5 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Kickboxing.

1. Mezger was the USKBA United States Heavyweight Champion and Super Heavyweight Champion as well as the WKC/WKKC World Heavyweight Champion. Don't forget he was the UFC 13 Tourneament Champion, and the 7th King of Pancrase.

   His kickboxing record is 22-3 with 19 KOs

   His MMA record is 40-11-2 with wins over Masa Funaki, Tito Ortiz, Yuki Kondo, Ryushi Yanigisawa, Minoru Suzuki, and Semmy Schilt. Plus he trashed Kazushi Sakuraba, Ricardo Arona, and Chuck Liddell.




2. This book is outstanding. I have 13 years experience in different martial arts (tae kwon do, kickboxing, Brazilian Jujitsu) and think that this is a very complete resource. I was impressed by the explanations and photos of techniques related to kickboxing and training, but what makes this so wonderful are these added features.

   1. actual self defense techniques using palm hand strikes instead of a closed fist

   2. advice on ground fighting (using striking techniques)

   3. advice for young children on self defense

   In addition, the training routines presented and pad drills are first rate. They even work with Thai boxing's elbow and knee strikes.




3. I really thought this book was a 3, but after some thought I gave it a 3.5. The main reason I gave it the higher score is because, as many other reviewers point out, it is a very complete reference. It's loaded with information. The author is clearly very experienced.
   
   Unfortunately, as a beginner, this book came up short in several key areas. First of all, the pictures and diagrams were simply not clear enough. While not true of all books in this series, I find this issue does crop up from time to time. The pictures are dark and dated, and it's very difficult to clearly see the poses. The publisher should have sprung for new pictures for this book.
   
   The book's other shortcoming is in the area of organization. The information is dropped on you as if you were reading a dictionary. It's very difficult to learn something new by going through so much information. The book could have been better layed out, starting with some basic exercises and then delving into the more complex.
   
   In my opinion, these changes would make this a tremendously better book.



4. Brillant book on Kickboxing for both beginner & advanced student. Lots of interesting compination. Excellent to compliment your training in Kickboxing Karate or Tae Kwon Do.



5. This is the first martial arts book I have read that is written with women in mind. Don't get me wrong, it's not all about women kickboxers. It's just the first time I've read any martial arts book with specific paragraphs for and about women in martial arts. This is a good book for beginners or someone just trying to decide if they want to try kickboxing. It includes techniques, conditioning and theory. This book needs more pictures explaining the moves, positions and combinations. This book seems like it would be inspirational for women.

4 comments about Roundhouse Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 9).

1. This series is a fantastic reference for anyone interested in the finer points of kicking, particularly for those of us whose exposure to this aspect of the martial arts has been somewhat limited. I have been doing this stuff since 1970, for example, yet have focused exclusively on styles that have very little emphasis on kicking applications (e.g., Goju Ryu karate, Kodokan judo, and Matayoshi kobudo). Goju Ryu, for instance, utilizes roughly 70% hand techniques. Don't get me wrong, I have a pretty mean mae geri (front kick) that can rock your world, but there are many other leg techniques utilized by other arts that I am simply not at all expert with--hatchet kicks, axe kicks, and crescent kicks, to name a few.
   
   This is why I was so excited to find Shawn Kovacich's comprehensive "Achieving Kicking Excellence" series. If you are familiar with Kris Wilder's outstanding tome, The Way of Sanchin Kata: The Application of Power, these books take a similarly in-depth yet approachable style. Each volume explores one type of kick in great detail, outlining some 50 or 60 technical points (depending on the type of kick), in an easy to understand and utilize manner. At first blush you might think that it would be tough to devote an entire volume to just one type of kick, yet each offering in this exceptional series runs more than 200 pages and is packed with meaningful information.
   
   No dojo darling, Kovacich really knows what he is talking about. A fourth-degree black belt in both karate and taekwondo, he has competed in full contact sparring tournaments (including the prestigious Sabaki Challenge) and is the world-record holder for both endurance- and high-kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Kovacich has been teaching martial arts since 1985 and this knowledge, skill, and ability really shine through in his writing.
   
