8/31/2012

Basketball: Steps to Success - 2nd Edition Review

Basketball: Steps to Success - 2nd Edition
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I am a strength and conditioning coach, not a basketball coach. I found the material helpful, expecially the chapters on footwork.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Basketball: Steps to Success - 2nd Edition


Master all the important skills of basketball and take your game to the next level. Basketball, Second Edition: Steps to Success provides in-depth, progressive instruction in techniques and tactics, including detailed tutoring on shooting and 111 drills featuring a scoring system to gauge your progress.

As you build your skill base, you'll learn how to make all the right moves in game situations, whether it's executing the correct footwork when defending screens or making the right pass for a winning basket. Highly regarded coach, teacher, and clinician Hal Wissel will help you execute each technique proficiently and consistently on the court.

Improve your game. Basketball, Second Edition: Steps to Success will help you develop the total package of tools to achieve your goals on the court.

See all the titles available in the Steps to Success Series.


Buy NowGet 25% OFF

Click here for more information about Basketball: Steps to Success - 2nd Edition

Bigger Faster Stronger - 2nd Edition Review

Bigger Faster Stronger - 2nd Edition
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My degree is in physical education and I have been teaching for 11 years. Shepard's Bigger Faster Stronger program is among the best I have found. The biggest benefits of this program are in sports requiring explosive strenth such as judo, wrestling, boxing, field events, and sprints.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bigger Faster Stronger - 2nd Edition


Bigger Faster Stronger is now bigger and better than ever! This second edition presents the most popular strength training system for today's high school and college athletes. Establish the solid foundation you need to compete successfully and advance your athletic career.

With the second edition of Bigger Faster Stronger, a program that has led teams to over 320 high school state championships, you will

-learn the fundamental exercise techniques and drills necessary for developing strength, power, agility, and speed for any sport;

-implement a training program that will meet your sport performance needs and modify it to fit your personal goals;

-perform, spot, and coach complex performance-optimizing lifts, including the squat, deadlift, power clean, and bench press;

-improve speed, agility, and flexibility to complement your power; and

-optimize your performance, in the gym or on the field, with nutrition and meal plans for your body's needs.During the in-season or off-season, the customizable programs can accommodate any sport, and every level of competition. Based on the latest research, and followed by tens of thousands of the nation's top athletes, Bigger Faster Stronger can elevate your play so you can beat the competition!


Buy NowGet 25% OFF

Click here for more information about Bigger Faster Stronger - 2nd Edition

Running with the Whole Body: A 30-Day Program to Running Faster with Less Effort Review

Running with the Whole Body: A 30-Day Program to Running Faster with Less Effort
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The book applies the Feldenkrais method to running in a very logical way. It begins with the big picture, and then focuses on the details. The exercises in this book are well thought out, and WILL make a difference in your running. I noticed a significant improvement after only the first chapter, and I just kept improving with each subsequent chapter. You begin by studying the relationship between the upper and lower body while walking. The shoulders should move in a direction opposite the hips. Most people, myself included, do not do this properly and it affects breathing and everything else involved in running. I spent an evening working on this, and immediately noticed a huge improvement in my running. Breathing suddenly became easier, and my stride became less jarring. Through each chapter, the improvements continued. This book is a must for every runner. It will make all the difference.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Running with the Whole Body: A 30-Day Program to Running Faster with Less Effort



Buy NowGet 28% OFF

Click here for more information about Running with the Whole Body: A 30-Day Program to Running Faster with Less Effort

Complete Conditioning for Baseball Review

Complete Conditioning for Baseball
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is a great book very good at describing the workout needed to be on top of your game DVD was really helpful to

Click Here to see more reviews about: Complete Conditioning for Baseball



Buy NowGet 27% OFF

Click here for more information about Complete Conditioning for Baseball

8/30/2012

Yoga Turns Back the Clock: The Unique Total-Body Program that Fights Fat, Wrinkles and Fatigue Review

