| If you desire to take your kicking to the next | | | | leg). |
| level, Shawn Kovacich's Achieving Kicking | | | | How many martial art books have you read |
| Excellence series is the most detailed set of | | | | where they show a handful of pictures and a |
| written work on kicking available. "Front Kick," the | | | | paragraph or two of text to describe the front |
| sixth volume in this series takes an in-depth look | | | | kick? It seems that most books only contain such |
| at the front kick and ten of its variations. Just as | | | | descriptions. In "Front Kick," Kovacich devotes |
| the other books in this series, it is an outstanding | | | | pages 37 through 65 to the basic execution of |
| reference on this particular kick and contains an | | | | the back leg front kick. This includes 18 full page |
| enormous wealth of information on the application | | | | photographs illustrating the kick and one page of |
| of this primary kick that is found in many martial | | | | review photographs as the end of the chapter. |
| arts and fighting styles. | | | | The text includes description of fighting stance, |
| In order for this book to stand on its own, | | | | raising the knee, coil, midway to impact, impact, |
| Kovachich includes chapters on basic anatomy, | | | | recoil, lowering the knee, and returning to fighting |
| warm up and stretching, strength, speed, and | | | | position. Also interspersed among the written text |
| power that are similar to the other books in the | | | | are diagrams of foot placement to ensure you |
| series. If you have those, there is not much | | | | step and pivot correctly. I have never seen as |
| difference in those chapters in this book. | | | | much written on the front kick. |
| However, for each book to stand on its own, I | | | | The chapters on the kick variations contain |
| understand why Kovachich included these topics in | | | | smaller photographs and are a bit redundant |
| each volume and am glad he did so. Additionally, | | | | regarding the parts of the kicks that are the |
| these chapters on these topics are no where | | | | same, but I am glad for that when I grab the |
| near complete. I have entire books that address | | | | book to only review one particular kick. I would |
| this topics, as do most martial artists and | | | | not want to be referred to a different chapter to |
| self-defense practitioners. But what these | | | | see the similar aspects. And that brings me to a |
| chapters do is give you a small amount of | | | | point about using this book. It is not a book to |
| practical advice that is relevant to Kovacich's | | | | read through cover to cover like a novel. In fact, |
| kicking instruction, and hopefully encourage the | | | | to do so would be a bit dry. I recommend reading |
| reader to study more on these topics through | | | | through the entire book quickly to see what is |
| different resources, because they are important | | | | there. Then go back and study the chapters on |
| areas to study and practice. | | | | the primary kick to get it down and then each of |
| The chapters on the front kick and its variations | | | | the variations as you are practicing them. Also be |
| is where this book shines. Nowhere else will you | | | | sure to take note of the "notes." Kovacich |
| find such detail, illustrate by numerous pictures, | | | | provides a lot of useful tips in these little notes. |
| showing you how to correctly execute the front | | | | As with the other books in this series, there is a |
| kick. This kicks Kovacich teaches and illustrates in | | | | short trouble shooting guide and a short chapter |
| this volume include: Back Leg Front Kick, | | | | on front kick applications, but the real gold here is |
| Step-Back Front Kick, Switch Front Kick, | | | | the detailed description on the front kick's |
| Cross-Over Front Kick, Hop/Slide Forward Front | | | | execution. This is an excellent addition to any |
| Kick, Hop/Slide Backward Front Kick, Front Leg | | | | martial artist's library and a book that should be |
| Front Kick, Back-Spin Front Kick, Spin-Back Front | | | | studied if you want to take your kicking to a |
| Kick, Off-Setting Front Kick, Double Jump Front | | | | higher level, a level of kicking excellence. |
| Kick, and the Cross-Over Front Kick (with the left | | | | |