   The text is clear and comprehensive, yet written in everyday language that just about anyone can easily grasp. No matter how good the writing, however, this sort of topic needs wide-ranging illustrations to ensure thorough comprehension. Fortunately there are tons of them. Regrettably though, the pictures are quite dark and/or grainy in most places (my only real complaint about the series). Despite the fuzziness of the photo printing, however, the pictures themselves are first rate as are the corresponding illustrations. Most of the pictures not only have captions but also reference numbers that align with the text to assure further clarity. There are separate illustrations that show the appropriate foot position and base of support for each movement too. This layout method is really slick; I like it a lot. There is a pretty good index in the back that supplements the table of contents too, so you can easily refer back to anything you will want to re-read later on (and you'll almost certainly want to refer back to much of this information later on).
   
   While the front and back matter are virtually identical amongst the various volumes (such that each one can stand alone without the rest of the series), the core content is unique for each type of kick. This front and back matter (e.g., warm up and stretching) is a bit cursory too, though that is perfectly understandable given the primary focus of the books; truly nothing to be overly concerned with in my opinion. Each volume in the series is laid-out in an identical manner and includes the following topics:
   
   -- Basic anatomy of the kick
   -- Warm up and stretching
   -- Principles of the kicking movement (e.g., stability, balance, sequence of movements, speed, accuracy, targeting, visualization, etc.)
   -- Performing the primary kick (e.g., fighting position, knee raise, coil, impact, follow-through, recoil, knee drop, return to fighting position).
   -- Performing variations from the primary kick (e.g., step, switch, jump, spin, cross-over, etc.)
   -- Training and practice methods (e.g., skill, strength, speed, and power training)
   -- Trouble shooting the kick
   -- Kicking applications against an opponent
   -- Author's awards and accomplishments
   -- Recommended reading
   
   No matter how well written, you cannot learn martial arts solely from a book, of course, but this series is a fantastic supplement for hands-on instruction. It covers important nuances that are rarely described adequately by most sensei (or sifu, etc.). I have found that, in general, books can reach a level of clarity and comprehensiveness that is simply not achievable with DVDs as well. This series is no exception to that rule. Despite a bit of redundancy amongst the various volumes, the technical merits and detailed analysis of the kicks make these books a stellar resource for any serious martial artist. I'm proud to include all ten volumes in my library.
   
   Highly recommended!
   
   
   Lawrence Kane
   Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, Martial Arts Instruction, The Way to Black Belt, and The Way of Kata



2. Before I found my current school and instructor, I had been looking around my area for an instructor to teach me martial arts. At one of the places I tried, the instructor offered me a free class so that I could decide if I wanted to join his school or not. Since it was free I decided to try it out. I should have known better as nothing is ever really free. About half way through the class, the instructor was telling me that I would have to perform a Roundhouse Kick. I had heard of them, but never performed them. I told him that I had never had any classes before and I didn't know how to do it. He didn't really show me at all how to do the kick, he just told me to turn to the side and throw the kick from my hip. As you might well imagine I didn't do very good. After the class was over my hip started hurting badly and when I tried to get out of the car when I got home I started crying. A couple of days later I learned that I had thrown my hip out of place. Needless to say I never went back there again.
   
   A few weeks after that a friend of mine told me about my current school so I took a chance and checked it out. And I am very happy that I did. My current instructor is so nice and always has that little extra time to work with each one of us students. However, when it came time to learn the roundhouse kick, I was a bit apprehensive as you might imagine. After a few weeks I started to get the hang of it and actually felt pretty comfortable executing it, at least in practice. It was about this time that I first heard of Shawn Kovacich and his Achieving Kicking Excellence series of books.
   
   After doing some research, I went ahead and purchased Back Kick and Wheel Kick from Mr. Kovacich and then was lucky enough to get a copy of Axe Kick in PDF format before the official release of that book. Needless to say, I was literally stunned with the amount of detail that was in every book. Because of the quality of these books, I preordered the remaining books in the series. Out of all of the books in the series, Roundhouse Kick was the one that I was really anticipating. So when I finally got my copy of Roundhouse Kick, I started to devour the information. I literally learned oodles and oodles of information on what I was doing wrong and how to correct it. This book, like all the others in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series, breaks down the primary kick, which in this case is the Roundhouse Kick, to its finest details. One of the many things that I learned, was that I was not pivoting properly and that my upper body was doing all kinds of things that it shouldn't have been doing when I was executing each kick.
   
