Customer Reviews

Dynamic Strength

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Harry Wong's, "Dynamic Tension." I have owned this book for over 20 years and have not only used the specific exercises contained within it, but I have also adapted the techniques for several different exercises that I not only use, but also teach in my classes.

Harry starts off his book by pointing out the benefits that can be obtained through using this method compared to the more conventional method of weightlifting. Some of the benefits described are as follows:

1. Increased physical strength.
2. Improvement in your balance.
3. Improvement in your flexibility.
4. Increased body awareness.
5. The ability to heighten all five or your senses through force of concentration.
6. No injuries from lifting weights improperly.

This is followed by a very in-depth section on mental preparation and breathing. Harry stresses that you must breathe correctly not only during the performance of every exercise, but also during every moment of life. Although it may seem like a funny or somewhat absurd statement, we seem to lose our ability to breathe correctly as we get older. This is a bad habit that can be unlearned and should be in order to enhance your every day life.

The mental preparation section covers such things as;

1. Define your goals.
2. Having a positive mental attitude no matter what you are doing.
3. No matter what you are doing, have fun doing it.
4. Free your mind of negative thoughts.
5. Focus completely on your body and the exercise you are doing.
6. Have proper body posture during all exercises.
7. Concentrate on each individual body part for that particular exercise.
8. As hard as you focus during an exercise, you must totally relax after it is done.
9. Breathe properly during each and every exercise.

The following section gives you some of the basic principles that should be followed when you are warming up. Harry then gives you a brief overview of some of the basic warm-up exercises that you should perform prior to executing any of the "dynamic tension" exercises featured in this book.

Now here is the meat and potatoes of this entire book, the dynamic tension exercises, which covers 24 different exercises for everything from your neck, chest, upper body, and arms to your legs. Each exercise follows the same outline in providing you with the following information:

1. Description of the exercise.
2. Number of repetitions you should perform.
3. The count for each exercise.
4. The effects of each exercise.
5. Variations of the main exercise.
6. The martial arts benefits of each exercise.

This book then finishes up with a brief section on training. Included in this section are;

1. Exercise routines for beginner, intermediate, and advanced users.
2. How to set-up a time and place to train.
3. How to do a self-evaluation.

This book offers another great alternative to the standard forms of exercising. I have even modified these exercises and incorporated the principles behind them into my own training routine. I now utilize this type of exercise while doing my forms, practicing combinations (whether it be hand and/or foot combinations), or as a compliment to my normal weight lifting routine. I highly recommend that you buy and practice the exercises in this book. If you do, you will notice an improvement in your overall physical abilities. I personally saw results after about 6 weeks of training.

Anybody who's ever used weights knows the biggest problem; they cost MONEY. Gym memberships are ridiculously expensive, free weights are relatively cheap but take up a lot of room (I'm in a college dorm.) Also, weights may build muscle, but it's easy to hurt yourself and the gains are hard to measure. You can't tell if you've done any work; you hurt too much, even if you've done it right. This book is completely diffferent! I've been doing the program for one and a half months, and I notice a definite difference. I haven't added much muscle mass yet, but my body feels much lighter and defter, not to mention looser and more relaxed. Also, it's much easier to tell when it's working; it feels like your body is doing it of its own accord. That feeling alone is incredible. I don't do any form of martial arts, but this work-out is incredible and furthermore much easier to do and stick with. I recommend it to everyone, not just martial artists. ()

This book offers a very effective work-out routine. It requires no weights, but you will still get very good results without them. Heavy weights also tend to be more damaging than beneficial, and they really aren't necessary. This book shows you that, and it provides an awesome alternative work-out routine. It has a basic work-out and then a bunch of supplemental excercises that concentrate on specific areas of the body. I love the fact that a lot of the excercises focus on your joints and areas that can be igonored (like your neck, knees, elbows, etc.). This book is not about beefing up or building a lot of mass, it's about getting strong, flexible, and more nimble. Harry Wong has written a very comprehensive and easy to follow work-out book. With this book there is no need to go to a gym and pay extreme amounts of money to get in shape. You don't even need weights, a few excercises require chairs (like concentrated push-ups, chair dips). It's all about using your own body weight or muscle tension to build up specific areas of your body. It will make you stronger and more toned, as well as more flexible. I am really glad i ordered this book, and doing the exercises has improved my body and mind's health. This is an especially good book for people who are interested in or who practice a martial art. But i would recommend this book to just about anyone, especially for the ....