Yoga Turns Back the Clock: The Unique Total-Body Program that Fights Fat, Wrinkles and Fatigue
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
A friend of mine and I were looking at some of the new yoga books and this one just popped out at us. we do yoga about 4 nights a week and we needed some new material. Yoga Turns Back the Clock was a amazing because it showed us a whole new perspective on yoga and showed us how it can be used to tone, to burn fat, or best of all to look younger. We have been using the book for only a few weeks but we think that it is best yoga book we have bought in a while. we love the approach and the style. it is also great for beginners, like us, who are not as flexible as many other yoga books expect you to be. Yoga Turns BAck the CLock challenges us without making us get into positions that we could not even begin to. i love this book and suggest it for anyone who likes doing yoga or wants to start.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yoga Turns Back the Clock: The Unique Total-Body Program that Fights Fat, Wrinkles and Fatigue

There is a magic formula for staying young--Yoga! You can be as toned, energized, and beautiful as you were in your twenties--or more so! Yoga practitioners have long known the secrets to looking and feeling young. Now you can harness the amazing power of this ancient art to fight flab and rejuvenate every part of your body with the energizing routines in this book.Through simple step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow full-color photos, Glenda Twining shows you the miracle of anti-aging yoga. She has helped hundreds of people turn back the clock with her unique program, and you can be next!You'll learn:* Why 30 minutes is all it takes to transform your body* How yoga works to rejuvenate your entire body from the inside out* Simple stretches you can do at home to fight fat and feel younger

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Yoga Turns Back the Clock: The Unique Total-Body Program that Fights Fat, Wrinkles and Fatigue

Zen Shiatsu: How to Harmonize Yin and Yang for Better Health Review

Zen Shiatsu: How to Harmonize Yin and Yang for Better Health
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I cannot rate this book highly enough. It is an invaluable resource for professional Shiatsu practitioners or beginners. Masunaga takes you immediately into the world of Oriental Medicine with clear, concise descriptions of the theories that make OM a powerful healing force in the world today.
There are literally hundreds of photos, detailing his particular Shiatsu style, that will allow anyone to understand how to apply the techniques described. He also has a fine section on energetic diagnosis to assist with understanding when to apply Shiatsu and which techniques to use.
An additional section provides a series of Shiatsu stretches with manipulations to do for yourself. These are simple and effective. Learn them and use for your own well-being.
If you only buy one book on Shiatsu, let it be this one. It has been around for over 20 years and is still the one that I recommend to my patients for home helth care. I also use it when teaching graduate students at the Seven Gates Institute.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Zen Shiatsu: How to Harmonize Yin and Yang for Better Health

The basic approach of oriental medicine is to emphasize natural powers of self-cure and to evolve a therapy that is entirely in harmony with the entire organism of the patient. Shiatsu is one of the oriental medical disciplines that have made great progress in such therapy. The common conception that shiatsu is no more than the application of strong digital pressure on single points on the body misrepresents the truth. Shiatsu is based on a full oriental medical system, which explains the human body in terms of a network of meridians through which flows an energy called Ki in Japanese. If the flow of Ki through the meridians is smooth, the person is healthy. If the flow becomes sluggish, the person falls ill. The nature of the flow is analyzed on the basis of the Chinese conception of the duality Yin and Yang into two states called Kyo and Jitsu. In the Kyo state, the flow of Ki is sluggish, and the body functions are dulled. In the Jitsu state, the flow is too rapid, and the body functions are overactive. A therapy that fails to take these states into consideration can only further retard the activity of sluggish functions and further stimulate hyperactive ones. In short, such therapy can produce no beneficial effect at all. The way to restore the proper balance to the system of Ki energy is the subject of Zen Shiatsu, the first book on the topic ever published in the English language. In this richly illustrated work, the author thoroughly covers to-nification-sedation, meridian shiatsu (Zen shiatsu). In addition to the services he performs as a therapist, he has devoted many years of study and much effort to developing new shiatsu ideas. Zen Shiatsu is the result of all these efforts. The inclusion of a chapter on self-shiatsu makes this an unusual and valuable book from the standpoint of people interested in home remedies.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Zen Shiatsu: How to Harmonize Yin and Yang for Better Health