   This is a great book for anyone, from the person that is just starting to learn how to kick, to the person that has been practicing kicks for years. The details that are included in each book are truly something to behold. I have never seen any book on the martial arts that has this kind of detail. You are to be commended for writing and producing such a fantastic series of books. I look forward to reading the rest of your books in the series and I have no doubt that I will be equally impressed with each one if not more so.



3. 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.)



4. 
   I took some time after reading Shawn's other books to due provide the reviewer and Shawn's books a sincere examination. Was I reading them too quickly and less critically? After all, his format is similar through the series; it would be an easy mistake to do (although this similarity is a strength for this "kicking" series).
   
   Shawn's book on the roundhouse kick is simply outstanding. I did have a couple of minor cripples, but they are so minor they do not justify a 4 star rating because ultimately, it came down to the switch roundhouse kick that I think works well in some few situations, most notably a TKD type tournament, while may at times have drawback in full contact competition. I just wished this had been discussed. The switch roundhouse can be useful there as well, but a more detailed discussion should have followed. With that said to lower the rating this time on this kick for one area would be an injustice.
   
   The roundhouse kick is probably the most widely used kick for competition and sparring purposes. Thank for a second: It is the primary kick for Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, MMA, and full contact karate fighters like Sabaki practitioners. Great resource!

No comments about Kickboxing Fitness: A Guide For Fitness Professionals From The American Council On Exercise (Guides for Fitness Professionals).

1 comments about Kick Boxing: The Ultimate Guide to Conditioning, Sparring, Fighting and More.

1. This is a remarkably well illustrated book which provides an excellent overview of kickboxing, The book begins with a concise discussion of the history of kick boxing and then leaps right in to chapters on "the fundamentals", "secondary techniques", defense and counterattacks, "speed and power" and "conditioning" to name a few. The techniques described virtually always include sequential photos demonstrating the particular move which will be of great value to students of this combat art. Many of the conditioning techniques and as well as the training schedule detailed in the book would likely be applicable to many other martial acts as well as those readers just interested in general fitness. The book even includes a chapter on the role of the coach. This book is certainly recommended reading for all present students of kickboxing as well as those who are curious about this martial art or just interested in physical fitness

2 comments about Kickboxing for Women.

1. As a female full-contact kickboxing instructor, I found this book to be a valuable buy for any woman who is thinking about getting started in kickboxing. I liked how the authors identify the different styles of kickboxing, and how they explain the difference between aerobic kickboxing and full-contact kickboxing. This information is useful in helping a prospective student identify what her goals are before signing up for classes. I found most of the advice on the execution of techniques sound. As a full-contact kickboxing instructor, I differ on some points. However, these are minor differences, which are mostly style related, and which is something a new student looking to get started in kickboxing should not get hung up on. The book's strength, however, lies in the chapters following the explanations of the techniques. For example, I found the chapter on full-contact sparring with its many tips on goal setting and mental preparation, and the "For Women Only" and "Debz Says" suggestions at the end of each chapter, very helpful to a new student. And the exercise section does a good job describing why and how, rather than what. In other words, it's not just an endless list of exercises, which is so often found in other books of this nature. The section on "Other Practical Matters" was very informative for women, and something that most other books on the combat arts neglect to mention. I would recommend this book to any woman who is thinking about getting started in this male-dominated sport.



2. Kickboxing For Women by Jennifer Lawler (2nd Degree Black Belt, Tae Kwon Do) and Debz Buller (Certified Cardio-Karate, ACE Aerobics Instructor and ISSA Certified Personal Trainer) is a high-spirited, practical guide to stretching, exercise, fitness, and self-defense, written in direct, plain text and illustrated with plenty of demonstrative black-and-white photographs. While not a substitute for kickboxing classes taught by a professional, Kickboxing For Women is a superbly presented primer to help beginners with an interest better understand the basics of training and sparring. With workout plans written to take a woman's body and endurance into account, Kickboxing For Women is a winning supplement to any female kickboxer's physical fitness regimen!

4 comments about Muay Thai: Advanced Thai Kickboxing Techniques.

