tools and so forth before dealing with the tools used when first bringing images into Photoshop. Often a chapter introduces important techniques not related to the main one, as in the author's discussion of the use of the history brush in the chapter on curves. The author recognizes his approach is unusual, and suggests that readers go through the chapters in the order the reader needs.

The chapters include practical exercises that use images provided on an included CD.

The book recognizes the version 4.1 update to Adobe Bridge which is a component of Photoshop CS3, although I expect that the update was made available at too late a date for the author to do much exploration of its potential. (There has been a 4.2 update, but the changes seem to have improved code, without adding tools.) How else can one explain the author's dismissal of the new sharpening facility that allows for input sharpening, which is different from output sharpening?

Besides the instruction on using Photoshop, each chapter concludes with an interview with a famous photographer. Most of these photographers seem to specialize in montage, that is, the creation of pictures by combining images.

My biggest question was what happened to "the Art of Photography" mentioned in the title? Nothing in the material on technique goes further than to describe what controls and sliders create what effects on an image. No advice is presented in how to use Photoshop to create a picture that is more "artful" (whatever that means). The interviews are interesting but they don't include any information on how the artists used Photoshop to make their pictures more artful. I suspect that even Rafael received some instruction from his teachers on how to use the new pigments beyond how to apply them to canvas. Certainly, a few books on Photoshop have covered this terrain. I particularly found Rob Sheppard's "Outdoor Photographer Landscape and Nature Photography with Photoshop CS2" to be useful.

I also have some small complaints about the book. The text always appeared to be one or two pages behind the related illustrations, leading to a lot of page flipping. Some instructional areas seemed to scant the tools being discussed. For example, the chapter on Adobe Bridge mentions how customizable Bridge is, but neglected to provide any details in how to do this.

Still, a photographer looking for an introduction to Photoshop will be able to get started with this book. On the other hand, those looking for a more detailed introduction might want to look at a favorite of mine, "Photoshop Artistry: For Photographers Using Photoshop CS2 and Beyond" by Barry Haynes. It doesn't cover all the changes made to Photoshop in its later versions, but it will provide an understanding of the software that may even include a little bit about injecting the artful into one's images.

As a long time film photographer making the move to digital this book was a life saver. The step by step approach took the mystery out of photoshop.
The language was clear and the examples relevant.

the book is well worth the cost: it is well organized and presents all of the capabilities of Photoshop in a pseudo-textbook fashion that are easily understood. At the end of each of the 12 chapters, the author presents a review: questions that the reader should be able to answer and exercises covering the CS3 capabilities that had been explained in that specific chapter. Also, the author includes interviews with 12 noted creative photographers such as Maggie Taylor and Lois Greenfield.

Photoshop is incredibly feature-rich software, and frequently perceived as overwhelming. Weinrebe breaks it down into easily understandable bits while still providing useful tips for very experienced users.

And the interviews with renowned photographers add a unique element, opening - at least a little a bit - a window on their varying perspectives and workflows.

Well done. This book is a valuable addition to every photographer's reference library.

The next book in Shawn Kovacich series, "Axe Kick," covers just that, the axe kick, from about every angle one could possibly approach this subject. Shawn if anything, is consistent, which aids this series. The reader knows what to expect, details about muscle groups, target areas, and proper technique are standard in his "Achieving Kicking Excellence" series.

Now, I must state my bias: I have never been much a fan of this kick and taught it as part of the curriculum knowing some other student my fall in love with the kick. In all the years of competition, full contact or point, I only saw one person who could use this technique properly (Tomas Kurowjoski spelling - Shidokan Open). Shawn has a picture of him using this kick in the same tournament, whether he was successful with it, I don't know; however, what I do know is that he has mastered the technical knowledge on all the workings on learning, teaching, and applying this kick.

He demonstrates both the in and out axe kick and adds other photos such as a man using an axe and constant use of a protractor showing peak points. Each muscle group is mentioned and how it applies to this maneuver. His application section works well These books excel as instructor's aids and out of the three I have reviewed so far, this book has provided the most information about a certain kick and how each muscle is working to make this kick excel. This series is quickly turning into a reference set for instructors and students alike.

