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Chikara Kan, Inc. :: Books :: Back Kick
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Author: Yves G.
I have received your book and could never imagine that 200 pages could be written about back kicks only!!! I must say that I could not be more impressed by the work put in this book. You obviously got the technique for kicks.
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Author: Mike S.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate you signing your book for me. It is now a treasure in my home, one, which I can share with my kids as they get older. Back Kick is easily the best and most significant book ever written on kicking. Your writing is simply superb! Brilliantly laid out and easy to follow, not one step is missed, nor is any question a reader may have unanswered. Back Kick shares the kind of information only one of the best martial artists in the world could deliver. You have written one hell of a book Shawn, and the whole series is going to set a new standard in martial arts writing. Thank you so very much for sharing your knowledge with me. I remain in your debt.
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Author: Joseph L.
Shawn Kovacich has written a book that thoroughly covers the kicking skills of the "martial arts." Kovacich exposes the intricacies of the "Back Kick" much in the same way as the teaching and learning philosophy of the late Bruce Lee's masterpiece, "Tao of Jeet Kune Do."
I highly recommend reading and studying Kovacich's excellent interpretation in "Back Kick," which is the first volume in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series. It is another book that every martial artist should have in their personal library.
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Author: Darren W.
Incredible book! Whether you enjoy martial arts or not, Shawn's ability to break down a kick is comparable to a surgeon performing brain surgery on a patient.
Shawn makes his Achieving Kicking Excellence series an easy read for anyone. By touching on every aspect of the physical and mental training techniques needed to correctly execute a kick, Shawn creates a strong foundation for any individual interested in learning how to either learn a kick, or improve upon their own kicking skills.
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Author: Jessica
A friend of mine had purchased Mr. Kovacich's second book Wheel Kick, and she told me how in depth it was and how it broke everything down. So, I thought I might as well try it. What could it hurt? When the book arrived, I sat down to flip through and ended up reading the entire thing. WOW! I can't believe that someone could take one kick and break it down to the smallest detail. I had taken that book to my dojo and showed it to my instructor and he said the same thing I did, WOW! He borrowed it for a couple weeks to look it over. I had to fight to get the book back. Even he said that he has never seen anyone that has broken down a kick to the finest details.
So, you know what I had to do, I immediately got on my computer and ordered two copies of his first book, Back Kick, one for me and the other for my instructor. This book breaks back kick and its main variations down into a very simple and easy to understand approach. It goes into minute detail over all aspects of executing this kick, from where your body should be during each position of the kick, to the correct execution of all the basic principles involved in the correct execution of the kick. There is also a section of basic applications against an opponent, and even a trouble shooting area.
Now my instructor is teaching a lot of the principles from these books in his class and is getting a seminar set up for Mr. Kovacich to come teach at our dojo for a few days. I can't say it enough, Thank You Mr. Kovacich for the wonderful books that have helped me and my dojo. Keep me posted on the new books.
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Author: Mike O.
I would like to thank the author, Shawn Kovacich, for giving me the opportunity to have read such a detailed and understandable book in Back Kick. I was amazed on how thorough and in-depth, yet easy to understand, his approach was while teaching such a complex kick.
Mr. Kovacich breaks down every aspect of each and every component in the kick through an in-depth and detailed analysis. He also adds his own personal sense of humor to his writing, which is quite interesting I might add, throughout the entire book, which makes it even more enjoyable.
Each and every step in each kick is so precise that it is very easy to follow. There is no guess work involved it is that detailed!
He also includes numerous illustrations and photographs along with the text showing you the proper technique to use. In my personal opinion, I feel anyone eager to learn would most definitely be able to follow along and perform the Back Kick like a pro.
One could also benefit if they were an instructor teaching the Back Kick in their curriculum. This would enhance your teaching ability, which in turn you could pass on to your students allowing them the opportunity to learn at a much faster rate with maximum results.
This book is an excellent tool for both beginners and the advanced martial artist. I was personally impressed by the author on how detailed his book was and I enjoyed Back Kick very much. I look forward to reading and studying the other books in his Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
Sincerely,
Mike Orvis
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Author: Lawrence A.
