Rating: 
Summary: Fourth edition gets it the fourth star.
Review: *** This review is for the 4th edition, superceding my 3rd edition review.Buying this new edition, especially since I thought the third edition was a good enough start, was a matter of integrity. I'd blistered the editors for not organizing the book well, and took the author to task for some vagaries in his descriptions and the lightness of graphical assistance, i.e. crummy drawings and mediocre photographs. I can say that the editors improved the book significantly. The organization of the chapters is now more-logical, and it also begins in a very direct, simple manner that gradually adds complexity as you read. Which is fine, since concepts introduced earlier are laying a foundation of knowledge required for the later , extremely scientific chapter on how muscles, tendons, and ligaments work together to move your body in three dimensions. I enjoyed the new edition more than the third, and I was very pleased with the updates and corrections. I believe you still need to invest some sweat to extract any value from this, but I would surmise no one is picking this up for light reading: this is an owner's manual for your body in some respects, and it requires hands-on application. The fifth star is not forthcoming, and I don't think a fifth edition will change this. The photographs and stick figures you loved to hate from prior editions are still here, and I can't help wonder why the publisher didn't just run a contest at SVA or Pratt for book illustrators. Still, there's less excuses for readers to employ if they can't figure out a good routine after reading this book, and Thomas Kurz's admonishing commentary is hilarious: I can actually see him as a professor taking some of the dimmer student body to task for not fully reading the relevant material. The FAQ section alone is worth the price of admission.
Rating:
Summary: Fourth edition gets it the fourth star.
Review: *** This review is for the 4th edition, superceding my 3rd edition review. Buying this new edition, especially since I thought the third edition was a good enough start, was a matter of integrity. I'd blistered the editors for not organizing the book well, and took the author to task for some vagaries in his descriptions and the lightness of graphical assistance, i.e. crummy drawings and mediocre photographs. I can say that the editors improved the book significantly. The organization of the chapters is now more-logical, and it also begins in a very direct, simple manner that gradually adds complexity as you read. Which is fine, since concepts introduced earlier are laying a foundation of knowledge required for the later , extremely scientific chapter on how muscles, tendons, and ligaments work together to move your body in three dimensions. I enjoyed the new edition more than the third, and I was very pleased with the updates and corrections. I believe you still need to invest some sweat to extract any value from this, but I would surmise no one is picking this up for light reading: this is an owner's manual for your body in some respects, and it requires hands-on application. The fifth star is not forthcoming, and I don't think a fifth edition will change this. The photographs and stick figures you loved to hate from prior editions are still here, and I can't help wonder why the publisher didn't just run a contest at SVA or Pratt for book illustrators. Still, there's less excuses for readers to employ if they can't figure out a good routine after reading this book, and Thomas Kurz's admonishing commentary is hilarious: I can actually see him as a professor taking some of the dimmer student body to task for not fully reading the relevant material. The FAQ section alone is worth the price of admission.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing Simple Information For Everybody
Review: ... As a world class trainer I'm always searching for nuggets of truth in the fitness area to maximize human potential. Such a nugget I have found in the very fine book "Stretching Scientifically" by Thomas Kurz, M.Sc. The pictures were helpful. The programs were very well put together and I particularly enjoyed the question and answer section at the end of the book. The appendix had excellent advice on joint ranges of motion. Are you looking for that edge in your development? Or, like me you're a trainer looking to get the most from your athletes. Let me recommend this book. You have everything to gain by reading it and applying this information.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Simple Information For Everybody
Review: ... As a world class trainer I'm always searching for nuggets of truth in the fitness area to maximize human potential. Such a nugget I have found in the very fine book "Stretching Scientifically" by Thomas Kurz, M.Sc. The pictures were helpful. The programs were very well put together and I particularly enjoyed the question and answer section at the end of the book. The appendix had excellent advice on joint ranges of motion. Are you looking for that edge in your development? Or, like me you're a trainer looking to get the most from your athletes. Let me recommend this book. You have everything to gain by reading it and applying this information.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for debilitating injuries but not for flexibility
Review: A friend lent me the book after quitting in the martial arts- I have been training for 10+ yrs. I have followed the programs of Jean Frenette, Bill Wallace and many others who display great flexibility. I was able to do a full split before I followed the Kurtz programme , however after 6+ mths on this programme I found that I became much more susceptible to injuries (hamstring strain, clicking knee and hip joints) than ever before. My flexibility actually decreased so after consulting with many experienced physicians I gave the book and video to its rightful place- the garbage bin, I would not recommend much of the info as useful in improving flexibility- some of course is ok but the programme as a whole was a wasted venture-- Take my advice- stick with the experts, Get copies of Dynamic Stretching & Kicking (B Wallace) or any of Jean Frenettes books- both are experienced martial artists that can provide you with real results with no risk of injury- I am only glad that I quit the program when I did. The book deserves one star at least for having the guts to keep promoting such unsafe methods and managing to stay in business....
Rating:
Summary: A Must-have for all advanced sports players
Review: An excellent manual on how and more importantly why you need to stretch. Content is good (how many authors pose for the pictures in their fitness manuals?) and the FAQs are illuminating. However, it should have had a more step-by-step approach that beginners may find helpful.
Rating:
Summary: Want to increase your flexibility?- READ this book.
Review: As a gymnast, I already practiced the techniques contained in this book. However, I never fully understood the science behind the techniques until reading Stretching Scientifically. Kurz understands flexibility better than anyone I have met personally or through literature. He also explains it better than anyone else. When I changed gymnastics coaches and was taught some of the techniques contained within this book, I had a split within 3 months. I have subsequently done exhaustive research on flexibility for my own book on fighting speed and have concluded that Kurz' book is the best. Ted Weimann, author of Warrior Speed.
Rating:
Summary: practical and thorough
Review: great stuff, especially for martial artists. much like pavel's method but more detailed. excellent value!
Rating:
Summary: Needs rewrite
Review: I agree with the other reviewers about badly needing a rewrite. How could a book be in its 3rd edition and still ignore so much constructive criticism? I wrote the author and never got a reply.
Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK IS EXCELLENT - BUY IT !!!
Review: I have to be honest and say that I'm completley astounded by other reviews I have read, giving this book a poor rating (4th edition ). I find myself questioning the intergrity and intelligence of some of the people who have failed to extract the informantion that is clearly presented in the book.
If you're lame and don't have the ability to absorb knowledge from books then by all means feel free to go and buy stretching for dummies or similar, if it exists!
1) Excellent book !
2) Well organized ( 4th edition ).
3) Some good sample work outs for various diciplines.
4) Great question and answers at the end ( quite humorous at times ).
5) Great reference guide !
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