This is Volume Three of ten books devoted to mastering kicks. Shawn Kovacich devotes this book to the axe kick. This review examines Shawn's book from a practical stand point--how well does this book enable me to learn the axe kick?
Shawn likens a properly executed axe kick to a lumberjack's axe splitting wood. While only right leg techniques are shown, Shawn doesn't think you've mastered the kick unless you can apply it with either leg. This book is geared towards executing the perfect axe kick.
I'm 50, 6'3" tall and 220 pounds, but I'm not an athlete--just healthy. I cannot perform the axe kick higher than my own waist right now--I'll need to improve my flexibility. It isn't too much of a handicap for self defense--or active military service--but for those of you involved in karate matches, you need the high kicks for the match-winning points. Of course, if I fall to the ground or can hold onto something, my kick gains stability, height, and power--at the cost of being fixed in position for an instant. The axe kick uses the heel bone--the back center of the heel bone. Target areas are the head, shoulders, and collar bone.
I have training prejudices: I like to employ mirrors, a video camera or two, a minimum of one sparring partner, and at least one referee when I train. Multiple sparring partners are to keep me from getting stuck kicking at the same height each time, and because in the real world, my problems usually come in bunches. Often, I must train alone or not train at all, so I have to limit my training intensity for safety. A second set of eyes can help spot flaws--and prevent injuries. It is very hard to dial 911 when one's back is thrown out. These kicking techniques can injure the practitioner if done incorrectly. I like both mirrors and video because when I initially practice, I can watch myself in the mirror. For realistic practice, I need to concentrate on technique and the target instead of watching my own reflection--instant video playback aids me in spotting what happened. I can even figure out if my kick was in the right place or not! Shawn wrote about the "crawl, walk, and run" phases of training and the basic and advanced kicking techniques are covered in detail. Exact detail. Train at your own risk. I perform a risk reduction prior to training--assess the risk level and employ risk reduction techniques to make training safe. Remember that training is synthetic reality, intended to be less expensive than gaining real-world experience.
I think that "Achieving Kicking Excellence: Axe Kick" is well organized. There are twelve chapters. The introduction defines the kick and advises how to use the book. Chapter One is kick anatomy: bones and muscles. Chapter Two recommends warm up and stretching exercises. Chapter Three is Basic Principles: striking surface, target areas, and 11 other key points. Clear graphics left me with little doubt about what part of the foot to apply and where to hit my opponent. Chapter Four covered the primary co-kick technique, "out-to-in". Again, the graphics are very clear. They include "dance step diagrams" showing where the feet go--footwork is critical to effective kicking. The photos have numbered labels stressing correct positioning of each part of the body. Chapter Five is variations of the primary technique. Chapter Six is the "in-to-out" co-kick technique and Chapter Seven covers variations. Chapter Eight covers training and practice techniques to achieve skill, strength, speed, and power. Chapter Nine is a trouble-shooting guide. Chapter Ten is applications: how to use this in competition or combat. Chapter Eleven is Shawn's awards and accomplishments. Chapter Twelve previews the next volume in the series. There are a table of contents, a recommended reading list, and an index.
This is an excellent study guide. I can train some now, on my own, and when I find training partners (sparring partners and a referee) I might even get proficient!

The third volume of Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series is Axe Kick, and like the first two it is an excellent resource regarding this specific kick. Like other books in this series, Kovacich wrote a text with detailed explanations on the execution and application of the axe kick and its variations. Also like the others in the series, this is the most complete written description with photographs of the axe kick that I know of, and is an excellent addition to any martial artist's library. It will be especially beneficial to those that teach the axe kick and variations in their curriculums.

The author, Shawn Kovacich, set two world records for endurance high kicking that were certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, and has an impressive record in the tournament circuit having competed in tournaments such as the Sabaki Challenge among others. With those credentials, I expect him to provide solid instruction on the execution and application of kicks, and he definitely delivers.

Axe Kick includes brief chapters on basic anatomy, warm up and stretching, strength, speed, and power. Many martial artists, especially instructors, will have more complete references on these topics. However, it is nice to have these brief chapters that have the basics all in one volume, especially for those that do not have a large martial art library. I feel it is important that Kovacich includes these if for nothing more than to introduce the basics and encourage the reader to seek out more instruction on these important elements to kicking. I have said the same thing about the other volumes in the series, but include it here as well to make this review stand on its own.

