Sports and Recreation Books

I really don't care of teletubbies. But boy did both of my kids. They loved this book because they ask questions like who's hiding behind the tree and the kids would flip it up or down and find who it was. They were anxious. A very enjoyable book to read and fun!

It's a great book for older kids. My daughter tore all the pop up parts out of the book so now we pretend that it's peek-a-boo.

This pop-up book asks you who's hiding behind different things, with the Teletubbies being behind the first four hiding places. Then comes Noo-noo & finally all the Teletubbies are hidden. While 1 or 2 year olds who like the show will probably get some giggles out of it, the book's art work is lacking. It's pretty stale fare, especially the sky. Couldn't they have put at least one bird, or maybe the sun with the baby's face in it up there? This seems to be a rush-job to capitalize on the popularity of the tv show. Looks like it worked - the copy we have is a 5th edition. There's many other pop-up books out there that are done much better, but if your little kiddies love the Tubbies, I'm sure they'll dig this.

I know most parents cringe at the thought of the Teletubbies,me too, but my one year old loves them. In "Teletubbies Play Hide and Seek" little ones are asked to find the Teletubbies under the flaps. After just a couple of readings she understood how to wait until mommy reads the words before she lifts the flap. She also learned the word boo. It's a little word, but it's a start. You might not enjoy the Teletubbies, but it's worth it to watch your child's face light up.

My 8-month old daughter LOVES this book! It makes her laugh out loud and she already has figured out how to lift the flaps on her own when we read it! It's a cute little book for babies and toddlers. I don't mind the Teletubbies so much anymore! :-)

This book provides detailed information about the development of the musculature of the horse and the effects of different training methodologies. Like many riders, I have often seen training methods that made me feel ill at ease, but I didn't really understand why. This book helped me understand why these methods are technically incorrect and often inhumane. This book is a great tool for those dressage enthusiasts who are concerned about the integrity and humaneness of our sport, and wish to safeguard the well-being of our equine partners!

Tug of War is a must read for all horse owners, especially show, dressage & western riders. This book has opened my eyes about bio-mechanics of horses and why they respond and behave the way they do. The picture on the front of the book looks extreme but just have a look at what is happening in Adult Riding Clubs, Pony Clubs etc, examples of over flexing and extreme bends are there. This book is for people with a driving force within that want change for themselves their horses and within the industry, well written and in basic terms so that you don't need a degree to understand.

This book is a must for all riders/trainers who love and care for horses. Reading it was a rude awakening for me since it showed me how harmful my "modern" training and riding were for my horses. I want healthy and happy horses so no more shortcuts for me.
Pascale

I would that every rider, regardless of discipline, would read this book. It relates excellent information that goes against the grain of much commonly held training. Our horses would move with more freedom and pleasure and have long careers instead of early retirements. Well illustrated and explained. It's actually a quick read. The principles are simple and consistent. Very accessible.

This book is great for riders, judges, and anyone interested in the good of their horse. Pictures are very informative to show correct & incorrect riding, training.

I'm a snd Dan Black Belt in Tae-Kwan-Do I read this book for several reasons:
1) It has very good informatio about the differnt types of students and how they learn (some by sight, some by sound etc) It was facinating to see what type of student I was and how I could have learned things quicker. That section really has helped me in my teaching.
2) I am looking to try other martial art styles but have been procrastinating for months. MOving from one Martial art to another is actually like starting from scratch again. So this book is really useful in that area. Probably more so for a Student starting out I would say.
3)Nostaglia: Looking back over my training and then reading how to go about it was facinating. If I had read this book 10 years ago I would never have choosen my Dojo or even TKD! At the ned of the book is a section describing all the Martial arts and what they are about.

With the help of this book I choose Kenpo as my next martial art and am just about to do my first belt test.

WC

It is rare indeed to read so many glowing reviews and as of this date, all reviews are five stars. I am adding to that equation. I read the reviews and thought others have said it all better; however, I would like to point our one addition that has been somewhat neglected. The title of the book suggests it is directed towards novices or inquires into karate. This is true, but the authors have written a book that can be applied by seasoned black belts as well.

