5 comments about Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 200 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques.

1. Well written!!! All this stuff works... I been learning Krav Maga for years and this is a great way to start!!!!



2. This book is a great supplement to the actual training. As I think anyone who seriously studies a fighting discipline knows, you will never learn it from a book. That said, if you are training in Krav, this book offers a great review and breakdown of each item in the curriculum.
   
   Full Disclosure: I train at Krav Maga SF. Photographed demonstrating in this book is Gabe Khorramian, one of our head instructors. I have taken many classes from him and he, along with the other authors, are well qualified and legit. We keep a couple of copies of this book lying around as a handy reference, but that is about it. Its a great resource for someone training for a belt test to refresh their memory. Just don't expect to read it and join the IDF.



3. This is just another text in the continuing propaganda machine for this brand of "Krav Maga" (which is a generic term in Israeli CQB, not really a system), commercialized by self promoted experts, with little or non battlefield experience.
   
   A lot of the information in this book is wrong on so many levels, specially disarms and defenses. The reader should be advised to do some research into real close quarter battle, specially the professional; do not trust your life to the effectiveness of these techniques.
   
   More credible are systems such as American Combatives, Kapap (see Kapap Academy), even judo mized with combatives, as well as Professor Koga's Aikido for the Street. Do not trust your life to this stuff!



4. I teach for a different Krav Maga organisation so read this with some interest.
   
   I have to say, most of my own students have this and use it. A good buy, well illustrated and a gtreat effort by Mr Levine et al. If you cant get to an instructor, this is a great start.



5. OK, so this is written by a fat lawyer from LA who claims to be the Krav Maga expert? Hmmmmmm, I don't think so....
   Dangerous at best is the best description of this book....
   I am fortunate to know some VERY deadly special forces guys from Israel AND the U.S. and they all say David Kahn is the actual expert on the subject and I must agree having read books from Levine AND Kahn...
   Don't waste your money on this book!

5 comments about The Book of Five Rings.

1. This really is a great book. It contains a philosophical outlook on dealing with people and sword fighting/combat from hundreds of years ago, but it really translates very well into today's modern business world. Everyone could learn something from this old samurai who lived in 18th century. I highly recommend this book and the book Understanding: Train of Thought to everyone.



2. The Book of Five Rings is similar to Sun Tzu Art of War in that is discusses strategy, fighting, and competition from a combat perspective. The book is small in size and easy for reading while traveling. While references can found that comment this is as a book for management, it is still very much a book about combat and the samurai warrior. Interesting nontheless.



3. Haven't read it yet, but looking forward to reading both of the books within the text as it is. Thanks



4. 
   The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.
   
   The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".
   
   Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."
   
   The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".
   
   Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet.
   
   A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."



5. Musashi, like every great warrior, knew that strategy was as important as tactics and techniques in combat. This book will teach you things that were learned in combat and will enhance your survival potential on the battlefield, street and life.
   
   It is not the easiest book to interpret and understand, but that hardly matters, as for the information in this book is worth your time and effort. One good book is worth a hundred crummy ones, and this book is one outstanding book. This book is divided into various distinct sections, and the serious and professional warrior should extract as much information as possible from each section. Every time I pick this book up I learn something new. This is the warrior's bible.
   
   I highly recommend this book to all readers.

5 comments about The Warrior Diet: Switch on Your Biological Powerhouse For High Energy, Explosive Strength, and a Leaner, Harder Body.

1. In the past, I haven't had much luck with diets. I'm usually looking to drop that extra ten pounds or so, but I've tried Atkins, South Beach and The Zone diets with little success. The Warrior Diet is different. By changing the times that I eat (along with dropping highly refined foods), I've made steady progress towards my desired weight while maintaining high energy. It took me a week or so to transition into the system of fasting during the day and feasting at night, but once I got used to it, I found it to be almost a matter of instinct. After just a few weeks, I'm starting to lose that stubborn belly fat and I don't feel like I'm starving all the time. I am also following the exercise guidelines. This isn't a "Lose Weight While you Sleep," plan and it isn't a magic pill. It's just another approach to eating that seems to make a lot of sense.



