5 comments about Hatchet Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 8).

1. Volume 8, "Hatchet Kick" in Kovacich's "Achieving Kicking Excellence covers this kick very meticulously. Shawn if anything, is consistent, which aids this series. Format is the same throughout all books in the series, which aids the instructor or the student, making information more quickly accessible. The reader knows what to expect, details about muscle groups, target areas, and proper technique are standard. In this book, more than others, I found his training and practice methods of immense importance (P. 164-169). While I often taught people to help develop their kicking skills by using a chair with roundhouse, hook, and side kicks; Shawn shows how to use a chair as a tool to develop this kick as well. More than just showing pictures, Shawn details in writing how to perfect this kick.
   
   Shawn Kovachich's technical knowledge about kicking in general, and the hatchet kick specifically, is outstanding!



2. One thing that I learned early on in my classes is that the hatchet kick is not only the hardest kick there is to master, but that it is also the most dangerous kick you, the kicker, can attempt. According to my instructor, the hatchet kick has caused more injuries to the kicker than it ever has to the persons being kicked. The reason for this is due to the extreme amount of flexibility and control a person must have in order to execute the kick itself properly, let alone use it correctly against an actual opponent. However, if you are one of the few people that can actually execute this kick well, it is an extremely devastating kick to be able to use on an opponent
   
   I have been slowly working on my hatchet kick, but admittedly I have been having one heck of a time trying to get it down. After reading Hatchet Kick, the 8th volume in Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series, I found a whole bunch of areas that I was having problems with. From the position of my upper body during the kick, the proper rotation of my hips and legs, to the correct downward angle you leg should follow, just to name a few. I used this information (along with the guidance of a couple of higher belts), and have really improved on my kick. Although I still can only get it about halfway as high as it should be to actually be effective. I am sure that with lots of practice and a few years I will get it down.
   
   Shawn follows the same format in Hatchet Kick that he does in all of his books and the way he presents his information is not only extremely detailed, but also very insightful. I can not praise enough this series of books and their author. I have learned so much from his books and can only imagine how wonderful it must be to be able to learn from him in person.
   
   This is not a kick that can be taken lightly. And I would like to stress that it I not something that reading a book alone will help you master. Even though this book, along with all of Shawn's books, will improve your kicking skills, you really need a competent instructor to help you fine tune your kicks, especially the hatchet kick. This is one kick that even if you think you know the basics behind it, the truth is that unless you really understand the entire kick and what is suppose to happen throughout the entire kick, you will struggle and more than likely hurt yourself, especially if you try to use it against an opponent.
   
   I highly recommend that you purchase all ten volumes in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series and you (and your instructor) will see your kicks literally improve by leaps and bounds.



3. This is Volume Eight of ten books devoted to mastering kicks. Shawn Kovacich devotes this book to the Hatchet Kick. This review examines Shawn's book from a practical stand point--how well does this book enable me to learn the hatchet kick?
   I'm 50, 6'3" tall and 220 pounds, but I'm not an athlete--just healthy. I cannot perform the hatchet kick correctly right now, I cannot kick high enough--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.
   So, what is a hatchet kick and why would I use it? Shawn writes that the hatchet kick is a hybrid turning wheel kick and an in-to-out axe kick.. The striking surface is the back center of the heel and the head, neck, and shoulders are the targets. Getting inside another's Observe, Orient, Decide and Act loop can win a match for you--or allow you to seize and keep the initiative in a fight. I thought that the hatchet kick would be easy, but I've been humbled! Fortunately, following Shawn's safety procedures on page 11 (take one step at a time) kept me from injuring myself. It's just that unless my opponent's head is lower than my own waist, he's in no danger of my hatchet kick for now!
   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: Hatchet Kick" is well organized. There are ten 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 kick technique. 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 covers training and practice techniques to achieve skill, strength, speed, and power. Chapter Seven is a trouble-shooting guide. Chapter Eight is applications: how to use this in competition or combat. Chapter Nine is Shawn's awards and accomplishments. Chapter Ten 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!



4. 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.)



5. Like all the titles in Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series, book 8 Hatchet 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 hatchet 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

5 comments about Reverse Crescent Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 5).

