Dynamic Kicking Method

Rating:
Summary: Different title, different author, same book!
Review: Why does it seem like every book you pick up on kicking spends more time trying to show you how to perform 20, 30, or even 40 different kicks, and never enough time on one or two? I did not feel that 4 sentences were adequate enough to teach me how to correctly perform a Front Kick, or 3 sentences in order to perform a Roundhouse Kick.

I did like some of the different applications for some of the kicks that were presented in this book, although I did feel that they could have been more descriptive in exactly how and when to apply them. Another thing that bothered me was the listing of the vital areas of the body. Why were they listed in Japanese and not in English, or at least have the English name alongside the Japanese name. This would have added clarity to this particular section.

Like the late, great Bruce Lee once said, "Before I started learning the martial arts, a punch was just a punch, a kick was just a kick. After I began learning the martial arts I realized that a punch was no longer just a punch and a kick was no longer just a kick. Then after I had learned the martial arts I realized that a kick was just a kick and a punch was just a punch". To better understand this quote I will use the analogy of learning to drive a car. Before you start to learn most people think all you do is get in and drive the car. Then after they start learning they realize that there is a lot more to driving a car than they first thought. There is putting it in gear, accelerating, braking, signaling, steering, watching other drivers, etc. Once they learn how to drive a car it merely becomes second nature and then it is merely driving a car. Think back to those times in your life and you will understand what I mean.

Is this book for the person who knows nothing of the martial arts? or is it for the person who is already a high ranking martial artist? Because it definently falls far short of being for the person who wants to learn how to really kick. In finishing this review I would like add that although this book is not what I would call a very good book on kicking, it does have some insightful stories from the author that are worth reading.