2. Dieting is a very popular activity nowadays. With obesity at record levels and body mass indices climbing higher and higher for most Americans each day, the physical condition of the public at large continues to deteriorate with each passing moment. And because of this fact, the diet and fitness business is booming like never before. The Warrior Diet attempts to assert itself into this growing market with a diet plan that is different from most others and that offers a workable plan that most can follow, often with very positive results.
   
   After reading a couple of chapters, it is easy to see that The Warrior Diet is, indeed, different from most other diet plans. First, the Warrior concept is one that the author describes as getting back to mankind's original lifestyle when it comes to eating and fitness. Foods in the past were purer and more wholesome than the processed garbage that humans eat today. People in the past also used to be far more physically fit, mainly because their very survival depended on it. These natural instincts have been lost over the years due to modern technology and as a result, humans eat far worse food than in the past and are far less physically active than at any point in history. The Warrior Diet is about reclaiming that past by re- introducing the human body to a diet of raw, unprocessed food and organic meats. It is also about becoming more physically active than before in order to maintain the Warrior body once a satisfactory nutritional balance has been achieved.
   
   Advice like eating organic foods and exercising is pretty commonplace in most diet books so I wasn't very surprised when I read these parts of The Warrior Diet. However, I was surprised by the specific eating advice and how the Warrior Plan is put into action. It starts with an undereating phase. This takes place each morning and afternoon and the idea is to avoid eating completely, with the exception being vegetable juice, fruit juice, coffee, yogurt, and a few other things. After that comes the overeating phase; a catch- up phase that takes place during the evening hours. At this time, the Warrior is permitted to eat pretty much anything he/she wants. This is very different from most diet plans and it is bound to be controversial among nutritionists.
   
   I have been on very few diets but I decided while I was reading this book that I would give this plan a try and see what happened. What I discovered is that this undereating phase is very difficult at first, and I could feel my stomach growling for hours during the morning and afternoon hours. But then, it gradually became easier and easier to do this and I didn't feel as hungry as I did on the first day. I also noticed that my nighttime meal was far more satisfying than my meals usually are. Like other people, I lead a busy life and have little time to enjoy my meals. Eating has become a chore and I try to get it over with as quickly as possible so that I can get on with the rest of my day. But with the Warrior Diet plan, I find that my evening meal tastes better and is met with greater anticipation. I look forward to eating it, and I enjoy myself more than before.
   
   Physical fitness is an important part of any diet plan and The Warrior Diet includes many pages of exercises that are intended to complement the diet itself. Some of these exercises require using weights, but others do not. I don't engage in physical fitness as often as I should and what I like about this section of the book is that, like the rest of the book, it includes exercises that are a little out of the ordinary. Things like towel swiping, frog jumps, and the bow and arrow shoulder stretch are among the many unique exercise ideas promoted by The Warrior Diet.
   
   Most of The Warrior Diet is easy to read, but author Ori Hofmekler does include quite a bit of nutritional and physiological tech talk. It was important to include this type of information because it helps to back up what is stated in the book. But for people like me who know little about this type of topic, I found that I often did not quite understand what Hofmekler was talking about at certain points. Comments about things like omega- 3 oils; the health benefits of Cruciferous indoles; etc., were over my head. During these moments, I just had to take his word for it. I don't even know if the things stated are completely true, but I am pretty sure they are.
   
   Overall, I found The Warrior Diet an effective book about diet and nutrition and the plan seems to work, based on my brief experience. The Warrior Diet and the advice contained in this book is generally very thorough and very helpful and it presents a workable plan that is less restrictive overall when compared to other diets. Some of the advice is commonplace; other advice is more unique. But the bottom line goal of the Warrior Diet is one most people can certainly agree: To eliminate toxins from the body, eat better foods through improved eating habits, and develop the physical body into a lean, mean, Warrior- like machine. It's a good book for anyone who has an interest in improving ones' physical condition and maintaining the improvements for a long period of time.