One who is learning self-defense, or knows self-defense this is a must book to read. Master Shawn Kovacich takes the BACK KICK far and beyond the norm. The depth of his teaching, and the photos with numeric explanations displayed in this book are also beyond the norm.
When you think of defending yourself most individuals, including myself, are always thinking of their upper part of the body as being their weapons, the fist, a punch, an elbow, etc. I like a back knuckle to the temple myself. Very seldom do I think of the back kick, it's usually a snap, stomp or a knife edge. Master Kovacich has really opened my eyes to the back kick as being a major weapon and a more powerful weapon. From here on out in my martial arts training I am going to work on my back kick and to improve it to being a powerful weapon, if needed.
In my closing thoughts of this book in this, when throwing a kick or any strike you never ever take your eyes off of your opponent, all through the strike you must have visual contact at all times, always recoil and be prepared to strike again and to always cover out into a fighting stance.
There is a powerful force behind this book every reader will feel this force, this force is also a record holder for kicking in the Guinness Book of World Records.
This book deserves 5 stars.
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Author: Alan D. Cranford
This is Volume One of ten books devoted to mastering kicks. Shawn Kovacich devotes this book to the back kick: simple, deceptive, but effective. This review examines Shawn's book from a practical stand point--how well does this book enable me to learn the back 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. The back kick is deceptive because most people are no threat when approached from behind. Employing the back kick can get you inside your enemy's OODA loop (John Boyd's Observe, Orient, Decide, Act cycle) and deliver the fight-winning initiative. 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. I'll need to work on my back kick more. Shawn's book has persuaded me that the back kick is worth mastering.
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 vi
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Author: Joanna Daneman
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.)
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Author: Jeffrey Peter A. Hauck
Author Shawn Kovacich has exploited an important niche in his "Achieving Kicking Excellence" series of martial arts instructional texts.
Shawn is quoted as saying "In an unarmed self-defense encounter, your kicking skills or lack thereof, can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat. In today's society, kicking is not only used more frequently, but it also ranks as perhaps the most versatile and underrated weapon that you have in your arsenal." I agree with him.
I found "Back Kick" (volume 1 of 10 in the series) to be so highly detail oriented that it overcame any presupposition of dryness and boredom to which I initially attributed to it. In short, I was "hooked." Laid out in terms that the novice can easily follow and the practicing martial artist can incorporate into his or her regimen, Shawn starts out with the historical background of the Back Kick and then introduces the reader to the physical and physiological body movements and mechanics associated with the kick.
Providing tips on conditioning and training, Shawn demonstrates foot movement by foot movement the Back Kick's basic principles and then introduces the primary Turning Back Kick to his audience and follows with eleven variations; some of which I have never even heard of.
Shawn demonstrates the principles of each kick with clear photographs that leave nothing to the imagination. Fortifying the text with chapters on "Warm Up and Stretching," "Training and Practice Methods," and "Kicking Applications," to name a few, Shawn provides the reader with more than a full understanding of what could and mistakenly be known as a "simple kick."
Totally complete at 220 pages, and chocked with all sorts of valuable information from the "nuts and bolts" of technique description and demonstration to body dynamics, this is without a doubt the "gold standard" by which any examplar of martial arts kicking should be judged by.
This book can stand alone or be incorporated within the series. I rate it at five stars without hesitation or reservation. Well done!
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Author: Stanislao Esposito
I started my training in Martial Arts about two months ago. I am not an athlete and never been into sports. However, as I started the TKD training I became more and more excited about the Art that I really wanted to get into it. I ran into this book by chance. I realized that my kicks needed some help so I did a search on amazon. This was the first one on the list. I contacted the author who answered immediately and gave me some very good advice. My review, therefore, is from this point of view - not that of an expert but of a beginner who is eager to achieve Kicking excellence.
As a beginner I am amazed at what I do not know about Kicking. What concerns me is that what I do not know can seriously hurt me - I have read about the many injuries that beginners, with their sophomoric attitude, may get.
I began to read the book with trepidation (203 pages on one single type of Kick!), but after a while I realized what I had in my hands - a resource that will last not only until I become black belt but beyond.