The reason to include this book in your library is for the instruction on the axe kick. Kovacich starts out with a very good description of the basic principles of movement for the axe kick including target areas. He then delivers an excellent description with pictures of how to perform the out-to-in axe kick. I don't think a person could give a better explanation with pictures in written form than Kovacich does here. The next chapters teach variations of the axe kick including: Back Spin Out-to-In Axe Kick; Spin Back Out-to-In Axe Kick; Off-Setting Out-to-In Axe Kick; Switch Out-to-In Axe Kick; and the Step Back Out-to-In Axe Kick.

After the descriptions of the variations, Kovacich gives detailed instruction with pictures of the In-to-Out Axe Kick. This chapter is followed by the variations: Off-Setting In-to-Out Axe Kick; Cross-Over In-to-Out Axe Kick; Hop/Slide Forward In-to-Out Axe Kick; Hop/Slide Backward In-to-Out Axe Kick; and the Switch In-to-Out Axe Kick.

Kovacich includes training and practice methods, a trouble shooting guide, and axe kick applications in subsequent chapters. This rounded out the book to make it a complete stand alone volume on the axe kick, and by far the best resource out there on this difficult technique.

One of the things I really enjoy in this series of books is the notes. Each chapter has notes and in these you find excellent gems of wisdom. Not only will they help your kicking on the described kick, but are relevant to other kicks too. For instance, in this volume, one of the notes states, "The ability to effectively and efficiently utilize high section kicks depends primarily on the following four factors. A: Your expertise in kicking. B: Your overall flexibility and physical condition. C: Your environment at the time. D: Your opponent." I wrote about similar issues in the kicking chapter I wrote in Fighter's Fact Book 2 with Loren Christensen.

Like Back Kick and Wheel Kick, the first two books in this series, a person could criticize this text regarding the repetitiveness of some of the pictures and descriptions of the wheel kick variations. If you are reading this book straight through cover to cover, yes, the repetitiveness could become boring. If you are using the text as Kovacich intended, as a learning tool, this should not be a factor. I much rather have each kick explained in its entirety, rather than be referred to a different part of the book for the elements that are similar or the same. There is a big difference in a book intended to be read from cover to cover and a book intended as a resource guide. The Achieving Kicking Excellence series are guide books, and the format is perfect for this kind of instruction.

Shawn Kovacich's Axe Kick is the third book of the series and an excellent instructional text for any student or instructor of the kicking arts. Its detailed descriptions and photographs are clear and easy to understand, while his kicking notes provide quality instruction and advice to improve one's training and execution of this important kick. I am definitely looking forward to future volumes in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

I highly recommend this book and the entire series!

Alain Burrese
Hard-Won Wisdom From The School of Hard Knocks, Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series.

Achieving Kicking Excellence

If you are a novice martial artist, a kick-box exercise video nut, or someone who wants to advance their knowledge of martial art kicks, this book looks as if it would be very helpful.

The series of books is organized by type of kick: back, wheel, axe, crescent, reverse crescent, front, hook, hatchet, roundhouse, side kick. Ten books in all.

The volumes are absolutely loaded with pictures of not only kick technique but also of helpful strength-with-weight exercises, especially gym exercises with machines like the hack squat and leg press sled and of course the all-important lunge. So you get not only a discussion of how-to, but of what exercises can improve overall performance by gaining muscle strength. There are pictures with overlays of angles and axes, giving you an idea of proper form, though there is no substitute for a sensei giving you real-time feedback, of course. So these books are a good adjunct to martial arts class in the dojo; something to read and then take to practice and work on with real-time help.

There is a section on sparring--right and wrong. There is a suggested reading list in the back. A very complete series.

The only thing these volumes suffer from is slightly dark and low contrast black and white photograph reproduction due to pictures being on paper stock and not glazed plate stock, in order to keep costs reasonable for publishing. And the cover photo is wonderful but the graphic design (showing the title being shattered by the someone doing the title kick) was a GREAT concept but you can't read the title on the front cover (because it's being kicked to bits!) This is annoying; you have to read the spine to see which kick the book is about. If this bugs you, it's easily fixed: get some stickers or a Sharpie and mark the front cover with something like SIDE KICK VOL 10 or whatever works for you.

Author Kovacich is a black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do (which of course is one of the martial arts for which the kick is the premier technique.)