1. While I'm glad there are more books on Muay Thai coming out, enough already with false titles. There is nothing "advanced" about this book. In fact, if you have spent more than a few months in any decent gym, you will find this a pretty boring book
   
   I'm tired of so called instructional books filled with pictures of tourist sites, random pics of Thais standing around and pages of "this is me with my coach". Noe of that is instructional in nature, nor is advice on how to get a visa to Thailand....
   
   The technique is fairly basic, good quality pictures and if you are a beginner you will learn something, but the title is way off the mark



2. I was really disappointed in this book. I don't know who could benefit from it. It's too elementary for semi-advanced students but doesn't cover basics so it stinks for the beginner!
   The descriptions are a little vague and the photos do not explain much. There are a few great action shots but nothing you can learn from. There were too many "portrait" photos of Thai competitors.
   Overall I did learn a few things but it was not worth the read ...or the money.



3. I bought this book in Thailand. Everyone in our camp liked the book, because it is real Muay Thai. Great pictures and professional fighters.



4. The book "Muay Thai: Advanced Thai Kickboxing Techniques" by Christoph Delp shows that the author has gained experience in fighting and training in Thailand. The techniques range from basic up to some I haven't even heard of, despite the years I have worked out in Thailand. This book is very good to use additional to the daily work out in the gym. Of course a book can't teach you how to become a good fighter, but even some "professionals" should take the chance to re-read some of the excellent descriptions regarding the shown techniques! Additional to the good text work, the photos are making it easy to follow the different movements. Reading the book and the included interviews plus viewing the photos of the thai-stars and high officials, gives you an impression on how the special atmosphere in Thailand is like. All in all for me this is the only book that was written out of the view and the experiences of someone (a farang) who lived and practiced in Thailand not somewhere else! Excellent work.

4 comments about Side Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 10).

1. This series is a fantastic reference for anyone interested in the finer points of kicking, particularly for those of us whose exposure to this aspect of the martial arts has been somewhat limited. I have been doing this stuff since 1970, for example, yet have focused exclusively on styles that have very little emphasis on kicking applications (e.g., Goju Ryu karate, Kodokan judo, and Matayoshi kobudo). Goju Ryu, for instance, utilizes roughly 70% hand techniques. Don't get me wrong, I have a pretty mean mae geri (front kick) that can rock your world, but there are many other leg techniques utilized by other arts that I am simply not at all expert with--hatchet kicks, axe kicks, and crescent kicks, to name a few.
   
   This is why I was so excited to find Shawn Kovacich's comprehensive "Achieving Kicking Excellence" series. If you are familiar with Kris Wilder's outstanding tome, The Way of Sanchin Kata: The Application of Power, these books take a similarly in-depth yet approachable style. Each volume explores one type of kick in great detail, outlining some 50 or 60 technical points (depending on the type of kick), in an easy to understand and utilize manner. At first blush you might think that it would be tough to devote an entire volume to just one type of kick, yet each offering in this exceptional series runs more than 200 pages and is packed with meaningful information.
   
   No dojo darling, Kovacich really knows what he is talking about. A fourth-degree black belt in both karate and taekwondo, he has competed in full contact sparring tournaments (including the prestigious Sabaki Challenge) and is the world-record holder for both endurance- and high-kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Kovacich has been teaching martial arts since 1985 and this knowledge, skill, and ability really shine through in his writing.
   
   The text is clear and comprehensive, yet written in everyday language that just about anyone can easily grasp. No matter how good the writing, however, this sort of topic needs wide-ranging illustrations to ensure thorough comprehension. Fortunately there are tons of them. Regrettably though, the pictures are quite dark and/or grainy in most places (my only real complaint about the series). Despite the fuzziness of the photo printing, however, the pictures themselves are first rate as are the corresponding illustrations. Most of the pictures not only have captions but also reference numbers that align with the text to assure further clarity. There are separate illustrations that show the appropriate foot position and base of support for each movement too. This layout method is really slick; I like it a lot. There is a pretty good index in the back that supplements the table of contents too, so you can easily refer back to anything you will want to re-read later on (and you'll almost certainly want to refer back to much of this information later on).
   