Soft Tissue Release Review

Soft Tissue Release
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is an easy to use book. I have little knowledge of the subject and obtained the book to help me understand what I need to know. It is thorough and the step by step photos really help although they could do with updating. There is an excellent page on situations where soft tissue release can help. Some exercises can be done on your own, others you need someone to work on. It includes muscle diagrams and simply everything you need to know. This review first appeared on Karen Platt's book review website.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Soft Tissue Release


Soft Tissue Release is a clear, concise, and practical book that guides you in understanding and applying the three types of soft tissue release (STR): passive (clients do not help), active assisted (clients and therapists work together), and active (clients do it on their own). Rather than focus on the specific purposes of soft tissue release, this text provides basic information about the therapy and prepares readers to perform the techniques. The result is a text that professionals and students in massage therapy, physiotherapy, and osteopathy will find invaluable.

Soft Tissue Release thoroughly explains the differences between the three types of STR by providing step-by-step descriptions on performing each type along with the key holds, moves, and stances for various muscles. The descriptions are accompanied by handy reference charts indicating the types of clients and situations in which each technique is particularly useful. Complete instructions explain how to apply STR to various parts of the body—the trunk, the lower limbs, and the upper limbs—and detail the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. Numerous full-color photos depict the locks and stretches.

The book also explains how to use alternative options—such as massage tools and forearms, fists, and elbows—to protect the hands and thumbs from overuse. Tips sidebars provide short, practical comments on applying the techniques, while Client Talk boxes share the author's experiences and provide insight on situations that a therapist is likely to encounter. Each chapter ends with Quick Questions to test knowledge of the information, and answers are provided at the end of the book. A quick-reference photo index allows readers to look up techniques based on the client's position—prone, supine, sitting, or side lying—and find the page number for the complete instructions for that technique.

Finally, Soft Tissue Release shows how to incorporate the proper techniques into a treatment program. The book guides readers through the consultation process and provides examples of initial questions to ask clients and various assessment forms that therapists can use in identifying clients' needs. Using case studies and comparisons, the book shows how the data gleaned from clients can guide the design of an effective treatment program.

Soft Tissue Release will help the STR techniques come alive through its clear, detailed instruction and the numerous photos showing the techniques being applied by professionals. Whether you are a student or a professional, Soft Tissue Release will help you gain proficiency and confidence in these techniques.


Buy NowGet 30% OFF

Click here for more information about Soft Tissue Release

No More Aching Back: Dr. Root's Fifteen-Minute-A-Day Program for a Healthy Back Review

No More Aching Back: Dr. Root's Fifteen-Minute-A-Day Program for a Healthy Back
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I suffer from 2 herniated disks one at S1L5 (extremely blown) and one at L4 (moderate), I also suffer from spinal stenosis. I have been following Dr. Root's exercise program now for a month,and have had tremendous results with the pain from the disks and the siatica down my leg. I never thought I could be pain free or off of pain medication! This is a wonderful book and program for anyone who suffers with herniated disks!

Click Here to see more reviews about: No More Aching Back: Dr. Root's Fifteen-Minute-A-Day Program for a Healthy Back

These state-of-the-art strategies from the co-author of the bestseller Oh, My Aching Back are designed to heal, strengthen and protect your back from stress and injury. Dr. Root's clinically proven program includes • a 15-minute daily exercise routine • self-administered first aid • what to ask and what to expect from your doctor • short- and long-term solutions for pain, etc."Accessible, Sensible, Reassuring... The best ways to sit, bend, lift, drive a car, play sports, have sex, and carry on everyday activities." -Publishers Weekly