3. Constant irrational hunger? Never full? Even when you restrict calories, does the fat cling to you for weeks? Have you failed over and over?
   
   This book works. And you feel fully alive.
   
   But it's full of hype and quasi history and fluff. This book is more motivational than informational. A better book is The Fast-5 Diet. It'll take you two hours to read. Then buy the Warrior Diet book for motivation and inspiration.



4. I have not yet really studied this book in all the detail the author supplies. I'm just doing 'the basics' and find myself easily losing weight. The 'overeating' phase is my favorite . What the author says about dieting is certainly true for me, a month or two and I no longer have any interest in the program. This method seems one that is no real hardship, awareness of one's blood chemistry and adjusting during the day to bring weight loss is a piece of cake, especially after the first week or so. I am two months into it and see no reason I will go back to the old daytime carbs and sugar that seems to be The American Way.



5. This diet has worked wonders for me. I would not be so impressed if I had not already have been working out hard and "watching what I ate" for 6 months.
   
   So basicaly the easy first 10 to 15 pounds were already long gone.
   
   I lost 10 pounds the first week and 2 continue to loose 3 pounds a week.
   
   Don't let the "fasting" hype scare you away.
   
   Basicaly it involves a few basic principles.
   
   1 breakfast isn't the most important meal of the day.
   
   2 recognize the difference between being hungry and just wanting to eat something
   
   3 you can and should chow down and go to sleep on a full stomach.
   
   Overall I highly reccomend it !!!

No comments about Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Superhero.

5 comments about Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge.

1. If you do martial arts and don't know how to fight - what are you doing? This is an essential compliment to whatever martial art you're studying, as it will flesh out your studies and get you to rethink a few things.



2. I watch a mma event on dvd everyday and let me tell you; this book covers pretty much all you need to know to compete.Don't get me wrong,there is always more to learn; but this book covers all the basics at the least for sure! Like I said about Randy Couture' book; these guys are the best mma fighters in the world,charge hundreds of dollars an hour and this book in particular gives you about four months of training for only $35.00 dollars!



3. When I recently read Victory Belt's publication 'Mastering the Rubber Guard' with Eddie Bravo, I was impressed. It made considerable strides in improving over his last book 'Jiu-Jitsu Unleashed' and gave a detailed insight into one of the most misunderstood positions in today's Jiu-Jitsu world. Well, as far as I'm concerned, Victory Belt has done it again with BJ Penn's 'Mixed Martial Arts - The Book of Knowledge'.
   
   Giving a book a title like that one is a fairly bold move. Those words suggest that this is more a tome - or even "bible" - than a book. And at first glance, it looks like it might be the goods. The black and grey reminded me of later editions of Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding' - a book with a similarly anticipative title. At 308 pages, it also fits the bill size-wise, as well.
   
   Opening up at the contents pages, you'll soon see that the book is very comprehensive. After the introduction, you see that the book is divided into two parts - 'The Standing Game' and 'The Ground Game'. Each of these parts is then subdivided into positions and then further into techniques. One of the things I most enjoyed about the book is the introduction. Most newer martial art books open with a discussion from the authors, but Victory Belt's introductions seem to speak to me a little more.
   
   In this case, the introduction gives you about ten pages of BJ's philosophy and how he arrived where he is. From his early days boxing with "old, ratty gloves" through his eventful MMA career, he gives a little insight into his life. He talks about the sport and how he trains for it. He discusses his philosophy for both technical and physical training and gives some broad ideas the reader can take on board.
   
   I won't get into too much detail about what you'll find in the two fighting parts of the book. I will say this, though. While it looks like a "technique catalogue", it's not really. The book shows BJ working many techniques and combinations against opponent's from his gym. However, each technique fits into his particular fighting structure. What you see here is a collection of the techniques BJ Penn actually uses in a fight and how he strings them together.
   