   While the front and back matter are virtually identical amongst the various volumes (such that each one can stand alone without the rest of the series), the core content is unique for each type of kick. This front and back matter (e.g., warm up and stretching) is a bit cursory too, though that is perfectly understandable given the primary focus of the books; truly nothing to be overly concerned with in my opinion. Each volume in the series is laid-out in an identical manner and includes the following topics:
   
   -- Basic anatomy of the kick
   -- Warm up and stretching
   -- Principles of the kicking movement (e.g., stability, balance, sequence of movements, speed, accuracy, targeting, visualization, etc.)
   -- Performing the primary kick (e.g., fighting position, knee raise, coil, impact, follow-through, recoil, knee drop, return to fighting position).
   -- Performing variations from the primary kick (e.g., step, switch, jump, spin, cross-over, etc.)
   -- Training and practice methods (e.g., skill, strength, speed, and power training)
   -- Trouble shooting the kick
   -- Kicking applications against an opponent
   -- Author's awards and accomplishments
   -- Recommended reading
   
   No matter how well written, you cannot learn martial arts solely from a book, of course, but this series is a fantastic supplement for hands-on instruction. It covers important nuances that are rarely described adequately by most sensei (or sifu, etc.). I have found that, in general, books can reach a level of clarity and comprehensiveness that is simply not achievable with DVDs as well. This series is no exception to that rule. Despite a bit of redundancy amongst the various volumes, the technical merits and detailed analysis of the kicks make these books a stellar resource for any serious martial artist. I'm proud to include all ten volumes in my library.
   
   Highly recommended!
   
   
   Lawrence Kane
   Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, Martial Arts Instruction, The Way to Black Belt, and The Way of Kata



2. Side Kick was another kick that I thought I knew pretty well. But I didn't like to use it because I was always hurting my foot. I couldn't figure out what was wrong because everything looks like it is supposed to. When I read Side Kick, volume #10 in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series by Shawn Kovacich, I learned that I was using the wrong area of my foot to strike my opponent. I was using the entire side or knife edge of my foot to strike my opponent, rather than just the outside edge of my heel.
   
   That made sense to me, so I tried it the next class I had. Not surprisingly, I performed the kick a lot more efficiently and was hitting the kicking bags harder without the pain that I was used to experience in my foot and ankle. There were a whole lot more things that I learned as well, but since this is my last review for this series of books, I wanted to point out some of the great things that are relevant to each kick that are included in each book. Remember that each section in each book directly relates to that particular kick.
   
   1. Outstanding detail and approach to the principles behind the correct execution of each kick.
   
   2. The mind blowing amount of detail that is included in each book is staggering.
   
   3. The format of the each book is the same and very easy to follow.
   
   4. The "Troubleshooting" section was very informative and answered a lot of questions.
   
   5. The breakdown of each kick to its simplest level in order to enhance the learning process.
   
   6. The "Notes" sections that are found throughout the each book are little gems of wisdom in and of themselves.
   
   7. The additional sections on how to improve your kicking skills.
   
   8. The "Applications" section, although brief is very informative and wets the appetite for the next set of books in the series.
   
   9. The author's technical expertise is without question and the thought and care that he put into his books shines through in every way.
   
   10. Finally, the author's style of teaching is very easy to understand and comprehend.
   
   In closing I would like to highly recommend to everyone that reads my reviews on the books in this series to buy a complete set and see for yourself just how fantastic these books really are. You won't regret it!



3. Achieving Kicking Excellence
   
   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.)



4. Shawn Kovacich's next book in the "Achieving Kicking Excellence" is on the side kick. Kovacich is outstanding at explaining precise detail on the method of his kick, which is the more traditional and probably the most taught way of executing this kick. He again writes about what muscles accomplish what, base and support, and how to turn, and most importantly, placements of the legs, knee, feet, at certain stages.
   
   While Shawn's method of performing this kick is a time honored method and works well for many people, I was disappointed, like in his hook kick series, that he did not mention the "Wallace method." Bill Wallace's method, of which Shawn is or should be familiar, is also a battle tested kick and has some advantages over the traditional method (and one may argue there are some disadvantages as well, but I would have liked to see that debate). I think he should have shown both method's or explain why he choose to disregard the Wallace method. Shawn's method takes the added step of coiling the knee at the waist level before swinging up at the midway peak. In the Wallace method, the midway peak is the coil position and therefore, a step is eliminated (and in my opinion, this is generally a benefit).
   