Buy Now

Click here for more information about No More Aching Back: Dr. Root's Fifteen-Minute-A-Day Program for a Healthy Back

8/29/2012

Fit and Female: The Perfect Fitness and Nutrition Game Plan for Your Unique Body Type Review

Fit and Female: The Perfect Fitness and Nutrition Game Plan for Your Unique Body Type
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
If you are looking for a book that will tell you what to eat and how to exercise in order to get a super-muscular body, or a super-thin model-type body, then look elsewhere. This is not a book about diet and exercise, but about learning to accept and take care of your body, no matter the shape and size. That said, there are exercises designed for each body type, as well as nutrition and eating advice.
Now we have all heard the message that we should love our body, no matter what, and certainly there are lots of books out there with the same message. So what makes Geralyn's book different from all the rest? It's because she's lived through the same struggles as the average woman. When a genetically-blessed woman tells you that you should accept your body, you probably think "Yeah, it's easy for her to say because she has the perfect body." And consequently, we never really listen to the message and reflect on what it means. However, coming from Geralyn, the message hits home because she has suffered the same weight issues as many of us. I was able to relate to Geralyn's message, because her struggles really mimicked my own. I've struggled to accept myself almost my entire life, and despite being an avid runner and very healthy, I still have a hard time with self-acceptance. Knowing that Geralyn was able to overcome her issues and find self-love and self-acceptance is a real inspiration. I think if someone had told me these things many years ago, it would have saved me a lot of suffering.
You may think that the motivational part of the book is too long, but I think Geralyn is on to something. Unless you can first accept your body the way it is now, no matter how much you exercise and diet, it is unlikely that you will be happy with your body no matter how fit and/or thin you may become.
Turning to the exercise portion of the book, you first have to determine your unique body type (e.g. ectomorph, mesomorph, or endomorph, and apple or pear). Of course, hardly anyone fits neatly into one category, but chances are you are predominantly one type. Once you know what "type" you are, Geralyn recommends certain cardio and strength training exercises, which are supposed to be optimal for your type. Recognizing that fitness has to fit a woman's schedule, she also tells you how many repetitions and sets you need to do, based on the amount of time you have (bare minimum, ideal, and gung-ho). Now, I've been running for over 5 years and have consistently strength trained, so when I saw the strength training exercises Geralyn recommended, I didn't think I'd derive much benefit. Boy, was I wrong! I did the gung-ho workout (most repetitions and sets) and my muscles hurt for TWO straight days!
In terms of eating, Geralyn teaches you to have a healthy relation with food. She cautions against mindless eating, urges proper nutrition, and details eating tips for each body type. Again, what makes her message powerful (because who hasn't already heard about the dangers of mindless eating?) is that she has gone through this herself.
To conclude, I highly recommend this book. Whether you are struggling with your body image, are just beginning to make the decision to love your body, or already wholly accept yourself (and kudos to you if you do!), you should read this book. It is truly enjoyable, powerful, and liberating. Keep in mind that changing your self-perception does not happen overnight, especially if you've had a negative image about yourself for many years (or your whole life, in my case). But with this book and the right attitude, you can begin the journey to a happier, and healthier, you.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fit and Female: The Perfect Fitness and Nutrition Game Plan for Your Unique Body Type



Buy NowGet 24% OFF

Click here for more information about Fit and Female: The Perfect Fitness and Nutrition Game Plan for Your Unique Body Type

Pocket Guide to Musculoskeletal Diagnosis (Musculoskeletal Medicine) Review

Pocket Guide to Musculoskeletal Diagnosis (Musculoskeletal Medicine)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This book helped me focus my musculoskeletal exam and make it more effecient. It's a first rate book that ortho docs and GPs alike would benefit from using. GPs and ortho/pm&r/neuro residents may particuarly like the diagnostic work up and treatment sections, which most exam books don't have. I was turned onto this book by a colleague and I'm very grateful that I was. Not many people seem to be using it yet, and I hadn't heard of it, but it's a good find. Other books for musculoskeletal exam that are worth getting are Magee's Orthopedic Physical Assessment (which is a larger book written by a PT that could be used as a reference for various physical exam maneuvers) and, of course, Hoppenfeld's Physical Exam book. Hoppenfeld still sets the standard when it comes to anatomy and biomechanical review, which he weaves nicely into his physical exam.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pocket Guide to Musculoskeletal Diagnosis (Musculoskeletal Medicine)

