Customer Reviews

Beyond Stretching : Russian Flexibility Breakthroughs

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I have been practicing martial arts for over 12 years, and have learned many, many ways of trying to gain flexibility.

I found this book to be very interesting and entertaining, and the basic concepts presented are fairly simple to understand. With some searching you can verify that Pavel's methodologies are basically sound, but he rightly emphasizes that improper application of his methods can be dangerous.

If someone that's in reasonable physical condition with decent flexibility was given this book, they'd probably do fine, and maybe realize some awesome improvements. This is definitely not the book for a sedentary person with poor flexibility or a history of joint injuries.

Pavel's later book "Relax Into Stretch" is a much better purchase, because he basically took this material, made it less dangerous, and introduced a somewhat more structured method of gradual progression that is more appropriate for a wider range of people. The "Relax Into Stretch" video is also a simple, easy-to-follow tape that allows you to see exactly how Pavel performs these stretches.

Pavel's greatest failure with this book was introducing some excellent concepts while failing to provide sufficient scientific explanation and references for the intellectual while providing insufficient caution or structure to the beginner.

For a far better and more affordable guide on safe and surprisingly effective stretching, check out Kit Laughlin's "Stretching & Flexibility" and "Overcoming Neck & Back Pain" - these are phenomenal books for all levels of knowledge and ability, are far safer, and offer a much wider range of options for overcoming particular areas you may have difficulties with.

Pavel's stretching protocol should be considered the first, last, and only choice for athletes, full-contact fighters, and sedentary folks alike for achieving maximum results in minimal time. This system actually teaches you how to reset the neuro-muscular control of your muscles! No kidding, by following the specialized methods in this book, even an untrained, middle aged man can achieve FULL SPLITS in less than half a year... fighters will learn specialized kicking drils and "dynamic flexibility" drills that greatly improve the velocity and destructive power of your kicks while at the same time protecting the knee ligaments from injury - even if you miss a full-power kick! Using these techniques I got incredible results in under a week. Pavel teaches how to achieve extreme range strength(vital for preventing injuries)and how to manipulate your "feedback loop" to increase your functional strength. This book also details sport-specific flexibility and strength principles of "accentuation", which dramatically increase performance in the movements essential to your chosen sport. My punches and kicks got an immediate boost in sharpness and power and my joints actually feel good afterwards. Pavel's system does not stress ligaments or tendons and therefore does not produce the weak, rag-doll looseness that conventional western relaxed stretching produces. It is a no-delayed gratification deal. You will also learn how much flexibility you actually need for a given athletic pursuit, and what to do if you already have the "rag-doll" problem (i.e., how to fix overflexibility), and how to tailor your reflexes for maximum performance! As if that weren't enough, Pavel teaches why warmups are actually counterproductive and how to display maximum flexibility "cold"! Also, SIXTY illustrated drills are provided to speed you on your way to dynamic, powerful, flexibility in motion - perfect for the fighter, athlete, and even those with joint problems! I am shocked and amazed at the quality of the results that his training methods have produced for me. And in so little time! There is something here for everyone, and I give this book (and all Pavel's books) my highest recommendation. Truly, a masterpiece that belongs in every athlete's collection.

"Beyond Stretching" is a quite revolutionary book about flexebility and stretching. Its diveded into three main chapters. First, a teoretical and initial part about flexibility and typical misconceptions. Second, a practical part that easy describes each stretching methode. Third, a picture part that shows all the different stretching exercises and tells you how to practice them.

This book offer plenty of new informations about its topic. New and extremely effective techniques like Plyometric,Pneumomuscular and Shutdown Threshold stretching are clearly described. The traditional static or relaxed stretching methode is, in this book, considered as an ineffective way to stretch. The author claims that warming up is unnatural and stretching twice a week is sufficient to develop flexebility. By using the methodes that is shown in this book, you will gain astonishing results with even small amounts of stretching. That is a great benefit!

Learn: How to develop optimal flexibility in a fraction of the time you spend stretching today . How to do splits and high kicks even if you are old! How to achieve great strength without bulky and big muscles. How to avoid injuries. How to stop feeling like the Tin Man when you wake up in the morning. How to increase the blood flow in the joints and keep their surfaces smooth and painfree. How to use the three new,revolutionary and effective stretching systems.

I regard "Beyond Stretching" as an amazing book, with a new point of view on stretching and flexibility. I am a dancer and martial artist, so I have read plenty of books about stretching but this book was different. Becuase the text sometimes can be a bit confusing to understand; I read the book more than once. But, because this book offer so many new and useful tips and advices, it is worth every penny.