1. Volume 5, "Reverse Crescent Kick" (outside crescent in many styles) in Kovacich's "Achieving Kicking Excellence" series, like the previous four books, covers the kick from about every angle one could possibly imagine. Shawn if anything, is consistent, which aids this series. Format is the same throughout all books so far, which aids the instructor or the student, making information more quickly accessible. The reader knows what to expect, details about muscle groups, target areas, and proper technique are standard.
   
   His application for the spinning crescent (step back turning reverse crescent) on page 187-188 is right on. I first, before reading martial books with photos, normally skim the photos and titles of chapters before begining to read. I saw the photos on this page and thought "Oh no, bad technique to throw with his opponent's maneuver."
   Then I finally get to that page later in the day and Shawn uses the occasion to show what is wrong with the kick. Thank goodness and I wasn't disappointed. So far, Shawn Kovachich's technical knowledge about the kicks thru volume 5 have been impressive. This book is a bonus for students and instructors a like.



2. When I first started taking Tae Kwon Do classes, the first three kicks that I learned were the front kick, crescent kick, and the reverse crescent kick. The reason why I, and all new beginners, learned these kicks first is because they are generally speaking the easiest to learn and the simplest kicks to use, or so I thought. Once again I thought that I had this kick down pat along with its sister kick crescent kick, and front kick. Well thanks to Mr. Kovacich and his Achieving Kicking Excellence series of books I was in for a big surprise.
   
   The whole time that I have been practicing the reverse crescent kick every one of my classmates kept telling me what a good looking kick I had, just like they kept telling me about my crescent kick. Well, they were right it was a good "looking" kick, but I soon found out that it, just like my crescent kick, only "looked" good and that there was really nothing at all to my kick. Once I started reading Reverse Crescent Kick, the 5th volume in Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking excellence series, I became aware of so many small little things that I was either doing wrong, or wasn't doing at all, that was having a dramatic impact on the actual effectiveness of my crescent kick.
   
   Mr. Kovacich covers everything about the kick from the pivoting on the ball of your base leg foot to the correct area of your kicking foot to strike with ( and its not the entire outside edge of your foot) and absolutely everything in between. This is truly a remarkable series of books and I am still dumbfounded at just how much information is packed into each book on a single solitary kick. You would think that some kicks are so simple that there is no way you could write a 200+ page book on the subject. Well you would be wrong. I have read this book several times already and I have picked up something new that I had missed each and every time I have read it. Mr. Kovacich is truly an amazing martial artist and he surely has the technical skills down when it comes to kicking.
   
   I highly recommend that you purchase all ten volumes in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series and you (and your instructor) will see your kicks literally improve by leaps and bounds. I'm so glad that I found these books as I know I would not have improved so well in my kicking skills without the additional insight. Thank You!



3. This is Volume Five of ten books devoted to mastering kicks. Shawn Kovacich devotes this book to the Reverse Crescent Kick. This review examines Shawn's book from a practical stand point--how well does this book enable me to learn the reverse crescent kick?
   I'm 50, 6'3" tall and 220 pounds, but I'm not an athlete--just healthy. I cannot perform the back 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.
   So, what is a reverse crescent kick and why would I use it? Shawn writes that the reverse crescent kick is like a tennis backhand swing. The striking surface is the outside edge of the heel and the targets are the same as the crescent kick in Volume Four: face, neck area, lower legs and forearms. The reverse crescent kick is difficult to execute (at least I found it difficult!) but the arc of the kick is deceptive and may confuse your opponent. Getting inside another's Observe, Orient, Decide and Act loop can win a match for you--or allow you to seize and keep the initiative in a fight.
   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: Reverse Crescent Kick" is well organized. There are ten 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 kick technique. 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 covers training and practice techniques to achieve skill, strength, speed, and power. Chapter Seven is a trouble-shooting guide. Chapter Eight is applications: how to use this in competition or combat. Chapter Nine is Shawn's awards and accomplishments. Chapter Ten 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!



4. 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.)



5. Like all the titles in Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series, book 5 Reverse Crescent 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 reverse crescent 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

2 comments about You Can Train Your Cat.

1. I purchased this book awhile ago and can say the techniques used in this book are not ones you want to use with your cat.
   
   For instance, the author stresses you should train your cat not to purr, by telling it "No" everytime it begins to purr. I followed their advice and now have a harder time telling when my cat is happy as he doesn't purr anymore.
   
