Martial Mechanics - Maximum Results With Minimum Effort in the Practice of the Martial Arts

"Martial Mechanics: Maximum Results with Minimumof power, types of impact, speed, stance,
Effort in the Practice of the Martial Arts" by Phillipfootwork, breathing, spinal alignment, and
Starr is a simple book about complex topics.combining all components into a technique. Starr
When I say simple, I mean that Starr hasalso includes additional chapters on topics such as
simplified these topics to make them easier tostrength, density, blocking, and training exercises
understand and incorporate into your training.and equipment. Some of these chapters are very
Starr has been practicing martial arts for moreshort, and don't provide everything Starr knows
than a half century, and his studies includeon the topic for sure. (Starr is one of those
Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, Taijiquan, Shao-lin Kungpeople who has probably forgotten more than
Fu, Kyokushinkai karate, and Filipino arnis.most people ever learn, and to put all of his
Something common to these arts, and all martialknowledge in a book would be a tomb that many
arts, are the physics and kinesiology ofcould not carry.) Even though short, each chapter
movement. Starr explains the science behinddoes contain practical advice and something each
martial art techniques and provides a guide formartial artist could use in their own training.
developing more speed and power. In short, heI don't think this book will be appreciated by those
explains how to make your techniques morethat are only interested in all flash without much
effective.bang. It seems some of the martial arts today
As I stated, Starr simplified his instruction tohave gotten away from the basics that made
make it easier for the reader to understand thethem fighting arts for more flashy tournament
concepts he describes. He did a very good job atspectacles. Some have thrown out the traditional
explaining, and the accompanying photographs andfor more physical training to compensate for
diagrams are clear and illustrate what he isbody mechanics. This is too bad, because the
teaching.traditional arts have so much more to offer than
Right up front, Starr tells the reader that thissometimes taught. The basic principles Starr
book does not contain any "silver bullets" orteaches in this book are some of those "gems"
"secret techniques." This book is about principlesthat are sometimes ignored but should be the
upon which traditional martial arts are based andfoundation of training.
how you can utilize the principles to make yourI recommend this book to all martial artists that
own techniques faster, stronger, and morewant to further incorporate traditional principles of
effective.speed and power into their training to make what
Some of the topics Starr covers include: principlesthey do more effective.