Are you searching for a new and effective stretching methode? Which can be as seldom as twice a week, and done without any sweat warm up, and gives impressive flexibility and strength? If your answer is "yes" , you should purchase this "Beyond Stretching" immediately!

First the bad news. This is not Pavel's best book. It could be better illustrated, and a little clearer in presentation. Then why the five stars you might ask? Nobody else does it better.
For those of you who don't know by now, Pavel Tsatsouline is probably the best authority on physical training in the English speaking world. He has taken his training and education from the Soviet Union as a University student and member/trainer of the Red Army's Special Forces and parlayed that into a career as an author, military advisor (now for the U.S.), and trainer for various law enforcement and government security agencies.
In all of his books, Pavel shatters the western myths about various forms of exercise, and imparts us with the knowledge and techniques developed in the formerly communist countries of Eastern Europe (Ironically, many of these techniques originated in the West but were forgotten or ignored over here).
In this book, Pavel teaches us the true nature of flexibility, and how to gain it. It is not, as most people assume, a book on how to "stretch" one's muscles. It does, however, teach us how to re-gain full joint mobility through simple exercises, and increase muscle flexibility by strengthening our muscles in their extreme range. Want to perform full splits in 3 to 6 months? This book will show you how, and help you become more injury resistant in the process.
Pavel has since divided the material in this book into two books, "Super Joints" and "Relax into Stretch", and has expanded the material in each and made them more "user-friendly" with new illustrations and explanations. However, I like this book because it explains ALL of the different types of flexibility and the methods for gaining it. You can always get one of the new books if you want more information on one area.
I know of no other English language source for the useful information that Pavel provides in his books. Beyond Stretching, although imperfect, is the definitive text for flexibility training.
ADDENDUM JULY 3RD 2002. I have continuously used the material in Beyond Stretching since I bought it two years ago, and I will always use this useful material. I had forgotten how I had to read and re-read some of the material on various isometric streches and muscle and tendon structure to understand it, but that may be due to my limited intellect. Regardless, I ultimately understood and put to use this material, and I have yet to find another source for either the information or the methods. This is still the best book on flexibility.

If you've been following the received Western wisdom about stretching and flexibility (stretch easily and slowly, stretch before strength and technical workouts, etc.), you've been had. You also probably haven't made any progress, because those methods are based on faulty assumptions and are wrong, wrong, wrong.

Pavel's book explains the physiology of stretching and tells you why Western methods don't yield results. It covers dynamic, plyometric, and isometric stretching and explains why they are (for most purposes) superior alternatives to the static stretching preached in the West.

I'd never seen this information before and it certainly came as a revelation. Before reading it, I had found traditional stretching so fruitless that I'd given up on it altogether. The information here is sound and is presented in a lively, iconoclastic style and has definitely helped me. Unfortunately, though, the book could have used heavier editing. The organization is often confusing, and Pavel sometimes makes a joke where a detailed explanation would be more appropriate.

For the same core of information, Tom Kurz's "Stretching Scientifically" (which I found afterwards) is a better place to start. That said, you may still want to pick up Pavel's book -- it has good information scattered throughout, and is genuinely entertaining.

Save your money for any number of other stretching and flexibility books on the market-Kurz's book is much better (and cheaper). In fact, talk to someone who knows what they are talking about-because Pavel certainly doesn't when it comes to flexibility.

Apart from the poor quality of photos and sparse explanations for each exercise, doing these exercises at the speed recommended each morning can actually damage your joints and decrease your flexibility. I know, because that is my experience, having spent three months of doing the ballistic stretches Mr. Tsatsouline advocates on a daily basis without a warmup of any kind(as he advises). As a direct result of this method of stretching, I developed creaky knees and pain in the lower back and ended up having to stop stretching altogether for over a month. My doctor is now familiar with this book and warns people against buying it.
Mr. Tsatsouline's approach is a poor example of USSR-style flexibility training at best. He does not back up what he says by researched references, a number of his exercises do not have clear instructions at all (including no photos) and those that do are often padded out with humerous anecdotes which serve no purpose other than making the book a lot longer than it needs be.
This book is a real risk to the health of your joints as well as your flexibility. You could do a lot better for a lot less money.

As a police officer, don't you hate those calls when the bartender asks you to escort that obnoxious, combative drunk (OCD) out of the tavern when you are as stiff as The Tin Man from driving around for the last six hours? Don't you wish you could warm up first before you tackle the big OCD?