Practicing physical medicine and rehabilitation physician Grant Cooper, MD, provides a concise step-by-step approach to confidently establishing a working clinical diagnosis and finding appropriate treatment options for the most common musculoskeletal ailments. Organized by body region and written with superb clarity, this guide details the important questions to ask in history taking, the physical examination maneuvers appropriate for each pathology, the possible explanations and additional tests needed to diagnose the condition, and the most up-to-date treatment options available. The author offers clear explanations why each step in the history and physical examination is performed and discusses the basic pathophysiological processes involved. The ailments covered include neck and shooting arm pain; shoulder pain; elbow pain; wrist and hand pain; low back, hip, and shooting leg pain; knee pain, ankle pain, and foot pain. Numerous photographs demonstrate the correct hands-on methods for physical examination of the patient.

Buy NowGet 23% OFF

Click here for more information about Pocket Guide to Musculoskeletal Diagnosis (Musculoskeletal Medicine)

Sports Injury Handbook: Professional Advice for Amateur Athletes Review

Sports Injury Handbook: Professional Advice for Amateur Athletes
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Alan Levy has done a fantastic job in putting together so much in one book. It has nearly everything an athlete requires to not only stay in shape but also treating all kinds of injuries from little niggles to those that need surgery. And its all been bonded together in a very organized and methodical manner.
To begin with Dr. Levy emphasizes the importance of warming up and stretching before and after workouts and shows how to do this. Next, he explains about nutrition for athletes. After that he lays out the benefits of and what it really means to stay healthy. This is followed by First-Aid for sports.
Starting with the fifth chapter he provides detailed information about what to know about the various parts of the body, their intricacies, and how they are used in sports and precisely what occurs with them when we feel pain or discomfort. For example, chapter 10 is about the Thigh and Hip, Chapter 6 for the Shoulder, and so on. In addition, he suggests various ways of diagnosing injuries correctly and how best to treat them. Whether an economical ready-made arch support will work, or one must see a qualified physician for a particular problem, Dr. Levy seems one not to miss a trick.
Then there is a chapter each on a specific sport and the most likely injuries to take place in every one of those and what all can be done to prevent them but if they do happen, then how to treat them. From Baseball to Running, Golf to Skiing, it has everything.
At the end he also suggests what to look for in a Sports Specialist.
Its only drawback is that understanding some of the material can be a daunting task as the lay person does not possess the expertise of Dr. Levy in Sports medicine.
And last but not the least, my knee ailment got cured courtesy of following the treatment plan outlined in the Sports Injury Handbook.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sports Injury Handbook: Professional Advice for Amateur Athletes



Buy NowGet 30% OFF

Click here for more information about Sports Injury Handbook: Professional Advice for Amateur Athletes

8/28/2012

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Techniques Review

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Techniques
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My first reaction upon receiving this book and browsing it was page after page of "Hmmm, I haven't seen that anywhere else before" and "Hey, that's really cool". This is truly the most advanced jiu-jitsu and submission grappling book released to date. I base this opinion on being a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu brown belt, an instructor under Erik Paulson, having an enormous martial art book and video library, and producing/distributing high-end grappling videos (www.grapplearts.com).
This book is addresses the usual gamut of BJJ techniques (guard sweeps, guard passes, submission setups, etc.) both with and without the gi. Most of the gi material would be directly relevant to no-gi submission grappling as well, as evidenced by Jean Jacques outstanding performances at Abu Dhabi, the most prestigious submission grappling event in the world. The book is about 250 pages, and has 112 carefully detailed technical sequences.
This would be a great book to get if you are an advanced grappler or an intermediate grappler trying to step it up a notch. Novice grapplers won't find any of the basics they need to learn in this book, but it would still be a pretty cool book to own if they are disciplined enough to continue training the basics.
Enjoy!
Stephan Kesting
www.grapplearts.com