This series is a fantastic reference for anyone interested in the finer points of kicking, particularly for those of us whose exposure to this aspect of the martial arts has been somewhat limited. I have been doing this stuff since 1970, for example, yet have focused exclusively on styles that have very little emphasis on kicking applications (e.g., Goju Ryu karate, Kodokan judo, and Matayoshi kobudo). Goju Ryu, for instance, utilizes roughly 70% hand techniques. Don't get me wrong, I have a pretty mean mae geri (front kick) that can rock your world, but there are many other leg techniques utilized by other arts that I am simply not at all expert with--hatchet kicks, axe kicks, and crescent kicks, to name a few.

This is why I was so excited to find Shawn Kovacich's comprehensive "Achieving Kicking Excellence" series. If you are familiar with Kris Wilder's outstanding tome, The Way of Sanchin Kata: The Application of Power, these books take a similarly in-depth yet approachable style. Each volume explores one type of kick in great detail, outlining some 50 or 60 technical points (depending on the type of kick), in an easy to understand and utilize manner. At first blush you might think that it would be tough to devote an entire volume to just one type of kick, yet each offering in this exceptional series runs more than 200 pages and is packed with meaningful information.

No dojo darling, Kovacich really knows what he is talking about. A fourth-degree black belt in both karate and taekwondo, he has competed in full contact sparring tournaments (including the prestigious Sabaki Challenge) and is the world-record holder for both endurance- and high-kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Kovacich has been teaching martial arts since 1985 and this knowledge, skill, and ability really shine through in his writing.

The text is clear and comprehensive, yet written in everyday language that just about anyone can easily grasp. No matter how good the writing, however, this sort of topic needs wide-ranging illustrations to ensure thorough comprehension. Fortunately there are tons of them. Regrettably though, the pictures are quite dark and/or grainy in most places (my only real complaint about the series). Despite the fuzziness of the photo printing, however, the pictures themselves are first rate as are the corresponding illustrations. Most of the pictures not only have captions but also reference numbers that align with the text to assure further clarity. There are separate illustrations that show the appropriate foot position and base of support for each movement too. This layout method is really slick; I like it a lot. There is a pretty good index in the back that supplements the table of contents too, so you can easily refer back to anything you will want to re-read later on (and you'll almost certainly want to refer back to much of this information later on).

While the front and back matter are virtually identical amongst the various volumes (such that each one can stand alone without the rest of the series), the core content is unique for each type of kick. This front and back matter (e.g., warm up and stretching) is a bit cursory too, though that is perfectly understandable given the primary focus of the books; truly nothing to be overly concerned with in my opinion. Each volume in the series is laid-out in an identical manner and includes the following topics:

-- Basic anatomy of the kick
-- Warm up and stretching
-- Principles of the kicking movement (e.g., stability, balance, sequence of movements, speed, accuracy, targeting, visualization, etc.)
-- Performing the primary kick (e.g., fighting position, knee raise, coil, impact, follow-through, recoil, knee drop, return to fighting position).
-- Performing variations from the primary kick (e.g., step, switch, jump, spin, cross-over, etc.)
-- Training and practice methods (e.g., skill, strength, speed, and power training)
-- Trouble shooting the kick
-- Kicking applications against an opponent
-- Author's awards and accomplishments
-- Recommended reading

No matter how well written, you cannot learn martial arts solely from a book, of course, but this series is a fantastic supplement for hands-on instruction. It covers important nuances that are rarely described adequately by most sensei (or sifu, etc.). I have found that, in general, books can reach a level of clarity and comprehensiveness that is simply not achievable with DVDs as well. This series is no exception to that rule. Despite a bit of redundancy amongst the various volumes, the technical merits and detailed analysis of the kicks make these books a stellar resource for any serious martial artist. I'm proud to include all ten volumes in my library.

Highly recommended!


Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, Martial Arts Instruction, The Way to Black Belt, and The Way of Kata

This book was fantastic. I received it when I gave birth to my third child, and found applications that were useful for all of my children. The chapters are short and easy to pick up and put down whenever you have a spare minute.

This book is very uplifting and encouraging for such a significant life change.

As a brand new mother, I received such encouragement from this book. I realized just how precious a privilege it is to be entrusted by God to raise one of His special gifts. I felt overwhelmed and underqualified as I realized how much my daughter will look to me. Even in the "hard" times of sleepless nights and fussy days, this book helped me see the joy and amazement in every moment. My only complaint of the book is that it ended too soon!

