Customer Rating:  
Summary: Very Talented Martial Artist, But Not A Good Book!
Comment: Now I realize that this book was first written in 1982, but that is still not a valid reason to forgive the author, or perhaps the publisher, for the tremendous lack of descriptive text that should have been in this book. The author demonstrates twenty (20) different stretches in the beginning of this book, yet only provides two to three sentences to describe each stretch that he is demonstrating. This is unforgiveable and it the primary reason why I have rated this book so low. Had there been more detailed text to accompany each technique described in this book, I would have given it another two stars.
The few photographs and the accompanying couple of paragraphs to describe the proper foot positioning for the various kicks was also a travesty. I don't know the author personally, but I do know of his credentials and he is a very talented martial artist and I know that he knows how to properly teach the techniques described in this book, it's just a shame that he didn't, or wasn't allowed to do so.
The kicking techniques section of this book had great potential, but the use of all black uniforms and small photographs accompanied by a dismal amount of descriptive text really destroyed what could have been a very good book.
If you really want to learn how to improve your flexibility and kicking skills, don't purchase this particular book. Instead, I would recommend the following books for stretching:
Stretching: 20th Anniversary (Stretching)
Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts
Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training (4th Revision ed)
And these books for kicking:
Back Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 1)
Wheel Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 2)
Axe Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 3)
Front Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 6)
Hook Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 7)
Roundhouse Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 9)
Side Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 10)
Often times I wonder if I am being to critical of other books on the subject of kicking since I am the author of several on the very same subject. In this case I don't think so.
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
Customer Rating:
Summary: OK, good for begginers.
Comment: I would recomend this book for someone who wants to learn "cool kicks", and basically look like Jean Claude Van Dam. The book has very little text. It's devided into two sections: the first half is on stretches, and the second half is on kicking (big supprise, huh?). The stretches deal mostly with the legs and torso/back, which is OK, given that this is a book on kicks, and not punches. The section on kicks deals with a variety of kicks, from the basic to advanced, but most of it is high, flashy stuff that looks good in competitions. I'd say that the greatest benifit is that of health, or good form. Some of the kicks might be useful in point fighting. I know from experience that the stretches work, at least for me, so I wouldn't consider it a bad buy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: This is a seminal work in martial-art training.
Comment: I think I read this book a year or two after it came out when I was about eleven or twelve. I was already pretty flexible, and the stretches in the book supplemented a successful training regimen.The kicks and techniques, though, were wonderful additions to my knowledge. I think some reviewers forget that this book is 22 years old; most of what is digested and processed back to current readers of Black Belt magazine or any later kicking/ stretching manuals was found here first. You have to acknowledge a debt to James Lew's effort to bring these techniques to the general public. 22 years ago, this information wasn't easy to find in one place. It still holds up today, respectfully but strongly in disagreement with the negative reviews.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good Supplementary to Training
Comment: This is a good supplementary book for advanced martial artists and athletes. It includes good stretches and kicks, but not very descriptive and detailed. If you are planning on taking a martial art, it's a good book to use to increase kicking height, speed and accuracy, I know because it has worked for me. Anyone interested in increasing there flexibility can benefit from this book though. It has many interesting stretches that are beneficial for anyone. I recommend this book.
Customer Rating:
Summary: the art of ????
Comment: After reading this book I must admit that it is not designed for the beginner, so if you are an expert at stretching then you may want to purchase this book. AS for beginners it does not give detailed explanations as to the different types of exercises or the benefits. It simply shows some pictures and tells you "stretch" or "relax into the positions". I am therefore forced to conclude that the art of stretching and kicking was produced for martial arts experts.....but.....if you are an expert already then you would not need a book to help you. This raises another question, what is the real purpose of this book?
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