Click Here to see more reviews about: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Techniques

Brazilian Ju Jitsu Black Belt is written by the Master Jean Jacques Machado. 246 pages full color this book is an absolute must have if you study the art of grappling. 112 techniques shown in close up easy to follow photos you will be able to learn how these techniques should be performed and why Brazilian Ju Jitsu is so popular.

Buy NowGet 36% OFF

Click here for more information about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Techniques

Exercise Balls For Dummies Review

Exercise Balls For Dummies
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Exercise Balls For Dummies has everything it takes to be on the best seller list. The chapter that focuses on stretching alone helped relieve years of chronic back pain. Great job to the author LaReine Chabut for writing and illustrating such a complete and comprehensive guide for everyone. A must read on everybody's list!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Exercise Balls For Dummies



Buy NowGet 27% OFF

Click here for more information about Exercise Balls For Dummies

Clinical Orthopaedic Examination Review

Clinical Orthopaedic Examination
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this book in 2000(4th Edition 1997) when I was doing my PM&R residency as PGYII, rotating through outpatient clinic. At that time, as a GYII resident, I realized that I had little skill in performing musculoskeletal exams, because my internship in internal medicine earlier did not offer any training in outpatient orthopedic clinic where such skills could be taught. I needed a book from which I could learn these skills in the shortest time. With this in mind, I made the decision to purchase this book based on a senior resident's recommendation. I found this book to be well written, comprehensive, yet concise, easy to read and follow. It teaches numerous techniques used to exam bone, joint, muscle and nerve commonly used in orthopedic examination, while extremely extensive, eg, from the exam of distal interphalangeal joint of elderly to the exam of club foot in infant, but fortunately, most of the exams are presented in drawings, which make them easy to understand and to remember. There is a very will written text section, preceding the illustration of orthopedic exams of specific anatomic region, providing readers with background information on commonly seen orthopedic entities. What I like most about this book is that it avoids using lengthy descriptions; instead, it makes use of numerous simple drawings with clear illustrations, contrasted with corresponding radiographic images, which enable the readers to grasp the fundamentals and the abnormals with ease.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Clinical Orthopaedic Examination

A new edition of a now classic, highly-illustrated textbook of clinical orthopaedic examination suitable for specialist trainee orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists, medical students and physiotherapists.
Anew edition of an internationally respected textbook of orthopaedic examination
The unique 'strip cartoon' artwork programme provides an easy-to-read approach to the subject affording an effective way to learn
A highly praised book by reviewers for its clear and lucid writing style
The text reflects the classic 'look, feel, move' approach to patient evaluation
Provides practical guidance on interpretation of radiographs
Almost 1000 drawings produced by the author himself provide a unique means of teaching.


The updated text includes a number of new tests and methods of assessing overall limb function.



More information has been added in the section on back pain.





There is an expanded description on the interpretation of the ankle jerk and more information on tracking the progress of skeletal maturation.
Anew up-to-date design reflects that of the sister volume Practical Fracture Techniques 5e