   Some may have suggested that I didn't fault Shawn for not dealing with Wallace's roundhouse kick in that book, since for Wallace, the side, hook, and roundhouse work off the same principle. While the Wallace roundhouse is slightly different, for sport or combat, that kick, unlike the side or hook, does not really need a Wallce method; unless, of course, one likes practicing the triple kick combination, but fo rsport or self defense, that is a poor combination. Both versions of the side kick have adavntages and disadvantages and in such an otherwise excellent book, I think Shanw should have mentioned it, since after all, it is not some unknown method; however, one does get a glimpse of this method photo wise on 164-165.
   
   Besides that criticism, I find his series to be outstanding and I still highly recommend this resource. I spent more time on the criticism, because his book and the rest of the series are really spectacular books and my criticisms have been scant. I think this book on its own still fairs extremely well and is a nice collection to any martial arts library. The photos in Black and White, while lacking a photo-finish quality, do show a quality of martial technique superiority.
   
   His trouble shooting guide is great.

2 comments about Kickboxing Geishas: How Modern Japanese Women Are Changing Their Nation.

1. Very good book. Reccommended for anyone interested in Japan, or travelling in Japan -- esp for people who might be travelling or living there an extended time. We lived in Tokyo for nearly three years during the late nineties, and the complexities and surprisingly strong push for change that you notice if you talk a lot to women are very accurately described in this book. This book really belies the largely Western stereotype of submissive, traditional women. The book is also quite sympathetic and insightful in describing some of the difficulties of Japanese men in a changing society. Anyone interested in getting a feel for possible future directions of Japanese society should read this book.



2. After perusing for recent books on gender roles in Japan for a paper, I finally landed this book. The title was catchy and was a quick read.
   However, reading it made me want to immediately contact whoever edited the thing. Not only is some of the information blatantly incorrect for the time (hello, Aiko will not become empress and no law was put into effect making it possible for a woman to ascend to the throne), there were obvious grammar and spelling mistakes. One of the most annoying thing was the inconsistent spelling of the famous street in Tokyo, Omotesando. Shown as Ometesando and Ometosando numerous times, neither was correct. Chapters were obviously not well thought out and contiunity problems arose often. Women that were interviewed earlier in the book were referenced to like complete strangers to the reader. Many things were explained twice which gave me a sense of deja vu while reading quite a few times. I'm no editing whiz or grammar nazi by any means but it seems like this book was not edited at all.
   All (terrible) editing issues aside, the book brings up quite a few modern issues. I had done quite alot of reading on the matter and Chambers seems to have some of the most approachable writing for the subject. The bond she shares with each woman interviewed becomes apparent and helpful to the overall flow of the book. Her commentary is colorful, fun and is relatively objective (despite what the other reviews I've read state). The research that has gone into making the book comes out quite easily without being overstated. However, the research seemed shallow. It seemed like she gathered information solely from the internet and then went straight to these women. The preparation involved seemed minimal other than developing well thought out questions for interviewees.
   One thing that Chambers excels at is developing overarching themes. The idea of the office lady serving tea is constantly re-introduced in a plesant way. However, the continuity issues with the chapters reiterates the ENTIRE CONCEPT at least twice and becomes redundant.

3 comments about Complete Kickboxing: The Fighter's Ultimate Guide to Techniques, Concepts and Strategy for Sparring and Competition.

1. Martina Sprague's and Keith Livingston's Complete Boxing is correctly titled. First of all there are 480 pages with over 1000 photos! And the Table of Contents takes up six pages with double columns on each page. This puppy is huge but it costs only $29.95. Even if you disagreed with some of the material - not that fighters are strongly opinionated - you're still getting more than your money's worth. It's that loaded and that good.
   
   As the title says, the book is about kickboxing, that is, full-contact fighting. Not point fighting where eight times out of 10 the technique wouldn't have had an effect. In kickboxing, the players are really hitting and trying to defeat the other fighter by hurting him so badly that he can't continue, or by knocking him out. So you're not getting foo-foo techniques here; the material in this book is designed to hurt.
   
   The authors have been there and done that. Combining their vast experience, they have produced a tremendous book - a huge book -that will keep you reading, learning, and stealing techniques for a long time.
   