This book belongs to a brown belt student and he loaned it to me for a couple of days. I was impressed on how the book is about a journey and if one reads beyond the text, these examples, suggestions, and narratives can be used beyond training toward the goal of black belt. After all, many schools promote almost everyone to black belt eventually anyway, creating paper dragons. These authors, Kane and Wilder, provide a service beyond self-help martial arts style, but real examples to follow and techniques to persevere. The book serves to yes, help one attain the goal of black belt, but more importantly, to help individuals becomes good martial artist - for the long haul. After many years of teaching and training, I highly recommend this text.

I read the book very quickly, so the more detailed reviews here on Amazon will provide much needed information in helping one decide to purchase this fine book. I hope I have added something worthwhile to help these authors sell this very well written text.

The Way to Black Belt is very comprehensive but also clearly written. What I found very informative were the sections entitled "Advice for New Students." The appendices and other end-of-book information are helpful as well. This book is a very complete reference and guide especially for current practitioners whose goal is to earn a Black Belt!

excellent- covered things that took me years to learn. Great for students of any level.I recomend it my students.

Let me begin by stating that I have been disappointed in one way or another with nearly every martial arts book I've read over the years: unclear instruction, unworkable techniques, too basic, too advanced, too much reliance upon foreign words and phrases, too much space devoted to katas, and a myriad of similar complaints -- this was not the case with THE WAY TO BLACK BELT by Kane and Wilder.

The front cover says, "A Comprehensive Guide to Rapid, Rock-Solid Results", and the back cover proclaims, "Cut to the very core of what it means to be successful in the martial arts" -- and to my surprise and pleasure this book delivers what has been promised.

There are no kata to be memorized here. No questionable responses to knife attacks. And no need to learn a bizarre vocabulary in order to understand the lessons. Indeed, atypical of most martial art books, very little time is spent addressing things like technique, terminology, or tactics. This book's focus is on training and mindset, which is far more valuable for the beginner to learn.

The authors have each spent a lifetime practicing the martial arts, and the chapters have introductions, excerpts, and commentary by over a dozen highly respected martial art instructors and authors. These folks have learned the hard way what works and what doesn't, and are willing to share these priceless insights with you the reader.

Outstanding advice on important subjects like: overcoming negative thinking, weeding out potential instructors who are not right for you, improving your technique, being a good student, dealing with injuries through common sense and pererverance, training aids, self study, and LOTS more. Best of all, this fine text does not limit itself to any particular style and can be implemented by practitioners of any martial art regardless of their age, ability, or rank.

This book NEEDS TO BE READ by all martial art students, and is quite possibly the BEST MARTIAL ART BOOK available at this time. I highly recommend purchasing this text as a gift for friends whom you know are students of any martial art . . . they will thank you for it, and refer to it for years to come. Destined to be a classic textbook for students of all styles.

First off, this is a great book. If anyone thinks this is just a glorified first-aid book, think again. Dr. Forgey's is quick to point out that some medical emergencies are best treated at a hospital by professionals, having said that he plays a "what if" game where evac is not possible and then provides detailed treatment strategies based on your level of skills and supplies on hand. It's a clever approach where plan A is better than plan B which is better than plan C which is better than plan D. Although, he'll point out that plan D is better than doing nothing. His sense of humor is not lost in this book which makes for a compelling read. It's a must have for laymen or practicing pro new to wilderness medicine. I couldn't recommend this book enough. My only complaint, if it qualifies as a complaint is that there isn't a 6th Edition with the latest in medical technology represented. Having said that, if a technique worked in 1999 it should still work in 2009 or 2019!

Favorite excerp from the book: "Red-hot branding irons and pouring gun powder into a wound and lighting it, while effective in killing germs and among Rambo's favorite techniques, also destroy good tissue." (Chapter 3 p.93 paragraph 2)

This one is a keeper, and at the current price, you should buy one for anyone that travels a lot...anywhere!