   Also, when disciplining your cat not to chew on wires behind a multimedia cabinet, the author mentions putting Tabasco brand sauce on the wires so the cat stays away. Again, this backfired as my cat developed permanent stomach problem that, after $800 worth of vetrinary tests, I can only link to the Tabasco "training" he recieved.
   
   Obviously, if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't. Please don't ruin your cat!!!



2. It tells you how to keep your cat from doing bad things such as scratching, jumping on place and pooping outside of its litter box. It tells you step by step how to train your cat to do tricks too. I thought this book was very useful. The person who had the Tabasco sauce problem probably fed their cat too much hot sauce. Everything depends on how smart the owner is. The book even said that! This book has a few black and white pictures of the author's cat doing tricks.

1 comments about The Purrfect Companion: Learning About Life from Our Feline Friends.

1. This is a great book, lots of neat things to read about cats, and some of the very best cat paintings, done by Sueellen Ross ! It is a great book all the way around !

5 comments about Dr. Cookie's Guide to Living Happily Ever After with Your Cat.

1. I found Dr. Cookie's book to be right on the mark. As I read each page I swear she was writting about my own cats. She really knows what makes cats tick and why. I thought the drawings were cute and comical and her stories were well written and easy to read. It was a refreshing to read a book written by a real Dr. rather than a "self professed expert".



2. This is a great book. I found it full of helpful information and very thorough. It seems Dr. Schwartz has covered everything. The text and format is easily readable and it is illustrated with very cute pictures. I would highly recommend this book.



3. This is book is fabulous and helps explain lots of cat behaviors and how to live (happily ever after) with them. She writes in a sensible, straight forward manner. I think this book should be mandatory reading for all cat "owners", whether they've always had cats, or whether they are first timers. Since shelters are always getting animals because their former owners can't understand or don't want to deal with behaviorial issues, shelters should consider offering the book to people who adopt cats/kittens. As for criticism of the drawings, people need to get off the dot and focus on the extremely helpful info.



4. Dr. Schwartz has written a real gem! Her insight into cat behavior is presented in a warm, welcoming, and very entertaining way. The book is well organized into specific chapters and is filled with anecdotes about cats she has known in her years of behavior practice, and her own pets, too. This is a lady that writes from the heart with a sense of humor, a great deal of expertise, and a tremendous love for cats. The line drawings are LOVELY, a few are more cartoon like, but clearly this is a talented lady who has studied her subject well! The chapter on pet loss is written with real tenderness. EVERY cat owner should read this book. If you really want to understand cats and learn to Live Happily Ever After With Your Cat, Dr. Cookie's book is one to read over and over, and give as gifts to other cat people you know!



5. I have 6 cats and numerous books regarding cat care and management. This book is by far the most useful and readable I have found on the subjest. It is outstanding. I highly recommended for everyone who has a pet cat.

5 comments about Living With Big Cats: The Story of Jungle Larry, Safari Jane, and David Tetzlaff.

1. by Mike Cecere [big cat and elephant trainer, asst. manager, Double M Ranch, Hastings NY]
   

   This is the cat book of the '90s! Sharon Rendell has done an incredible job of putting together the exciting story of the Tetzlaffs. She's chronicled the legend of Col. Lawrence "Jungle Larry" Tetzlaff, his wife Nancy "Safari Jane" Tetlaff and their son David Tetzlaff, who many believe to be the top wild animal trainer in the U.S. today.
   

   Not many others have been able to take the nuts and bolts of animal training and make it a story people would want to read. Or adequately describe the years of devotion this family has given to the education through entertainment with wild animals.
   

   Sharon Rendell also takes great pains to interview the leading trainers and zoologists of today to get the real story of what the animal business is all about.
   

   This book is a must for all collectors and circus fans, as well as animal people. Especially important for anyone who is doing battle with the Anti's as this book will give you the facts.
   

   Once you pick it up, you won't stop til you've read it all the way through. A book you'll read again and again. Good job, Sharon!
   

   The price is a mere $11.95 -- a deal at twice the price.
   

   Take it from me, it's a good read!
   

   Now I can hardly wait for the movie version!
   