   If you want to see what BJ would do if he finds himself on his back against a skilled ground 'n' pound guy, the answer's here. So is how to use your striking to set up a takedown (a subject not discussed often enough) and vice versa. Another thing I like is that we see what BJ does from a defensive perspective. We see a lot of defensive postures and escapes, which suits me fine as I'm often the one getting hit. Too often, books like this ignore that part of the strategy and just assume your awesome technique will win out.
   
   As I'm not much of a standup fighter, nowadays, I can especially see myself making use of the simple strategies in the section 'Striking for the Takedown'. That is pretty much my weak point. Honestly, though, there's something here for everyone. You'll see how the various open guard positions play out in MMA. You'll see how to minimise your exposure if you're weak in one area with the more defensive oriented techniques. You'll also learn how Penn counters some very common and tough positions.
   
   From a quality perspective, I didn't notice any grievous spelling or grammatical errors (a small problem I had with 'Mastering the Rubber Guard'). All pictures are colour and are clear and easy to interpret. The descriptions are also quite clear to me, another bugbear I've often had. Although the entire field is getting a lot better in that area.
   
   All up, I really like this book. From this point on, I consider this essential reading for anyone considering a foray into Mixed Martial Arts. However, it's probably more important for coaches and athletes who need to move their game to a multi-dimensional approach. That's something Penn himself has done and done well. I think this makes my "Best of the Best" category.



4. This book is a great book for anyone interested in MMA. It shows detailed pictures and everything is explained very well. I would absolutely recommend this book for anyone from beginners to experts to learn everything from basic to advanced moves.



5. This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of mixed martial arts. Its easy to understand and the most complete of its kind out there. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning this sport.

3 comments about Becoming the Natural: My Life In and Out of the Cage.

1. A few of the recent MMA biographies which have hit bookstores, most notably Liddell's Iceman: My Fighting Life and Ortiz's This Is Gonna Hurt: The Life of a Mixed Martial Arts Champion, are written in a straight forward, and almost bland manner. In other words, they have the story but non of the flare that makes literature beautiful. The one except is Matt Hughes' Made in America: The Most Dominant Champion in UFC History, which had better imagery and supporting detail. Like Hughes' book, Couture's book is well written, exceptionally detailed, and highly intriguing.
   
   Couture has come to be known as the consummate champion - both inside the octagon and outside of it. In this book he details his failures and successes, with stark honesty and lucidity. "Becoming the Natural" is not only the story of a MMA fighter, it is the story of a boy becoming a man. A man who grew up without a father figure, who failed to make the Olympic wrestling team on four different occasions, who was divorced and remarried twice, who has fought and defeated many of the world's greatest fighters, and who continues to stand up for the integrity and honor of the sport everywhere he goes.
   
   As a sports biography, this is one that will be rivaled by non. As an MMA biography, this is the absolute best. Couture shows us why, in life, doing what you love and being open to what God has for you can take you to places you have never even dreamed of.



2. Perhaps no one personifies the face of MMA more than Randy Couture. "The Natural," "Captain America" and "Old Man" are perhaps a few of his better known nicknames. His mixed martial arts career spans the explosive popularization of what was once a fringe sport into its mainstream position currently.
   
   Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz have all launched their own autobiographies over the past year. Now "The Natural" adds his. Couture provides an absorbing narrative of a working class kid from the Northwest who became a teenage father, got involved in wrestling and showed a quick aptitude for it. As his Greco-Roman career wound down and his Olympic dreams receded, the UFC was just appearing on the horizon and -- almost as an afterthought -- Couture was talked into entering one of the competitions. He quickly distinguished himself as a formidable warrior in the octagon.
   