J.D.

I found this book to be of outstanding usefulness. The book is designed for a person with advanced medical skill. It is not a first aid book. It is what the title says "Beyond First Aid". The writer displays his knowledge of care from his own experience as an outdoors man and lays out and describes in detail what is needed under various adverese circumstances.
Mingmei Jiang [BVocEd&Train(C.Sturt)]

The book was a bit too basic for my taste. I understand that the layperson doesn't have access to many things that a doctor does. But to me, the book was more about band-aids than it is about stitches. I think it could have been a little meatier.
Due to the limited availability of many medicines to the average Joe (or Jane), I suppose the writer couldn't put in a lot of information on how to treat as a doctor would. But I was actually hoping for more of that kind of information.

Living out in the wild, in the wilderness, is a contest with Nature. Most of the time, man wins the contest, but sometimes ... stuff happens.

Chapter One is about Assessment and starts with that key question: scene safe? Then Dr Forgey takes his reader through the ABCD's, vital signs, levels of consciousness, head to toe examination, shock, respiration rates, heart rates, and CPR. (The numbers for chest compressions and breaths has been changed by the AHA since Dr Forgey updated this book, but that is a minor issue.)

Chapter Two is about body system management. The focus of this chapter is on the systems in the head but the abdomen and reproductive system are given sections as well. There is also a very good, short section on poisoning from food poisoning to shellfish poisoning.

Chapter Three covers soft tissue wounds and treatments ... and suturing and stapling.

Chapter Four covers orthopedic injuries from head to foot.

Chapter Five covers bites and stings and anaphylactic shock. Interest-ingly Dr Forgey finds that rubber suction cups are as worthless as mouth suction. His lone endorsement is the Sawyer Extractor (which is available from Amazon.com).

Chapter Six is on infectious disease. Dr Forgey lists the most signif-icant *wilderness* diseases for North America and the world should one be contesting Nature abroad.

Chapter Seven's environmental injuries include hypothermia, heat stress, high altitude related illnesses, and ... being struck by lightning. Step current is caused when lightning hass struck and the current spreads out like a wave across the ground and the victim's feet are different distances from the strike point. Since the body has less resistance than the ground, a circuit is completed.

There are two useful appendices at the end of the book.

I am EMS certified and as a BLS instructor. I had a few quibbles with Dr Forgey such as his choice of prescription medications to list in one of the appendices. However I had no major disagreements and found the book to be more easily readable than any EMS book I have read. Lots of nuts and bolts and no fluff.

Also as I write this review, I am preparing a first aid segment for a TCLEOSE course on mantracking. Dr Forgey's book provided me with a lot of detail and anecdotes to include. However just as the title says this book is about wilderness medicine *beyond* first aid.

It's no surprise that every reviewer has given this excellent and comprehensive book five stars.

Written by William Forgey, MD, former president of the Wilderness Medicine Society it goes beyond first aid, dealing with situations where you cannot merely administer initial care and then count on a rapid evacuation. Forgey writes with a light hand; he avoids jargon and has a dry sense of humor. For example (p. 157): "How do you calm a person who's just been bitten by a snake? Not surprisingly, just telling him to remain calm won't work."

There are seven chapters, beginning with assessment and stabilization, and going through body system disease symptoms, injuries, bites and stings, infectious diseases, and environmental injuries. There is an excellent appendix for putting together wilderness first aid/medical kits, both with prescription, and non-prescription meds, and with a bandaging module.

You don't have to be physician, nurse, or EMT to benefit from the book. All the information, is practical and hands-on; of value to the layperson who is interested in first aid and emergency medical situations. After an initial reading, Wilderness Medicine is a fine reference work.


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This book is crammed full of good survival and outdoor information. Its also full of awesome drawings. This is one of my favorite outdoor books and has been for many years, i find myself coming back to it again and again. Buy it, you wont regret it.

A great book with much of interest to anyone interested in outdoor skills and woodsman ship in an age that has mostly vanished. The illustrations are great and some are humorous as well.