Well, check this out. There is a quick and easy way to warm up before you get to work that will make you feel loose and energized your entire shift. There is also a routine that you can use that will increase your flexibility faster than you can imagine.

Here is why flexibility is good for hard-working crime fighters.

* Stretching feels good after a long shift in a car or behind a desk * Flexibility increases your range of motion * Flexibility reduces the chance of your getting hurt * Flexibility is good for your joints * Flexibility may increase your strength * Flexibility increases your speed

Can't see yourself doing ballerina stretches and you're a little afraid you just might like wearing a tutu? Well, don't worry about it because here are a book and video that present a revolutionary Russian system of stretching that's easy to do and get results fast.

I wrote in my review of Pavel Tsatsouline's book Power to the People! : Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American that Pavel's methods get results while violating many of the "truths" that have been held as sacred for so long in the world of strength development.

In Beyond Stretching: Russian Flexibility Breakthroughs, he again offers result-producing methods, this time for increasing flexibility, while again violating what has been held as truths ever since you were in grade school gym class.

Beyond Stretching is divided into three main chapters. In Chapter one, "Nerd Stuff," he lays the foundation of his unique system. In Chapter Two, "Do It My Way," he gets into the physiology of his system as to why and how it works, and in Chapter Three, "Mobility Drills and Dynamic Stretches," he demonstrates the actual exercises. These are not the usual flexibility exercises done the usual way.

Pavel's writing style is no nonsense, efficient and quite often funny. If you are looking to be coddled, you won't get it from him. He tells you when something is tough and then he tells you to do it any way. The beauty of it is when you do what he says, you will begin seeing progress in a couple of weeks. Here are some of the things you will learn in this Beyond Stretching.

* How to develop optimal flexibility in weeks instead of years * How to do splits and high kicks even if you are over 40 or 50 * How to avoid injuries * How to not feel like the Tin Man in the morning * Learn how much flexibility you really need * Learn how to display maximum flexibility without a warm-up * Learn how to stretch in the morning to be loose all day

Personal Note: I have been training in the martial arts for nearly 36 years and, as such, stretching exercises have been part of my regular routine. As a result, I'm more flexible than the average guy. After reading this book and viewing the video, I tried four of Pavel's exercises. Three weeks later, my flexibility had improved by about 20 percent. At this rate, I figure I'll be able to scratch my head with my big toe in a couple more months.

Loren W. Christensen

I'm a Shotokan Karateka and I have poor flexibility since I can remember. Recently, I began studying this subject, and I now own a few books on stretching.

The ideas in this book are very similar to the ones explained on Kurz's "Stretching Scientifically" (both authors are from the former East Block), but the author introduces some fresh ideas wich are really worth reading. Also, some of the exercises are better explained. However, I found the explanation on Isometric Stretching more readable on Kurz's book.

Both books have the same problem: few exercises. After a while, you will want to add variety to your workout. Bob Anderson's "Stretching" is quite better in this respect, but lacks the advanced Eastern ideas on this subject.

Tsatsouline's book is a bit overpriced. The quality of the images is not so good (it seems they were taken from TV images). But the ideas presented in this book overcome the problem. They are really worth reading.

Consider buying the three books I mention in this review. You won't be disapointed.

This is the only really interesting book on stretching I've encountered. Pavel's ideas are radical, but sensible if you think them through and apply them carefully.

His joint mobility drills alone are worth the price of this expensive book. Alas, the book isn't perfect. He could have used the input of a hands-on editor. The photo sequences and verbal descriptions are not always clear.

A companion video is available and is helpful for viewing the exercises and seeing the speed at which Pavel does the exercises (surprisingly fast). Unfortunately, the video doesn't demonstrate all the exercises shown in the book.

Much of this book is geared towards the elite athlete who is already far along the learning curve. Nevertheless, as a reasonably in shape middle-aged guy with increasingly creaky joints, I found this book to be an invaluable resource. Ignore the high price, buy the book and the video. You'll get your money's worth.

This is not only a bad, but a dangerous book. And it's not really a book about stretching, but rather strength training with extreme exercises. Examples:

P. 14: ". . . wean yourself off warmups and eventually drop them entirely.""

P. 25: " I put him (a kickboxer student) in a full Chinese split, screams notwithstanding."

P.56: "Do NOT lighten up the pressure when it becomes unbearable!"

Give me a break!

It's also a poorly designed book, with fuzzy photos, and at ..., 3 times what a book this size should cost. There are 7 pages in the back with aggressive ads for other ill-considered Pavel products. The book is a ....