   Most readers will know the major story lines from then on: the bouts with Vitor Belfort, Tito Ortiz and the three matches against Chuck Liddell. Other memorable bouts are the improbable victories over Tim Sylvia and Gabriel Gonzaga.
   
   One remarkable aspect of Couture's career has been his sheer longevity, competing on a world class level well into his 40's, often fighting guys a decade younger. No rocking chair for The Natural!! I would have been interested in hearing his "secret" for staying competitive so long.
   
   What all these MMA guys seem to have in common is complex relationships with their fathers, often absentee fathers or fathers with (often alcoholic) baggage. No exception here.
   
   Another feature they often seem to have in common is keeping it in their pants. Fidelity is an issue as the MMA guys often freely philander and, well, "dip their wicks" in various inviting female inkwells. Couture traces the rise and fall of Marriage #1, Marriage #2 and the rise of Marriage #3 to Kim Couture. Having hit the marital trifecta, he is well on his way to an octet! Which woman will truly be The One, since they all seem to get traded in for a newer model after a few years. (Are the 2009 models out yet?)
   
   Guys like Couture keep divorce lawyers fully employed.
   
   Couture has always come across though as a regular nice guy with his head screwed one and this memoir is consistent with that impression. It's impossible to dislike the guy. He gives you his side of the developing feud with the UFC brass and the ups and downs of his personal relationship with the ever polarizing Dana White.
   
   As "Becoming the Natural" ends, the reader is left to wonder if Couture's career has had the final coda written. Legal and contractual constraints may do what few opponents have been able to do inside the octagon - defeat Randy Couture. By the time he clears away his legal dispute with Zuffa, will Father Time overtake his willingness to engage? Will the ring rust and erosion of skills allow Couture to compete, especially against the likes of Fedor Emilianko? After seeing Fedor demolish Tim Sylvia on July 19th, it's tempting to give "The Natural" no shot at winning such a match, but the old man has proven me and many others wrong before. One bets against Randy Couture at his peril.
   
   MMA fans will relish this autobiography of an extraordinary athlete - Randy "The Natural" Couture!



3. This whole book is a waste of money. Its basically the story of an overrated fighter with a 16-8 record. UFC marketing hype elevated him to a mythical hero like status. He beat an injured Tim sylvia in a decision and an overrated fighter named gabriel gonzaga. Randy milked these two fights for everything there worth and used them to sell everything from t-shirts, razors, autographs, etc. This book is a complete waste of money.

2 comments about Unarmed Fighting Techniques of the Samurai.

1. In my opinion this book is set up like an instructor's reference manual, an advanced version of the Ten Chi Jin Ryaku No Maki, the original shidoshi scrolls. Overall a beautifully mastered book with many great photo's and detailed descriptions of the taijutsu waza from 6 of the 9 schools of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. The book also contains details on ukemi, taihenjutsu, San Shin No Kata and the Kihon Happo. This book will be a prized gem to anyone's Budo Taijutsu reference library.
   
   If you are new to Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu this book may be a little confusing, it is really designed for someone that has a very solid foundation of the terminology and taijutsu techniques utilized in the kobudo schools of the Bujinkan. With-out the guidance of a trained instructor the descriptions of the waza may seem useless, especially because there are not any step by step photos. Combine this book with the guidance of a licensed instructor of the Bujinkan.
   
   Soke Hatsumi's secrets are still masterfully hidden with-in the written word.



2. The anticipation on the various forums for this book has been enormous. A common theme for this anticipation has been the book's capacity as a 'reference manual' for the Bujinkan. Suffice as to say, there is only one reference manual in the Bujinkan and that is Hatsumi-sensei himself.
   
   Everything that Hatsumi-sensei says in his books, DVDs and in person goes against the commonly perceived notion of 'reference manuals'. This art, in Hatsumi-sensei's own words, can only be learnt by the heart, directly with a person who has the feeling of Budo. In the Bujinkan, this person is Hatsumi-sensei.
   