All outdoorsmen should own a copy of this book. Highly entertaining and a wealth of knowledge.

THE BEST OUTDOOR/SURVIVAL BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. LOADED WITH INFORMATION, AND AT A GIVE AWAY PRICE OF ABOUT 10 BUCKS. ITS A NO BRAINER, BUY THIS BOOK.

I first read this book in my High School Library in 1955.
The best outdoor survival book ever.
Buy it at least a month before you go camping.
Must read for campers.

Your Performing Edge, the new 4th edition is absolutely the best resource I've ever come across for creating success in my personal and professional life. I use it for my sports training and for my professional development in my business. I also use the Your Performing Edge Comprehensive Learning System, a 12-CD set, which is a great companion to the book, with visualization exercises, a workbook, and hundreds of tools for performing my best.
I love the Free ,Mini Ecourse that Dr. JoAnn created on her website,
www.sports-psych.com
Lots of great tools, insights and ideas for my training - a great resource that I use every day. Thanks.

If you improve your mental performance, you will improve your physical performance, This book will show you how to start with your mental outlook and go from there.

This is one of the best books I have read. It is a psychology book with a sports theme. Loved it!!!

Your Performing Edge is quite simply the best book i have ever read on the subject of improving mental performance. I am a keen amateur golfer with a 4 handicap and a great natural athelete. Like everyone, i was searching for that "miracle" to help me break through the next barrier - my mind. I have read and studied a number of other books and programs about improving mental performance. While many gave you the answers to "what" you need to do, none gave you the answers to "how" to improve. Dr. JoAnn Dalkoetters insights, lessons and tips are the most valuable resource ever produced on the subject. Combine this book with her Personal Coaching Program and you have, what i consider to be, the most powerful program available. I am now playing the golf i have always dreamed of. Your Performing Edge is a must read for anyone seriously considering improving their mental approach to atheletics, life, business or otherwise.

This Audio CD is a Companion to the the "YOUR PERFORMING EDGE book. It contains four guided visualization exercises that helped me to practice what I was learning in the book.
The exercises guided me with:

Energizing my mind and body
Building new confidence and motivation
Focusing and performing my best
Healing and recovering completely

I found this program really works for improving performance in all parts of my life - professionally and personally.
Dr. Dahlkoetter's training exercises on this CD helped me learn to focus on my goals and visualize the results I was looking for. Now that I can see a clear picture of what I want in my life, I am moving forward and making real progress in fitness, personal productivity, and peak performance.

I highly recommend this CD to anyone who wants excellence in all aspects of life.

I had been a reader of two of Kim's famous works "The Weaponless Warriors" and "The Classical Man". When I saw this volume I knew I had to have it though it was pricey, so I went ahead and ordered it. I'm now glad I did. This is an awesome work! It also comes with an ebook version and a DVD which contains a slideshow type presentation showing various old pictures and music.

My only complaint is that there are a few misspellings in places.
(The author probably needed a few other people to serve as proofreaders.)

Overall though, this is an excellent work. The time and effort that went into this volume really shows. My favorite parts are the humor of Richard Kim (apparent in many places) and the additional stories which are similar to those found in the two books mentioned above. Even after 20+ years in the martial arts, I learned some new things reading this work.

Highly Recommended!

I found the information in this book to be the stuff of movies: intrigue, action, and historically poignant! It really did keep me on the edge of my seat... and the kicker? It's all true! This is a really fantastic tribute to a man who was a real martial artist of life.
Really excellent!

I have been reading martial arts books for over 46 years. This is by far the very best on martial arts philosophy and psychology, it is an absolute MUST HAVE for all!

