Chikara Kan, Inc. :: Alan Cranford CRESCENT KICK Review

This is Volume Four of ten books devoted to mastering kicks. Shawn Kovacich devotes this book to the crescent kick. Shawn compares this kick to a cat's claw strike--it is rapid and powerful.

In 1988 I was demonstrating riot control techniques to members of the 533rd MI Bn (CEWI) in an effort to change our riot control equipment from rifle and bayonet to riot shield and baton. I employed a crescent kick to the riot shield just to let me slip my bayonet behind the shield--the kick was unexpected (it came in through the blind area created by the shield) and powerful enough that I laid out the rather sturdy sergeant holding up that shield. My failure to prove the shield superior for riot control did have a positive result--my battalion got out of the riot control business.

If you don't need to fight, don't. But Kicking Excellence: the Crescent Kick only touches on application. Shawn concentrates on correct kicking technique in minute detail. This review examines Shawn's book from a practical stand point--how well does this book enable me to learn the crescent kick?

I'm 50, 6'3" tall and 220 pounds, but I'm not an athlete--just healthy. I cannot perform the Wheel Kick higher than my own waist right now--I'll need to improve my flexibility. It isn't too much of a handicap for self defense--or active military service--but for those of you involved in karate matches, you need the high kicks for the match-winning points.

Of course, if I fall to the ground or can hold onto something, my kick gains stability, height, and power--at the cost of being fixed in position for an instant. The crescent kick uses the heel bone--the bottom of the heel. Target areas are the lower legs and forearms and the face and neck. I've used the crescent kick occasionally even though it isn't my favorite--but it is fast and deceptive because of the angles it comes in from. Shawn uses a wheel and a watch to help the reader visualize the arc of the kick and explains follow-through.

The crescent kick can be used from standing or even flat on your back--but is best used from standing. Even though Shawn shows the crescent kick mostly from the right leg, he recommends training with both legs. I find that a series of crescent kicks can be much like a series of boxer's jabs--even if I keep my kicks low. That should be reason enough to practice on both sides. Variations of the crescent kick--well, I'm not going to try rewriting Shawn's books; I'm only describing what's in those books so that the reader can determine if these books meet the reader's training needs.

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. Shawn warns that using a swimming pool for training requires a partner for safety--if something goes wrong, the partner is there to prevent drowning and phone for professional help. 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: 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!

Alan Cranford
Carson City, Nevada