   In terms of the book itself, despite the efforts of the translators, I feel that large swathes of the English translation fail to capture the beauty of the original Japanese text. The Japanese text included in the book is a work of art and it seems to me that it would take another artist to be able to bring out the sense of Hatsumi-sensei's art. A lot of the text refers to the nature of the individual learning this art and the relationship of such an individual with a master of the art.
   
   The photos included in the book, in my opinion, do more to help the reader understand Hatsumi-sensei's teachings than any text ever could. There are some lovely shots of Soke and his teacher Takamatsu-sensei. In terms of budo and art, the spaces inherent in these photos are stunning.
   
   On the back cover of this book, there is a quote, "You should not just read the records of Budo and think you have understood it. Budo only has substance in a world of great dignity."
   
   If the reader bears this warning in mind, the true value of the book will become evident.

5 comments about Tao of Jeet Kune Do.

1. this item was excellent, a good buy. it was exactly what i was looking for.



2. I came into this world many years later since Lee had closed his eyes upon it. I can only imagine the loss it must have been to the world to Martial Arts. But, he never left in spirit. An essence of his philosophy and his approach to martial arts still lives through his followers and this book. I learnt Aikido for 5 years, but found it not very handy when it came to tackling an opponent in the street. That's when someone recommended Lee to me. JKD is much faster and more practical (make no mistake, I still worship Aikido from bottom of my heart...JKD is only a natural next step in the route I took for my education in Martial Arts) when it comes to handling a situation in the street. But this book is not a step-by-step guide to beat someone black and blue. It's Lee's philosophy, his approach to martial arts (which is called Jeet Kun Do) - a way of life, from Lee's perspective.
   
   I am only qualified to speak so much, but definitely recommend this book for everyone who wishes to understand Lee's apparoach to Martial Arts and, in turn, benifit from it to develop his or her own perspective.



3. I love Bruce Lee, but I couldnt get into this book! I cant honestly tell you to read it or not, because I havent! I bought it here at Amazon and gave it away a month later! Watch "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story", thats a classic!



4. It is a must have if you participate in any martial arts! This book not only helps with improving as a martial artist but also brings awareness in understanding oneself better.



5. This book gives the thinking and philosphy behind Bruce Lee's fighting method of Jeet Kung Do. I enjoyed it a lot and it would be a good collection for any marital arts books or philosphy in general.

5 comments about On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace.

1. David Grossman continues his analysis of the warrior mind and consciousness, and provides valuable insights and advice to those
   on the front lines of war abroad and police work at home.
   However, the strength of the book is serious diluted by largely unedited inclusions of Grossman's training presentations. The excessively colloquial and informal language of oral presentations to "insider audiences" of police officers and soldiers does not make for an effective
   book. Much is lost in the transition, which Grossman does not handle in a professional manner. On Combat needed a good, honest editor whose strong hand on the keyboard would have vastly improved the tone and style.



2. All the information police, soldiers and other warriors have been missing for over fifty years is right here in this solid volume.
   
   Lt Col Grossman and Loren Christensen put it all together. They've created terms we did not know we needed, for things we didn't even know occurred. Grossman has a cute but very apt description of the function of the midbrain, fulfilled by 'the puppy,' as he calls it. He calls fear of human violence the 'universal phobia,' and tells you why it's universal. He gives a brief overview of what happens to your body when 'fight-or-flight' kicks in, then delves deeply into sensory distortions experienced in life-or-death situations. This is only the beginning.
   
   The authors divulge the training a person needs to enter the 'toxic, corrosive realm of combat,' and why we need those who are willing to do so. Stress and fear innoculation, dealing with killing, being wounded, and cultural issues are dealt with in section three.
   
   Sometimes the aftermath is far more traumatic to a person than the 5 minute episode of all hell breaking loose. The authors use almost 100 pages to discuss what happens after the smoke clears: PTSD, debriefings, a full explanation of tactical breathing, guilt, and communicating with those who've been 'there.' Along with the guilt issue, the author also addresses the conflicts that can develop from within because of a person's religious beliefs after killing.
   