Don Warrener is to be congratulated on producing this outstanding tribute to one of the finest and most charismatic martial arts teachers of the 20th Century. O'Sensei Kim had a profound influence upon all those who were fortunate to have been taught and receive guidance from him. I hope that this book will play a part in promoting and preserving his legacy.
Andre Lafond

Something of a mystery-man, Richard Kim was a Zen priest, trailblazer and veritable pied piper of the martial arts. His charismatic personality, encyclopedic-like knowledge and penetrating wisdom made him one of the most revered teachers of our time. A tall tree in the forest of martial arts he provoked the pride of winds and was the giant upon whose shoulders many stood to see further than others. Paraphrasing the words of Zen prelate, Matsuo Basho, Kim urged us all, "not to seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old but rather to seek what they sought." Hanshi of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, Richard Kim is remembered as an artist of life and the last of the Classical Men, and who better qualified to the present the Master's legacy than long-time Canadian student, Don Warrener.

"20th Century Samurai" is an informal testament to the remarkable journey of Richard Kim, and a wonderful publication that offers more than just an account of his accomplishments and contributions. Woven into the fabric of these pages is a message that transcends style. Having searched every nook and cranny leaving no stone unturned Warrener succeeds in exposing all...and, in doing so, he makes the publication mandatory reading. "TCS" should be on the bookshelf of every martial artists young and old.

It doesn't matter what you've heard...it doesn't matter what you've read...and it doesn't matter what you think you know...it only matters that you read this "TELL ALL" book and find out the truth for yourself!!!!

Indeed there is something to be said for reaching out with the internet. Jocko has, since my previous review, made good with a payment for the photo usage in this book, and has been added to my personal list, as another "Cadillac of Dudes".
-M.Fo

Echoes many of my sentiments from the early days.
As for the days surrounding my involvement, it is how I remember it, and how I intended it.
That never happens, but it did in this book, and I don't even know this guy, and never talked to him. He did use some of my photos without asking me though, and I never got a dime. I can be reached through Thrashers publisher, in the event there is a check waiting for me, and no where to mail it.

being a 32 year old skateboard enthusiast (going on 18 years), i could feel myself re-living my past. he brings back the essence of what skateboarding is, was, and "will be" all about. i've had the wonderful opportunity to meet, and skate with this great author, and he truly does have a passion. the book is a part of his energy, and an element of the soul of skateboarding. i would urge anybody interested in skateboarding, or what skateboarding is about, to buy it. A+ jocko!

Growing up in the 80s I was surrounded by skateboarding, whether it be in the form of my Mom's friend's daughter showing me how to (attempt to) ride down the street at age 10, the kids skating in the "hip town" of Hyannis, MA (which was a "city" to someone from The Cape), watching my neighbors skate and build their own ramps, watching the early skate videos, or ogling through Transworld Skate or Thrasher and wishing I'd had enough coordination to actually be able to learn what I was seeing. I found this book at the public library and thought it might be an interesting read, but I had no idea what I was in for. Granted, Weyland's writing can be very subjective and he tends to "go off" about what skating has become (as many people who have been skating their entire life can), but what he wrote isn't just his complaints about skating and the industry. There's a lot of information about the history of skating (which a lot of people who claim to skate might not have any ideas about), and also stories about what skating was like before The Circus of what is now began. What he's written gives the person who doesn't understand skating the ability to have some inkling of what it's like, and to understand that "skating" isn't just what they see, but it's a culture, a lifestyle, a thought pattern, a philosophical journey, and can even be a family. One truly interesting part of the book (for me, being a 28 year-old college professor) is Weyland's comments and thoughts about going from being "in the know" to being considered "old." I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the history of the sport and the genesis of what they see before them today.

Weyland chronicles the history of the sport from its ancestry in Hawaiian surfing through its recent emergence as a mass-marketed ESPN drawing card. While carefully charting this history, he intersperses lenghty (though riveting) tales from his own experiences growing up as a skater. These tales, which are indicative of how the skating mileau of the time shaped him, are a valuable time capusle to which many readers will relate. He manages to do all of this very artfully so that what seems to be a bi-polar stucture is nearly seamless. Few books measure up to the narrative and literary standards I expect from authors--but this one far surpasses them (a pleasant surprise). Novice skaters and parents who wish to understand skating culture should read this book and also Tony Hawk's Operation: Skateboarder. Both are fast reads (despite their 300+ pagecounts) and demonstrate two contrasting aspects of the sport and the corresponding worldviews engendered therein. Really, it's so good if Weyland waxes poetic on ice fishing I'd have to check it out. Please note that this book is a lot more fun to read than my dull review.