It is written for the common student and contains no special jargon. The MANY pictures, though in Black and White, are taken from many angles and contains arrows and other reference signs. The text refers to the pictures closely; in the end, not only I can easily see what I am supposed to do and how my kick is supposed to look like but also learning the fundamentals in an intelligent way. There is also enough "background" information (about muscles and bones) to keep me interested but not bored (as though I was reading a medical book), information that, once again, will allow me to practice more safely. There are also diagrams for feet movement and stances, which at first look like those used in a ballroom dance studio.
The book also contains information for training and improve the skill; this section, which is becoming my favorite, includes different kinds of Practice (that one can do at home), training for Strength and Speed and Power. Because of these exercises I am feeling more and more confident when I go to the school and even my instructor noticed my improvements.
The book has two other sections which I enjoyed tremendously - the Trouble shooting guide (done in Q&A format) and the Kicking Applications. In the Application part there are some photographs of the author and another person doing Back Kicks. The Q&A that follows is very informative (the questions I like the most are those like "what's wrong with that picture?" because it allows me to pay attention to the mistake and (try to) avoid it in my own practices).
Mr. Kovacich has done an incredible job researching and explaining the material. The whole series will eventually end up on my bookshelf and stay there permanently. It's like having an encyclopedia on of the most fundamental part of Martial Arts.
Shawn: keep up the good work! And thanks for being such a dedicated teacher.
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Author: K.H.
Shawn Kovacich's book "Back Kick" is the first book in 20 in his achieving kicking excellence series. The book is at once a primer and an advance technical manual. It functions as a primer because he covers the basics in the back kick. It has the standard photos showing the reader how to complete the kick. The kick is shown from a variety of positions, such as stepping back kick and spinning back kick (which is shown properly, often people will label the technique a spinning back kick, but end up showing a spinning side - Shawn stays true and demonstrates a proper spinning back kick).
The book, however, functions as an advance book, because it dedicates 200 pages to the back kick. This is more than a standard pictorial book. Many pages are devoted to anatomy and physiology with photos of the muscle groups and skeletal frame. One thing I really enjoyed is his "bad habit" comment reminding people not to drop the leg after executing the kick, but to recoil it. I have sat on many belt tests boards in other's dojos and have to watch this mistake again and again.
There are chapters on weight training to maximize power and executing the kick in a fight. The content of the book is superb; however, the high rating is due largely to outstanding content. There are some nagging problems with photo quality, but I cannot say it in any way it compels me lowing the rating since it in no way distorts the content.
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Author: Aaron Hoopes
Like all the titles in Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series, book 1 Back Kick is a comprehensive study of one of the important kicks used in modern martial arts today. The book is incredibly thorough with numerous photos demonstrating the every aspect of the kick in minute detail. Mr. Kovacich knows his stuff and it is obvious that he has spent many hours honing his technique. The book provides an in-depth study of the bones, muscles and mechanics involved in the kicking technique.
In addition, the book contains a wealth of supplemental information on strength, speed and power generating exercises to enhance the technique. There is also a section on stretching as well as the application of the technique.
This book is ideal for any martial artist who wishes to perfect their back kicking ability. The beginner will find a wealth of information to assist in developing proper mechanics while the advanced practitioner will glean some vital knowledge from an accomplished teacher.
Be sure to check out the other books in this series. You are sure to find one that addresses the specific kick that you need work on.
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Author: D. Buxman
I've read several martial arts books before this one and all of them fell short in some area. As such, I'd developed the sense that video instruction and personal coaching were the only ways to learn proper technique. This book is revolutionary in its comprehensiveness and clarity. Shawn Kovacich has taken the Back Kick and broken it down from anatomy to technique to training in a manner that will improve anyone's skills. Eleven variations of the Back Kick are detailed with point by point instructions, ample photographs and useful illustrations.
While I want to caution that there is no substitute for some degree of one on one coaching, this book comes as close as you can get. It's not a magic bullet. You have to have the discipline to follow the instructions and work hard, but I have no doubt that this book will improve your Back Kick, no matter what your skill level. The author's writing style is smooth, interesting and funny at times. I recommend this book without reservation.
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