   As a guy who has written 18 books on the martial arts and has been punching and kicking for 40 years, I highly recommend Complete Kickboxing.



2. The collaborative work of martial arts experts Martina Sprague (kickboxing, modern freestyle, Kenpo karate) and Keith Livingston (kickboxing, Tae Kwon-Do, Kenpo Karate, boxing, Aikido, Ju-Jitsu, and former I.K.A. light heavyweight Rock Mountain champion), Complete Kickboxing is a "martial arts student friendly" instructional guide and reference for kickboxing techniques, concepts, sparring exercises and competition strategies. Beginning with the fundamentals of movement, stance, punching and kicking, and progressing to instructions on more advanced jump kicks and sweeps, strategies for short and long range fighting, outsmarting one's opponent, and the business mechanics of competition in the professional ring, Complete Kickboxing is an indispensible resource for novice and career kickboxers alike. A well-rounded compilation of facts, advice, and insight efficiently organized for improving one's skill and strengthening weaknesses.



3. As said before me this book lives up to its title. It is very complete, the author talks extensivly not only on every aspect of kickboxing I've ever heard of, but also of many I haven't. The book is easy to understand and the author has a unique style of writing and organization that keeps you interested. This is one of the best martial art books I've ever owned.

5 comments about Iceman: My Fighting Life.

1. Not since Little Evil: One Ultimate Fighter's Rise to the Top - which chronicled the life of MMA fighter Jens Pulver - has a book been written with such lucidity and honesty about the life of an MMA fighter. This book depicts Liddell's life, from his early childhood influences to his lascivious escapades after his big wins. The book is written in a straightforward and insightful manner - it doesn't get boring or redundant. Every chapter has a little moral or lesson. In one chapter, for example, Liddell says, "to me, losing as a man is better than winning as a coward." This comment, of course, is an indirect reference to Tito Ortiz.
   
   This book is at the forefront of what appears to be a forthcoming flood of MMA biographies. It is a must read for any true MMA fan.



2. Being a big fan of UFC, I decided to pick up this book. It was a good book, but it was a very easy read. The childhood story of Chuck Liddell was very interesting but nothing suprised me of what he did growing up. I look forward to the releases of Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture's books being released in the next couple months. As for this book, definately worth picking up if your a fan of UFC and Chuck Liddell.



3. MMA icon and Mohawk-coiffed Chuck Liddell offers his first person autobiography in "Iceman." After reading the pathetic Matt Hughes book - "Made in America" - Hughes makes Liddell seem like freakin' William Shakespeare. "Iceman" is a highly entertaining read if you are a MMA fan, regardless of whether or not you are a Liddell fan. Liddell's rise in MMA has roughly paralleled the emergence of MMA as a fringe activity - "human cockfighting" - to a more mainstream sport.
   
   You get the inside story of Liddell's training methods, his preparations for his fights, what it's like to be on the set of "The Ultimate Fighter" and his friendship with Dana White. Chuck Liddell comes off to me as a fairly carefree happy go lucky guy who doesn't get too high after wins or too low after losses. He is no saint, and after reading the book you might suggest that his nickname not be "Iceman" as much as "Swordsman."
   
   The story is not complete, of course. At age 37 or 38, Liddell may have a few fights left in him. The book was written before he beat Wanderlei Silva in December 2007. If Liddell's career continues as long as Randy Couture's, he may have to sharpen the pencil for a sequel.
   
   If you are an MMA fan, you will enjoy and savor this self-portrait of a modern day gladiator.



4. I picked this up and read it cover to cover on a 6 hour flight.
   I am very impressed but at the same time intrigued by Chuck as he is an interesting character. It is not often a guy with a mowhawk and tattoos on his head scores a 1200+ on his SATs.
   
   The chapters are short and sweet, and each one tells a life lesson.
   If fact Chuck recommends ripping out the table of contents and posting it on your wall. There were some interesting stories about his no holds barred fight in Brazil, and his extreme training at the Pit, along with his acting career on Entourage. However, hands down the best story was about how easy it is to pick up girls on a fight night after you win the UFC championship.



5. I read this book in one day while stuck at the airport. I'm a UFC follower and I enjoyed reading this book. Chuck's got a great story. He's been there from the start of UFC.