If more people took the time to educate themselves about horses and horsemanship in general and Xenophone's book in particular, perhaps we not see so many "show horses" of various popular breeds so physically manipulated by in breeding for only one or two specific traits rather than breeding for the whole horse. What was true in Ancient Greece is truer still today - without good feet, balance in the body and common sense a horse is worthless. Bravo to Amazon for bringing us this excellent book dirt cheap!

The material in this book is thousands of years old but amazing in how modern the approach is to horsemanship. Most of Xenophon's advice is timely even today. It shows how little has changed over the centuries.

This is a must if you are passionate about horses. It is so clear and to the essential point that it is a pleasure to read.

Xenophon covers several aspects of horsemanship, from grooming, leading, and choosing a horse, to mounting, riding, and training a war mount. Very, very interesting to see what is still applicable today. While this isn't a "training" or even a "horse care book," its a great historical reference from those interested in how horses we cared for and trained 2000 years ago. However, for those looking for a story or a book to teach riding skills, I suggest you look elsewhere. Those interested in dressage will find this worth-while, as it is considered the oldest text on the subject.

Xenophon's philosophy and many techniques, though tailored for the development of a war-horse, demonstrate the ageless capacity for human empathy toward the horse. The horse centered work makes the goal of a harmonious partnership attainable. The book interweaves aspects of barn management, riding technique, and early human psychological insights. The translation keeps this work relevant and vibrant. The overriding theme is one of responsibility for the education and wellbeing of the horse. It is, if nothing else, a comfort to read that some horses in the ancient world were treated humanely in the training process...even if under the unfortunate auspices of a warrior culture. Kurt Hartle, Reydon,Suffolk. UK

Back Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 1) is an incredibly scholarly work which details the Back Kick technique common to many martial arts.

I own many books on martial arts, and never have I seen one so detailed on one specific technique. In many books, more than one technique is presented per page. In this excellent manual, over 200 pages are dedicated to the Back Kick and its most common variations.

The pictures throughout the book are clear, and the diagrams of muscle/bone relationships and how they relate to the kick are very informative and helpful.

This title could have benefited from better editing - poor spelling and grammar abound, and are frequent enough to be distracting while reading. Nevertheless, the value of the book is outstanding, given the level of technical detail included. I highly recommend it.

(This review based on a final copy of the book provided by the publisher)

I've read several martial arts books before this one and all of them fell short in some area. As such, I'd developed the sense that video instruction and personal coaching were the only ways to learn proper technique. This book is revolutionary in its comprehensiveness and clarity. Shawn Kovacich has taken the Back Kick and broken it down from anatomy to technique to training in a manner that will improve anyone's skills. Eleven variations of the Back Kick are detailed with point by point instructions, ample photographs and useful illustrations.
While I want to caution that there is no substitute for some degree of one on one coaching, this book comes as close as you can get. It's not a magic bullet. You have to have the discipline to follow the instructions and work hard, but I have no doubt that this book will improve your Back Kick, no matter what your skill level. The author's writing style is smooth, interesting and funny at times. I recommend this book without reservation.

I started my training in Martial Arts about two months ago. I am not an athlete and never been into sports. However, as I started the TKD training I became more and more excited about the Art that I really wanted to get into it. I ran into this book by chance. I realized that my kicks needed some help so I did a search on amazon. This was the first one on the list. I contacted the author who answered immediately and gave me some very good advice. My review, therefore, is from this point of view - not that of an expert but of a beginner who is eager to achieve Kicking excellence.

As a beginner I am amazed at what I do not know about Kicking. What concerns me is that what I do not know can seriously hurt me - I have read about the many injuries that beginners, with their sophomoric attitude, may get.

I began to read the book with trepidation (203 pages on one single type of Kick!), but after a while I realized what I had in my hands - a resource that will last not only until I become black belt but beyond.