   I believe this book to be of immense value to all emergency responders, police, and military personnel. After borrowing it and reading it, I've ordered it and recommended it to just about everyone I know in those communities.
   
   I would have a hard time recommending this book to anyone on the outside, which is part of why I rated it a four. There is a large amount of insider jargon, and a cultural bias, in the warrior community. This will not translate well for those Lt Col Grossman refers to as 'the herd.'
   
   The second reason I gave it a four is the physical quality of the book. The binding seperated from the spine almost immediately, and I can see the cover coming off within a few readings.



3. This book is a goldmine on combat and killing psychology . A must read for everybody interested in physical and mental mechanism involved in the process.



4. While the book is interesting (lots of storys and actual accounts) It is poorly written and orgainized. It does not go in to the psychology as much as you would hope. The book feels like something that would be given to soliders in attempts to brainwash them in to the military's ways of thinking.
   
   If you are a police officer or military you will enjoy the book. If your background is in psychology you will be slightly dissapointed.



5. I first read this book over a decade after my own combat experiences during the first gulf war, and it was a great help to me.
   
   Now I gift a copy of this book to my buddies as they prepare for their own deployment.
   
   A must read for a citizen-soldier.

5 comments about ChiRunning.

1. What an interesting running book! Buy this book if you:
   
   -would like to be able to run well into your old age
   -would like to improve your running form and have fewer injuries
   -would like to have a more philosophical approach to your running
   -would like to increase your overall health
   
   Here's how the book roughly pans out:
   
   -Chapter 1: compares power running to ChiRunning
   -Chapter 2: goes into the 5 principles upon which TaiChi and ChiRunning are based
   -Chapter 3: gets into the "inner" skills of ChiRunning
   
   As you can see, the first 3 chapters lay out the philosopical foundation- that's so when you get to the specific techniques, they make sense.
   
   Chaper 4: learn about the ChiRunning "focuses"- which are the specific physical and mental methods used to run more efficiently.
   
   Chapters 5-9: covers program development, peak performance training and diet. Note: Chapter 7 also covers some info on common injuries such as muscle cramps, plantar fasciitis (also rec. The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution for more info on this), heel cord problems.
   
   Chapter 10: how to incorporate the ChiRunning principles into your everyday life
   
   As you can tell, ChiRunning, with its mind-body approach, is far from your typical book on running- and shouldn't be missed by any serious runner. Happy trails.
   



2. The book is very informational. At the very least it helps you "connect" more with the sport, at the best it makes it easier to do and easier on your body.



3. I learned about this book while chatting with a clerk at a local bookstore as I was buying another book on running. My first impression when she said the book described an approach to running grounded in Tai chi might be that it it would be some sort of philosophical approach to running rather than anything practical.
   
   I was wrong!
   
   The book (and the very good video) really lays out an easy-to-learn (though perhaps difficult to perfect) approach to running that basically reduces the energy and body stresses that the usual approach to running has. It is a beautifully simple concept where you basically lean into a run while coming down on one foot, letting gravity move you forward, while you with little effort then move the other foot from behind you in sequence. I read the book and practiced with someone who knew the technique and when things came together, it really clicked and running seemed a whole lot easier in terms of effort.
   
   My interest in chi running came in part because I have been bothered by shin splints on and off, in part because I am not that regular runner. I started with this book about a month ago, have done a couple of short runs (2-3 miles) and today ran my first half marathon. The amazing thing (for me) is that my time was good (little more than my 10 mile pace) and I had NO feeling of pain in the shins during or after the race (or blisters for that matter). This is when month ago, even a short run could lead to thobbing shins.
   
   I am definitely a huge fan of the chi approach and am going to keep working on it. It may seem complex, but just getting the basics down will go a ways to making your running easier on the body (and maybe speed it up to - my pace on some stretches of today's race included some of my best one-mile times).