This is the best devotional I could have asked for as a new mother. I love her stories (from her experiences), ideas, and most of all, Godly advice and encouragement for new mothers. I can not say enough good stuff about this book. I am keeping it to give to my son's wife when they have a baby (he's 4 mos. old!)...it's that good! And I ordered some for all my pregnant friends.

I was given this book by a friend and what a blessing it was to me! I plan on giving it to all my friends as they are expecting their first baby. This book really helped bring perspective back to me during those first hormonal and life changing weeks.

I anticipated the arrival of this book as I was a huge fan of the Encyclopedia Brown series as a kid. Behavioral Detectives did not dissapoint. Throughout each case, I found myself (an 'expert' in behavior) enjoying myself immensely and learning! I utilized this with some undergraduate students to teach them how to start picking apart situations to determine which factors may be influencing the behavior and it was an all around enjoyable activity -- making an easy job of teaching and a fun job of learning. Bobby Newman has once again done an exemplary job of bringing such an important science to the world without compromising the integrity or turning folks off with technical jargon.
I would recommend this book to members of any of the following groups:
professionals who want to see if they can keep up with the sleuth himself, or learn some new things along the way, consumers of behavioral services-- I think they'll appreciate the real-life scenarios, and realize that sometimes that fresh pair of eyes is key and anyone else who is interested in behavioral science and/or who is involved in it. In fact, I can't imagine a group that wouldn't find this book interesting and useful from the down-to-earth yet technically intact feature to Bobby's subtle (and not so subtle) humor scattered throughout.

Dr. Newman has done it again. His expert first hand knowledge in the Autism field is evident again with another outstanding work. As the parent of an Autistic child, I have yet to find another published series of books that I can so closely relate to.

What an ingenious idea! This is an easy yet intellectual read for the whole community who services, advocates or parent a child on the spectrum. Thank you Dr. Newman for another wonderful addition to the collection of "must haves" on the shelves of those in our field.

This book is a great tool to help learn and practice utilizing behavioral thinking in real life scenarios. The format allows the reader to examine a case study, develop their own hypothesis, and then flip to another section for the "solution", thus creating the ultimate training tool. What is great about this book is that it is interactive training on paper. Fifty-nine cases are included which are interesting and easy to read. It's a fun way to learn. More importantly, you are learning practical and useful information. I am always looking for parent friendly material. I especially liked that this book includes authors who are also parents and siblings of individuals with Autism. So hooray for that. It's a definite must-have.

This book examines several behavioral case studies in a user-friendly format. The content of this book is enlightening and absorbing, while laced with the sardonic sense of humor of Dr. Newman. As a speech-language pathologist who knew close to nothing about ABA, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone involved with a child on the spectrum--or for anyone who simply would like a good read.

Jeff Greenwald delivers a work filled with some stunning insights from himself and other top players that can help you focus, relax, and bring out your best. As he points out, everyone is struggling with something on the court, and it turns out that most of us are struggling with the same things. I have found myself going back to this book again and again because it examines so many of the key mental obstacles that the game presents, and provides a practical, process-based approach to overcoming them.

It is a nice read to have in the tennis bag and read while waiting for a match. It did have some useful angles that I have used on the court.
Worth the money.

This book has really improved my game - and my enjoyment playing. I learned how my attitudes have been hurting my performance in the big matches. I have no doubt that my last tournament win is directly attributable to mental strategies from 'The Best Tennis of Your Life.' Thank you, Jeff Greenwald.

Jeff Greenwald's well-written, nicely-packaged little book on how to improve one's tennis is far more than a "how to" book. It offers keen insight into the most effective psychological way to approach this game and, indeed, life in general. Greenwald's expertise comes from real life experience as a former #1 world-ranked tennis player and nationally recognized sports psychology consultant. In my opinion, not even players like Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Aggasi, or for that matter, Pancho Gonzales, Jack Kramer or Rod Laver could have gained the insight that Greenwald passes along to the reader. I give this volume five shining stars and recommend it to any sportsman or sportswoman who wants to not only improve their tennis game, but gain a valuable new perspective into how to get more out of life.
Woody Klein
Westport, CT

I only wish this book had been written years ago...there is absolutely no doubt I would be a much better player today and had a lot more fun! It provides such great practical insights that you can actually implement, from someone who really knows what they are talking about.