It is written for the common student and contains no special jargon. The MANY pictures, though in Black and White, are taken from many angles and contains arrows and other reference signs. The text refers to the pictures closely; in the end, not only I can easily see what I am supposed to do and how my kick is supposed to look like but also learning the fundamentals in an intelligent way. There is also enough "background" information (about muscles and bones) to keep me interested but not bored (as though I was reading a medical book), information that, once again, will allow me to practice more safely. There are also diagrams for feet movement and stances, which at first look like those used in a ballroom dance studio.

The book also contains information for training and improve the skill; this section, which is becoming my favorite, includes different kinds of Practice (that one can do at home), training for Strength and Speed and Power. Because of these exercises I am feeling more and more confident when I go to the school and even my instructor noticed my improvements.

The book has two other sections which I enjoyed tremendously - the Trouble shooting guide (done in Q&A format) and the Kicking Applications. In the Application part there are some photographs of the author and another person doing Back Kicks. The Q&A that follows is very informative (the questions I like the most are those like "what's wrong with that picture?" because it allows me to pay attention to the mistake and (try to) avoid it in my own practices).

Mr. Kovacich has done an incredible job researching and explaining the material. The whole series will eventually end up on my bookshelf and stay there permanently. It's like having an encyclopedia on of the most fundamental part of Martial Arts.

Shawn: keep up the good work! And thanks for being such a dedicated teacher.

Author Shawn Kovacich has exploited an important niche in his "Achieving Kicking Excellence" series of martial arts instructional texts.

Shawn is quoted as saying "In an unarmed self-defense encounter, your kicking skills or lack thereof, can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat. In today's society, kicking is not only used more frequently, but it also ranks as perhaps the most versatile and underrated weapon that you have in your arsenal." I agree with him.

I found "Back Kick" (volume 1 of 10 in the series) to be so highly detail oriented that it overcame any presupposition of dryness and boredom to which I initially attributed to it. In short, I was "hooked." Laid out in terms that the novice can easily follow and the practicing martial artist can incorporate into his or her regimen, Shawn starts out with the historical background of the Back Kick and then introduces the reader to the physical and physiological body movements and mechanics associated with the kick.

Providing tips on conditioning and training, Shawn demonstrates foot movement by foot movement the Back Kick's basic principles and then introduces the primary Turning Back Kick to his audience and follows with eleven variations; some of which I have never even heard of.

Shawn demonstrates the principles of each kick with clear photographs that leave nothing to the imagination. Fortifying the text with chapters on "Warm Up and Stretching," "Training and Practice Methods," and "Kicking Applications," to name a few, Shawn provides the reader with more than a full understanding of what could and mistakenly be known as a "simple kick."

Totally complete at 220 pages, and chocked with all sorts of valuable information from the "nuts and bolts" of technique description and demonstration to body dynamics, this is without a doubt the "gold standard" by which any examplar of martial arts kicking should be judged by.

This book can stand alone or be incorporated within the series. I rate it at five stars without hesitation or reservation. Well done!


JP

Like all the titles in Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series, book 1 Back Kick is a comprehensive study of one of the important kicks used in modern martial arts today. The book is incredibly thorough with numerous photos demonstrating the every aspect of the kick in minute detail. Mr. Kovacich knows his stuff and it is obvious that he has spent many hours honing his technique. The book provides an in-depth study of the bones, muscles and mechanics involved in the kicking technique.

In addition, the book contains a wealth of supplemental information on strength, speed and power generating exercises to enhance the technique. There is also a section on stretching as well as the application of the technique.

This book is ideal for any martial artist who wishes to perfect their back kicking ability. The beginner will find a wealth of information to assist in developing proper mechanics while the advanced practitioner will glean some vital knowledge from an accomplished teacher.

Be sure to check out the other books in this series. You are sure to find one that addresses the specific kick that you need work on.

Aaron Hoopes
author of Zen Yoga: A Path to Enlightenment through Breathing, Movement and Meditation