4. I've been stuck in the novice mode of running for years, and I always thought that it was because I just wasn't trying hard enough or that I had the wrong shoes. I started from scratch several times, but I consistently got pain in my shins or knees whenever I ran more than a couple miles. This book has helped me focus on my form and I've made consistent progress. Now, I must admit, I always just thought I could run and that it would be a natural, easy thing to do. I'm not sure why it never occurred to me to practice running the way I practice yoga: to focus on tiny, incremental changes in your body to free yourself and become better. I had seen this book in the stores before and thought it sounded just a little too new-agey for me. The technique does borrow some of its ideas from tai chi, but the author is a serious runner who has an incredible amount of mileage under his belt and, while the approach may not be entirely scientific, it works. I think it's really more grounded in common sense, ie. if what you're doing hurts, you're doing something wrong. This book has made me excited about running. Instead of thinking exclusively about how many miles I'm going to do on a given day, I think about how I'm going to get better and make myself feel good. I feel free!



5. this book starts out with a great premise -- that by learning to run more efficiently you can avoid injury and run longer and faster. that's undoubtedly true, and I am sure danny dreyer is good at teaching people how to do so in his courses, judging by his success and the testimonials he gets. but it is hard work putting the ideas in this book in to practice.
   
   the main problems with this book are its poor organization and poor presentation of ideas. its organized more like a a set of notes than a manual, and despite its short length, contains a lot of long winded passages that don't impart a lot of information. too many of the sections involve instructions to get up and do something, rather than concise explanations of what he means.
   
   really the book should have been broken into a series of lessons and exercises in chapter format, but halfway through the book he just dumps the entire technique on you, leaving it to you to figure out how to internalize all this stuff.
   
   but beyond that, the techniques themselves seem poorly organized and explained. the author's grasp of tai chi theory is kind of sketchy, and his "chi principles" really ought to have focused on more universal concepts than the ones he chose. he doesn't give enough practical tips on developing body awareness, and there's almost no discussion of breathing, despite the fact that it should be central to the technique.
   
   danny dreyer also doesn't seem to have a very firm grasp of the biomechanics of running. he tells you to use your hip flexors instead of your quads to run, but doesn't go into any detail about how that is possible. he says things like "swing your legs to the back" without realizing that different people will interpret that to mean different things. and there is very little discussion of what it should feel like on the inside when you do the techniques, or how exactly your core muscles contribute to running, which is the cornerstone of the system.
   
   the problem really is that danny dreyer seems to be a visual learner and kind of a type a person, and doesn't understand that other people don't think the way he does. so he explains what it looks like to practice his technique, and gives you long to do lists for learning the form.
   
   he also presents a one-size-fits-all explanation that doesn't take into account the fact that different people have very different bodies. for instance, his technique presupposes that you have an anteriorly-tilted pelvis, whereas I (and two or so billion other people) have a posteriorly tilted pelvis. so by engaging my abdominal muscles like he says to, this pulls my body too far forward. what people with this spinal condition need to do is actually engage their lower back muscles.
   
   that said, I think there is a lot that can be learned from this book. if you, like I do, experience a lot of pain when running, this book can give you some pointers of directions to go in for improving technique. read some of it, try the things out, and see how it feels. but let your own body awareness be your guide. slavishly following these instructions could be counterproductive.
   
   finally, I think some of the most important points aren't even in the technique sections, but the parts where he talks about twisting your torso and how kenyans and cheetahs run. you might be better off skipping buying this book just studying the way kenyans, cheetahs, and little kids run.
   
   I think danny dreyer does have a good technique, and this really could have been an amazing running book if he had hired a co-author who had a better understanding of how to write and how other people learn. as it stands, its as a running manual that resembles japanese stereo instructions from the nineteen eighties. you will puzzle over it for hours trying to figure out how all this stuff is supposed to work.