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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Optimistic?,
By
This review is from: Deadly Karate Blows: The Medical Implications (Unique Literary Books of the World) (Paperback)
Brian Adams takes far too optimistic a stance on the medical aspect of martial arts. Deadly Karate Blows assumes a knowledgeable role, describing the horrific results of a well-placed strike; however, with the way Adams set it out, it would appear that this is what happens EVERY time a blow is landed in real combat. He fails to explicate how it is that blows landed in this manner during sparring sessions do not involve these violent conditions, yet in street fighting, all of a sudden one's victim is prone to all manner of post-trauma malady. While Adams had done his research, and cites an impressive array of sources, he does not seem to grasp that many of these effects require a great amount of strength, and very specific conditions to reach. These "medical implications" may be plausible in isolated situations, but it is not feasible to suggest that it is the probability. Granted, softer targets will more frequently yield the described results, but harder targets (the shin, ribs,et cetera) are much less susceptible to trauma. Again, these areas require more than normal force, and very specific conditions; a kick to the shin with the side of the foot will not "easily fracture one or both bones." Fortunately, he does seem to realize that the clothing worn plays a role: a hard-soled shoe will do more damage than a bare foot. My last disappointment with this book was evident from the start: he is redundant to the point of nausea. He feels it necessary to repeat almost everything he says; this does not strengthen his point, it only makes people tired of hearing it. Overall, do not purchase this book if you wish to become a deadly opponent. It is good, I think, in the medical respect, and it offers some insight into biomechanics, but the approach is not strong enough to merit real interest to a martial artist.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pathetic,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Deadly Karate Blows: The Medical Implications (Unique Literary Books of the World) (Paperback)
This doesn't have much deadly karate but it certainly does blow...What a huge disappointment! This premise holds much promise but the breadth and depth of this particular rendering is very shallow indeed. It's only 117 pages and mostly pictures. The illustrations unfortunately are marginally well done and the photos have very bad contrast so between these two shortcomings the techniques are not well illuminated. Since the text is not very descriptive either, the total package is very incomplete for the few applications they actually cover. There are hundreds of traditional karate techniques that are not covered at all. I have no idea why the practitioners in the photos have their shirts off. It is not helpful in showing what they are doing technique-wise. Neither model has much physique to speak of so I can't imagine they're trying to show off what great shape they are in. You'd think a book about karate would at least show folks wearing traditional karate uniforms yet only one of the two has gi-style pants (with no obi) while the other wears half a tracksuit. Both wear shoes. Since they are not really doing karate techniques in every case, I guess this is irrelevant but I do find it annoying. As mentioned previoiusly, there are a huge number of techniques not discussed at all (such as locks or chokes along with several types of strikes). Furthermore, many that are discussed have significant errors. For example, when it comes to an eye strike the author shows fingertip rakes across and into the eye describing the effects as a collapsed "bulb of the eye" or a lacerated eyelid. That's okay so far as it goes, I suppose, but a "torn eyelid from the effect of a sharp finger nail piercing an eyelid that has blinked at the last instant before it has struck" is sheer nonsense and not truly a medical implication. I don't remember reading the term "bulb of the eye" in any medical textbooks either, come to think of it. In real life, the most common eye attack is a rake. The second most common is a gouge. The gouge is almost never successfully performed with the fingers. Instead, it is performed with the thumb while the fingers contour the side of the head, which is why that version is the most common bunkai. It works best when the opponent's head is supported against the ground, a wall, or with your other hand. When you do that the eyeball is displaced and popped out rather than collapsed or crushed. The book not only does not talk about displacements at all, but it also focuses on ruptures, something that is virtually impossible to do with an unsupported finger jab as shown in the text. I really don't know why the set-ups for the various techniques were chosen in the way they were. For example, the groin strike shows the defender caught in a two handed choke with the attacker's thumbs pressing into his throat before the counterattack. Get real! You'll never be "caught" in a two handed front choke. Unless you are completely oblivious no one is going to walk up and choke you, at least not upright when you are both standing. Perhaps you'd slap the attacker's hands aside and react with a groin kick when he tries to choke you but that's about it. I've witnessed, interceded in, stopped, or prevented more than 300 real-life fights and I've never seen anyone trying this silliness on the street let alone successfully applying it. Chokes require significant disruption before you can successfully apply them. Oh, and the author doesn't even describe the medical implications of chokes either... lame, lame, lame. Speaking of lame, the eight pages on "principles of first aid and pain reduction" appear to be a last minute filler. I was expecting first aid for each technique shown but it is just some general first aid 101 stuff. All in all I'm hugely disappointed in this book. This is a great topic and I'd really like to see someone with a medical degree do it well. The execution in this book, unfortunately, isn't at all what I was looking for. It is a pathetic, misguided attempt to cover an important topic. Don't waste your money. Lawrence Kane Author of Blinded by the Night, among other titles
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
an instuctors must,
By mr William Mogg [shotokan sandan] (england) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Deadly Karate Blows: The Medical Implications (Unique Literary Books of the World) (Paperback)
How many times have you told a student to do a combination and not known what the result of their actions will be.How many off us know what dammage we can do.This book covers max to minimum dammage, in a well illusrated and easy to follow book.Next time I teach a strike to the throat I can explain what can happen, we all have an idea but do you really know.As an instuctor you should know what you are teaching a student and if it lands what could happen.
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