2. Sideroad Health columnist Shara Rendell-Smock
   certainly has a way with words!
   Though I thought her column was informative, I
   was really intrigued to learn she had written
   a book about tiger training.
   I couldn't resist buying it. . .and I'm glad I did!
   It's a really fascinating behind-the-scenes book
   about a topic most of us don't ever think about
   - how the heck DO they train those animals?
   (Though that's not the only topic they cover!)
   The insight into trainer David Tetzlaff is subtle but powerful
   . Definitely one of the most intriguing non-fiction books I've ever read.
   
   Anyone know if she's going to do a book on Health next???



3. Living with Big Cats is one of the most informative and entertaining books we have ever read! The author not only tells her readers about the cats and their care, her love shows through with every word. If you are looking for reading material that will teach you and entertain you then read Living with Big cats. This book is a wonderful learning tool for all age groups!



4. Anyone who grew up watching Jungle Larry at Cedar Point will love this trip down memory lane. This book is a fascinating look at the entire Tetzlaff family's life with exotic animals.



5. Ever wonder what it is like to work everyday with wild animals? How about working everyday with wild animals like tigers, lions and leopards, that could seriously injure and even kill you? Sharon Rendell-Smock lets us in on behind the scene stories, secrets and anecdotes about life with wild and exotic animals in this nonfiction industry expose. In addition to the often frightening and sometimes hilarious accounts, this book includes interviews with industry experts, and offers some historical perspective. If you have ever been to a circus or zoo, and if you enjoy watching movies where animals play a prominent role, you will enjoy reading this book.

5 comments about Arco 30 Days to the Gmat Cat (Serial).

1. Arco's GMAT in 30 days is an excellent book for a person intending to raise his/her score by 80-100 points in that timeframe. I took the GMAT and got a score of 730 and 6 in the AWA. This book contains a lot of the information presented really nicely. It however is lacking in two areas. The verbal reasoning explanations are quite difficult to understand and the book doesn't talk much about probability. The other sections are excellent and provide all the information and relevant practice questions. In order to get a good feel for the GMAT though, I found several opinions from different publishers helped, besides, there is so much information out there that I wanted to get as much as I could. I would also recommend Princeton's excellent book with the CD for the other sections. Their Process of Elimination method is really good.



2. I highly recommend this book. Small in price and page length, but packed with practical skill-building materials that don't insult the reader's intelligence. Explanations for practice questions are the most thorough of any GMAT book I've seen. Kudos! What I liked best is that the author provides online support for the book. (Why don't more authors do this?) At the end of each lesson the reader is referred to online materials (at the author's web site) that supplement the lesson. Cool!



3. I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I appreciated the concise and to-the-point style. I found it easier to brush up on my quantitative and verbal skills with this book than with other GMAT books. If you are short on time then this book would be a good choice. However, the sheer volume of errors really bugged the hell out of me. Most of them are stupid editing errors (occurring on virtually every page), but I also found some critical errors with the practice questions. The massive number of mistakes detracted from my ability to study effectively because I was always second-guessing the book. I found this to be an unforgiveable sin for a test prep book and so I only give two stars instead of four.



4. Poor Editing. Full of printing errors in the practice tests



5. I started using this book but switched to the Kaplan and GMAC guides because of the number of editing mistakes I encountered in using this book. Nothing undermines my confidence more than a book that dispenses wrong answers, so for that reason I gave it one star. Save your money - go with the Kaplan guides instead.

No comments about Name That Cat: Over 1,000 Inventive: and Colorful Names.

No comments about Your Healthy Puppy (Cats & Dogs: a Basic Training, Caring, & Understanding Library).

3 comments about Beyond Kicking: A Complete Guide to Stretching and Kicking.

1. This book is exellent.It shows you how to kick higher and become flexible.It has breathing exercises,warm-ups, and kicking exercises.If you are a martial artist and need to improve your kicking and flexibility greatly.



2. This book is thorough, well organized and well layed out. The verbal descriptions of the moves are clear. (Some of the photographs are a little fuzzy, however.) Besides the chapters on stretching there are chapters on kicking drills, weight training, concentration and visualization, and diet (although his recommendations to eat horse meat and avoid ice cream didn't grab me). He also provides sample weekly training schedules for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. But beginners beware: this book is not for beginners. It assumes you can do the splits, and was designed to follow Frenette's first book, entitled Jean Frenette's Complete Guide to Stretching. If you're starting out, start there.