Buy NowGet 12% OFF

Click here for more information about Clinical Orthopaedic Examination

Compact Tai Chi: Combined Forms for Pratice in Limited Space Review

Compact Tai Chi: Combined Forms for Pratice in Limited Space
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This book presents an unusual but practical approach to the tai chi form, turning it into a circular stepping pattern instead of the traditional pattern in order to save space, so you can do it at home or in a limited space. Although I know the traditional long Yang form, I have no problems with this and find it an excellent approach and of value.
However, what the author has done is basically create four short forms. If you are a student of a more conservative, traditional teacher, you probably know that they don't think much of the short forms, regarding them as of limited health and medical value. In fact, the great master who invented the original Yang short form after WWII at the behest of the Communist Party, said it was worthless and didn't practice it himself. However, this depends to a great deal on whether you subscribe to the traditional Chinese medical theories as well. But if you are a serious student of tai chi, you should seek out a teacher and learn the original long form of your style just for your own education, whichever of the many tai chi styles you practice. They are really not that difficult to learn, because many of the main moves and sequences repeat themselves several times, such as grasping the sparrow's tail, the signature and most important sequence in the Yang form.
By the way, there is actually a 300-move long Yang form which is the original, not the 108-move form. Having learned it, I would say it's more like the 108-move form with more complex transitional movements between the major moves, but if you can find a teacher that offers that, I would definitely learn it. Otherwise, the more commonly available 108-move form would be fine. If you just don't have time to do the long form because of your busy daily schedule, I would recommend you do the short form each day, and then try to find enough time on the weekend to do the long form.
As for myself, as I said, I have no problem with the author's using shorter and more compact forms myself and have often found it difficult to practice my long form in my house, and often end up only working on a few moves or small section of the form, which is all I had room for. Surely a longer sequence like this that could be done in a smaller space would be better than that. Of course, you could simply modify your own form into a circular format and do that. :-) Anyway, the forms in this book also cover the five major styles of of tai chi and I found that interesting and useful as well. So overall, a fine book with a creative approach with a lot of practical utility and that offers a lot of breadth in that it covers the five important styles.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Compact Tai Chi: Combined Forms for Pratice in Limited Space



Buy NowGet 35% OFF

Click here for more information about Compact Tai Chi: Combined Forms for Pratice in Limited Space

8/27/2012

Tae Kwon Do: The Korean Martial Art Review

Tae Kwon Do: The Korean Martial Art
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
To let you know up front I've been asked by YMAA Publication Center to review this book. Check my other reviews if you are concerned about bias. Honestly it takes a lot to ask me to review a book, because I will tell you exactly what I think. I have trained in the martial arts for over 25 years now primarily in aikido, jujitsu and boxing of various sorts. I have never been a big fan of striking in real combat. The idea of taking the smallest bones in my body and matching them up against, say your skull, doesn't seem like a real good idea to me. Bust you hand sometime and you'll see what I mean. Even with that bias I have to admitt that Master Chun's book is very impressive. It contains a ton of information especially about some basic things that a lot of the TKD people I've met should have studied. The section on learning falls is pretty good and if you do TKD do yourself a favor and learn this if you are not being taught. What makes this book so big is a lot of the space is devoted to providing decent photos of what is taught. The draw back here is that for someone like myself who has seen enough moves I know what is trying to be taught so my mind fills in any blanks. But if you look at some of the content with a beginners mind you can see where confusion could very easily set in. This is a good lesson in what a book in the martial arts is suppose to do....reinforce what you are already learning from your mat experience, so I don't consider any lapses to be a problem.
I do have some concerns about some of the practical applications especially the weapon disarms. The knife and firearm disarms are great ways to get killed. Don't even think about them.This is where kata is going to get you hurt. There are safer and better applications so I wouldn't try these in real training or a conflict. Often there are kicks or punches employed where they are in my opinion, high risk and of questionable yield. BUT keep in mind that they are being performed by someone who has done these things for a lifetime. For Master Chun these are as second nature to him as breathing. I've worked with people who are at this level in their striking and they feel very comfortable with these types of moves. It becomes a matter of your own level of practice and comfort. To get to that level thought you have to spend a lifetime working at it.
If you are studying TKD for a sport application, kata, or breaking boards this book is an exhaustive source.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tae Kwon Do: The Korean Martial Art



Buy NowGet 33% OFF

Click here for more information about Tae Kwon Do: The Korean Martial Art