Back Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 1)
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List Price: $19.95
Our Price: $19.95
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Chikara Kan, Inc.
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780975949108
ISBN: 0975949101
Label: Chikara Kan, Inc.
Manufacturer: Chikara Kan, Inc.
Number Of Pages: 224
Publication Date: 2005-05-01
Publisher: Chikara Kan, Inc.
Release Date: 2005-05-01
Studio: Chikara Kan, Inc.
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Editorial Reviews:
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This book is the first volume in the extremely well written and fully illustrated, Achieving Kicking Excellence series of books.
Like all the other books in the series, this book goes into intricate detail over all aspects of executing the primary kick, which in this case is the Turning Back Kick, and several of its main variations.
Starting with a basic anatomical analysis of this kick, you quickly progress to the basic principles associated with the Back Kick, and then you dive right into learning the proper execution of the primary kick, Turning Back Kick.
Once you have finished with this section, you are taken to the variations chapter which builds upon the primary kick, Turning Back Kick, by teaching you 11 of its main variations. From here you are taken to the Training and Practice Methods chapter for a look at some very simple, yet effective methods for adding speed and power to your kicks.
The next chapter takes a question and answer approach to some of the most common problems people have executing these kicks and the solutions to correct them.
After the Troubleshooting chapter, the next chapter in this book deals with a brief application section for each of the kicks previously detailed in this book. Please be advised that a second ten volume series of books is currently being written which deals strictly with the combat applications of each kick, and how to defend against it.
The book finishes up by giving you a sneak preview of the next volume in the series, which in this case is the Wheel Kick.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Kickin' it with Shawn Kovacich - Back kick edition
Comment: The first volume of Shawn Kovacich's informative series on kicks, this edition explains in excruciating scientific detail all about the back kick. Kovacich describes the mental preparation for throwing a kick, the action of your hips and other limbs in the motion, trajectory like a jet fighter lining up a shot with a missile, and how to execute this technique flawlessly. Every possible variation of the back kick is shown as well, and even includes a "trouble shooting guide" if you are still having trouble with your kicks. A must-read for traditional martial artists, passing this book up is like tearing up a winning lotto ticket.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive and Detailed
Comment: At first I thought it quite curious to see a 200+ page book devoted solely to a single kick. I have to admit part of this is personal bias due to my primary martial arts background - grappling. But when I look at it from a broader perspective it makes complete sense. After all, I don't blink an eye when I see an entire book devoted solely to the triangle (or some other submission). Such specialized books make complete sense for practitioners wanting to hone or perfect a particular move, regardless of style(s). That said, I can't imagine a more complete treatise on kicking strikes than Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
Chapters 1, 2, & 3 cover Basic Anatomy, Warm Up & Stretching, and Basic Principles of Kicking Movement, respectively. These are basic concepts, and as such, the chapters are nearly identical in the few books in the series I have reviewed. In the same vein, some of the material in the latter part of the book, specifically the training and practice methods, also are largely repetitive between volumes. It is the middle part ("the meat," if you will) of each volume where Kovacich's expertise really shines. Here we see each kick explained in minutest of details and copiously illustrated. The photos (though dark and shot against not-the-best-of backgrounds) are well-labeled, and the accompanying illustrations showing foot position/movement are top notch. I also want to mention two other valuable features of these volumes, features often overlooked in other books. First is the list of recommended reading. This short bibliography is very handy for readers wanting to expand their research. Second is the index, which is useful for looking up abstract concepts mentioned in the text and not readily findable using the table of contents.
Overall I think the Achieving Excellence in Kicking series would make a very valuable addition to any martial artist's library. The only thing preventing me from giving these books 5 stars is the poor quality of the photos. Someday perhaps we may see all the "the meat" of every volume in the series combined into some sort of omnibus edition with better photos.
Customer Rating:
Summary: It's difficult to find a complete martial arts reference book
Comment: As a practioner, I approached this book in a way to find things I would find incomplete or not thoroughly explained in this kick, the back kick.
For those who are unsure of what a back kick is, it is in my opinion, one of the most devastating straight line attacks there is and is a weapon for any practioner to sharpen.
After reviewing it, I found that I could not find any holes in this whole book. It is a complete reference source for the science of the back kick. Its ridiculously rare to find such a thorough piece of work like this and that is why I rate this 5 stars.
The things I especially liked were the images of the feet in how to position them throghout the kick and the side notes that the author added that give this piece of work a more personal and liberating guide, rather than a how to book.
Everything is broken down, from the body positioning, to potential target areas to strike, and the basic anatomy of the kick.
I was happy to see a basic weight training routine to use to acquire power and control in the back kick. Many martial artists neglect this factor but Shawn Kovacich gives us an outline to how to have a very complete back kick.
The author knows what he's talking about and has detailed pictures all the way so even beginners can understand the back kick.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Back Kick Kicking Back
Comment: The author of this book is an accomplished Reno Nevada area Martial Artist named Shawn Kovacich and his book is titled Back Kick (revised edition 2005). It is a paperback book with black and white photo's.
Shawn Kovacich has created a series of books under the Achieving Kicking Excellence series and published by Chikara Kan which appears to be his own publishing label. Over the years I've experienced severe disappointments with self-published books, however, this text is an exception to the quality issues found with small scale publishers, although the Kicking Excellence Series is not a first class publication like we expect from well know martial arts publishers like Tuttle Publishing or Frog, Ltd.
I've been involved in the martial arts for over 40 years and know that the back kick is a powerful technique that many practitioners do not practice and certainly don't work to master. Obviously, the author has mastered this technique and his presentation is competent. The author needs to improve his writing although he generally communicates clearly. A reader must look past errors like the use of the non-standard word, irregardless and use of colloquialisms. E.B. White's thin book on writing well would be useful to this book's editor. Otherwise, Mr. Kovacich's book is complete, well organized and logical. I thought that the presentation of basic anatomy was excellent. In future editions instead of so many pictures, some good quality drawings may have been an useful alternative presentation method that breaks up the repetition. Despite the rough spots, I was impressed by the detail in the book and the emphasis on fundamental mechanics like proper foot positioning and distribution of weight.
My other material misgivings with this book are the black and white pictures which are not up to the standards of quality that we see in better martial arts books (e.g., Tuttle publications). Despite the photo's and and hamstrung prose, Back Kick is a useful book to learn that powerful technique.
I hope the author will revise this series and improve the production values. I would also like to see an evolution of the Kicking Excellence books into a professionally produced DVD companion series that presents each technique and provides for practice.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Thorough, Thought Out, Detailed
Comment: This book is very detailed and should help both the novice and the advanced practitioner as well. It goes into many different applications and situations, and should be a fine resource for any martial artist of an art that utilizes kicks. Please be advised that all martial arts should be reviewed with a live instructor. That being said, this is a useful book.
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