3. Beyond Kicking by Jean Frenette
   
   There is absolutely no doubt that the author of this book is one of the best martial arts forms competitors to have ever competed anywhere in the world. His skills and flexibility shine like one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. Now having said that, I have nothing but the highest admiration for the accomplishments and ability of the author. My only concern is the lack of detailed descriptions of the techniques shown in this book.
   
   Even if I had written this review when this book first came out in 1991 I would still have given it a 3 star rating, which in itself is quite good since I am also the author of several books on the very same subject matter, and therefore, perhaps more critical of the content than I should be. This is not to imply that this book doesn't have some valuable information in it, because it does. However, it simply doesn't have enough of it in it, when it really should. There was plenty of room available for more detailed text alongside the photographs, but it simply wasn't there. The other major problem I had was the layout of the photographs, which at times were a bit confusing to follow.
   
   I am going to break this review down by sections and will post my thoughts on each section as I go.
   
   THAT CHAMPIONSHIP WORKOUT
   
   In this section, the author emphasizes the fact that the primary focus of this book is for the tournament competitor and that the need for overall conditioning is of primary importance and that stretching if and of itself is only a small part of the entire kicking package.
   
   WARMING UP & STAYING STRONG
   
   This section was rather brief, but it did have some pretty basic information on stretching. I did feel that there should have been a more detailed explanation accompanying each technique featured in this section. The explanations that were provided were very short and minimally descriptive in their content.
   
   SUPERSTRETCHING EXERCISES
   
   This was actually a pretty interesting section and one that I would recommend only to individuals that already have attained a fair degree of flexibility and are very familiar with stretching and their bodies in general. This section mainly focuses on some very intense partner stretching and should only be done under the watchful eye of a qualified and competent martial arts instructor. These stretches can be very dangerous if done improperly and should not be attempted by the novice individual.
   
   SUPER KICKING & JUMP KICKING DRILLS
   
   This section starts out with a good, but rather brief section on the importance of your entire body position when kicking, not just your kicking leg. As with the other sections in this book, their simply isn't enough detailed text to go along with the accompanying photographs. The author continues this section with a demonstration of the following basic kicks.
   
   Front Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 6)
   Side Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 10)
   Roundhouse Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 9)
   Hook Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 7)
   Back Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 1)
   
   He then goes into a short section on combination kicking followed by a really brief section on utilizing the kicking shield and kicking paddle.
   
   WEIGHT TRAINING FOR THE MARTIAL ARTIST
   
   This section was okay in its premise; however it could have and should have been a lot more detailed in describing the exercises and providing more information on how each exercise would improve your martial arts technique.
   
   CONCENTRATION & VISUALIZATION
   
   This section was almost so short that it shouldn't even have been included in the book. The information the author relayed to the reader was good, but all I felt was still hungry for more after I finished reading this section. This section really should have been at least a few more pages in length.
   
   THE CARDIOVASCULAR PUMP-UP
   
   This section is an identical repeat to the above section in that it was almost so short that it shouldn't even have been included in the book. The information the author relayed to the reader was good, but there just wasn't enough information in it. This section really should have been at least a few more pages in length.
   
   THE DIET OF CHAMPIONS
   
   "Proper diet often is the most neglected aspect of a martial artist's overall training program." This fantastic quote from the author starts off this section on diet, which is really too short to do you much good and the diet provided is that which the author himself follows, which may or may not be a good one for you. I would suggest finding a good nutrition book and using that along with the advice of a qualified and competent nutritionist to design a nutritional program that is tailor made to fit you and your individual needs.
   
   YOUR WEEKLY TRAINING SCHEDULE
   
   This section was so short that it left a lot to be desired. The workout schedule was not even worth looking over more than the one time that I did, although the author did include a short section showing different ways to perform the basic push-up. However, as with all of the sections, there should have been a lot more detailed explanations accompanying each technique.
   
   Overall this book was pretty good, but it seemed to follow the tried and true layout that all kicking books seemed to follow from 10 to 20 years prior to the publication of this book, all the way up to and including most of those recently published in 2007. That is to say a lot of photographs with very little descriptive text accompanying them to better explain the execution of each technique demonstrated. I don't know if this is the fault of the authors, publishers, or a combination of both, but it really is detrimental to the overall quality of the book and the authors themselves.
   
   Shawn Kovacich
   Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.