|
Chikara Kan, Inc.
Chikara Kan, Inc.
Showing reviews 21 to 30
| Customer Reviews |
| Back Kick |
Posted by: 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. |
|
|
|
|
| Back Kick |
Posted by: 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. |
|
|
|
|
| Back Kick |
Posted by: 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. |
|
|
|
|
| Wheel Kick |
Posted by: Joanna Daneman |
 |
| Valuable set of volumes on kicking for the martial artist
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.) |
|
|
|
|
| Wheel Kick |
Posted by: Alan D. Cranford |
| |
| This is Volume Two of ten books devoted to mastering kicks. Shawn Kovacich devotes this book to the wheel kick: powerful and swift, hard to block but easy to parry. This review examines Shawn's book from a practical stand point--how well does this book enable me to learn the wheel 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 wheel kick uses the heel bone--the back center of the heel bone. Target areas are the head and side of neck. For me, this is a specialized kick that I'd use only after putting an enemy on the ground--or otherwise gaining an altitude advantage. Unlike the dojo, street fights may take place on uneven surfaces--such as on a staircase.
I have training prejudices: I like to employ mirrors, a video camera or two, a minimum of one sparring partner, and at least one referee when I train. Multiple sparring partners are to keep me from getting stuck kicking at the same height each time, and because in the real world, my problems usually come in bunches. Often, I must train alone or not train at all, so I have to limit my training intensity for safety. A second set of eyes can help spot flaws--and prevent injuries. It is very hard to dial 911 when one's back is thrown out. These kicking techniques can injure the practitioner if done incorrectly. I like both mirrors and video because when I initially practice, I can watch myself in the mirror. For realistic practice, I need to concentrate on technique and the target instead of watching my own reflection--instant video playback aids me in spotting what happened. I can even figure out if my kick was in the right place or not! Shawn wrote about the "crawl, walk, and run" phases of training and the basic and advanced kicking techniques are covered in detail. Exact detail. Train at your own risk. I perform a risk reduction prior to training--assess the risk level and employ risk reduction techniques to make training safe. Remember that training is synthetic reality, intended to be less expensive than gaining real-world experience.
I think that "Achieving Kicking Excellence: Wheel 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! |
|
|
|
|
| Wheel Kick |
Posted by: D. Buxman |
| |
| The technical accuracy and detail of this book is phenomenal. In my experience, most training books that detail technique are too vague to be of practical importance, but this book is the exception. Some of the movements are broken down into forty or fifty elements so that you can go right down the line to correct problems in a logical and sequential manner. There are ample progressive photographs, diagrams and illustrations to effectively guide your training and foster great improvement. I can't think of anything that is missing here from discussions of anatomy and biomechanics, all the way through troubleshooting and Q and A. The writing style is concise and quite lucid. If I could have just one training series to help me with my kicking technique, this would be it. |
|
|
|
|
| Wheel Kick |
Posted by: 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 "Wheel Kick" (volume 2 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 Wheel 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 Wheel Kick's basic principles and then introduces the primary Turning Wheel 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," "Trouble Shooting Guide," 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! |
|
|
|
|
| Wheel Kick |
Posted by: K.H. |
| |
| Shawn Kovacich's next book in the "Achieving Kicking Excellence" is on the wheel kick (also known as the spinning heel kick in some styles). Kovacich is outstanding at explaining precise detail, not only about the performance of the kick, but the many factors and layers that buttress a strong kick: i.e., what muscles accomplish what, base and support, and how to turn. I did disagree with his foot positions for advance and beginner, as someone who operated dojos for nine years (90-99), I felt it always best to teach feet positions on spinning kicks the same way unless someone has a medical problem or other difficulties. Therefore, I would have only shown the "advance" feet positions as the only proper position. After all, most people who start learning spinning kicks have been involved in the martial arts a few months and have probably passed the novice stage (p.36).
Besides that criticism, I found his control and knowledge with/of the kick to be excellent. The photos in black and white, while lacking a photo-finish quality, do show a quality of martial technique superiority. The nine photos on page 72 displays his control, not just of the kick, but also when he and the photographer (probably at Shawn's suggestions) show the stages of the kick. Many books show this kick, but I think Shawn nailed the stages that should have been shown in the book or any other book purporting to tecah this kick- Quite impressive.
In his section on "Training and Practice Method", Shawn discusses skills training and shown learning the kick by using a chair. Chair, partner, and wall training can be useful tools that aid in someone learning and perfecting a kicking technique. Shawn's attention to detail is spectacular. |
|
|
|
|
| Wheel Kick |
Posted by: Aaron Hoopes |
| |
| Like all the titles in Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series, book 2 Wheel 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 wheel 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.
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. |
|
|
|
|
| Axe Kick |
Posted by: Alan D. Cranford |
 |
| This is Volume Three of ten books devoted to mastering kicks. Shawn Kovacich devotes this book to the axe kick. This review examines Shawn's book from a practical stand point--how well does this book enable me to learn the axe kick?
Shawn likens a properly executed axe kick to a lumberjack's axe splitting wood. While only right leg techniques are shown, Shawn doesn't think you've mastered the kick unless you can apply it with either leg. This book is geared towards executing the perfect axe kick.
I'm 50, 6'3" tall and 220 pounds, but I'm not an athlete--just healthy. I cannot perform the axe 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 axe kick uses the heel bone--the back center of the heel bone. Target areas are the head, shoulders, and collar bone.
I have training prejudices: I like to employ mirrors, a video camera or two, a minimum of one sparring partner, and at least one referee when I train. Multiple sparring partners are to keep me from getting stuck kicking at the same height each time, and because in the real world, my problems usually come in bunches. Often, I must train alone or not train at all, so I have to limit my training intensity for safety. A second set of eyes can help spot flaws--and prevent injuries. It is very hard to dial 911 when one's back is thrown out. These kicking techniques can injure the practitioner if done incorrectly. I like both mirrors and video because when I initially practice, I can watch myself in the mirror. For realistic practice, I need to concentrate on technique and the target instead of watching my own reflection--instant video playback aids me in spotting what happened. I can even figure out if my kick was in the right place or not! Shawn wrote about the "crawl, walk, and run" phases of training and the basic and advanced kicking techniques are covered in detail. Exact detail. Train at your own risk. I perform a risk reduction prior to training--assess the risk level and employ risk reduction techniques to make training safe. Remember that training is synthetic reality, intended to be less expensive than gaining real-world experience.
I think that "Achieving Kicking Excellence: Axe Kick" is well organized. There are twelve 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 co-kick technique, "out-to-in". 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 is the "in-to-out" co-kick technique and Chapter Seven covers variations. Chapter Eight covers training and practice techniques to achieve skill, strength, speed, and power. Chapter Nine is a trouble-shooting guide. Chapter Ten is applications: how to use this in competition or combat. Chapter Eleven is Shawn's awards and accomplishments. Chapter Twelve 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! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