Harry Wong presents an interesting book on "Dynamic Strength" exercises -- or for others, "moving isometrics". While well written, there are some confusing bits in there that may take a little interpretation, but otherwise, I like his program for two reasons: 1) relatively simple, yet sweat-producing workouts, and 2) no equipment (besides two chairs, and a short stick or dowel rod) needed. As the cover suggests, this book is directed at martial artists, so you will find it geared to developing power in that regard; more definition rather than raw muscle. Besides some confusing instructions for a *few* exercises (maybe I just misread?), this is a great book, filled with illustration. There are plenty of exercises in here to keep you fit, and I would reccomend it.

There used to be this older gentleman, who, during the summer, worked out by the pool at the complex I lived at. He was 52, six feet tall, 185 lbs of ripped, lean, muscle. Alot of people thought he was into some variation of yoga. I approached him and asked him on what he was doing. Then he told me about an accident that resulted in extentsive damage to his back. Being a lifelong weightlifter, he knew his days of pumping iron were over, so he had to find other means of building muscle. He got into Dynamic Tension exercises and Dynamic Strength was one his recommended resources. I borrowed the book and found that the exercises that Harry Wong demonstrates were easy to do, but provided a hard workout. I would definetly reccomend this book for anyone looking for an alternitive to weight training. I use Dynamic strength to supplement my weight progam and it has helped add cuts and definition to my 210 lb build. I also reccomend useing this in conjuction with Matt Furey's Combat Conditioning as well. For a weight free workout, these are top of the line!

Well, you will need to do some aerobic exercise too, but I am always bathed in sweat when I finish these exercises. Even in my mediocre condition, I had noticeable results after three months of training. The shoulder exerises in particular were amazing...my trapezius muscles were quite visible. As other reviewers have stated here, the emphasis is on definition. My forearms were pronounced, and I had ripped triceps. Strength was also improved - an aikido sensei asked me to bend his arm at the elbow during a demonstration, and his comment was " That's good - you're very strong ". Of course I couldn't bend his arm, but looking at this man you would realize he was not doing it on a physical strength basis ( Chi, chi, chi ). This small book gave me better results than any other strength training I have had, at a fraction of the cost. Even the muscle that crosses the shin was popping out! Sifu Wong also has VHS tapes out under the same title. I recommend it to anyone. Minor complaint - some of the exercises were somewhat confusing based on the text and photos.

I bought this book about 10 years ago, and am still using his exercises today. They result in excellent definition, with a tough, wiry build. What's great is your body is your gym and you can do them anytime. The explanations are clear, and there are many photos. I have taught them to my martial art students, and I always think it funny to see even my children students start to get somewhat "ripped" after doing these. The exercises have martial art applications, and are fun to do. The book is in an easy to read format and if you are in a hurry to start on the exercises right away, you can actually get on the program without having to read through a lot of fillers. I recommend the book for excellent strength conditioning and muscle tone.

If you want to practice dynamic tension exercises, this is the book for you. It explains the exercises far better than any of John Peterson's books, especially the proper breathing. Essentially, Wong treats the exercises as a form of hard Qigong, and if you follow Wong's instructions properly one is able to get all the benefits of of a moving Qigong system while doing strength training as well. There are also some excellent self resistance and bodyweight exercises in the book as well, and if you're a martial artist, there's additional benefit in that Wong shows you the martial art benefit of each movement.

There are no isometric exercises in this book. Other reviewers who have said that there are either do not understand what isometrics are, or do not understand the exercises in this book. The program is meant to be done every other day, and probably only takes about 20 minutes or so. Overall, it's a very time efficient, well designed program that gives you enough exercises that you can pick and choose the ones that work the best for you and toss out the rest.

I highly recommend this book.

It really *does* make you a lot stronger and faster. Make sure you put as much effort into the techniques as you can for the best, and fastest results.

The explanations of the techniques are probably the best I have seen in any 'How To' book. On each technique there is an overall description, the count (timing), martial arts benifits, step by step description, and photographs for each step. What more can you ask for?

, what a bargain!

Buy this book!

This book is a great deal considering it's price. The author shows and describes every exercise in detail and I had no problem following right along from cover to cover. The main advantage of this system is that virtually no equipment is required to produce results. Many of the exercises can be performed in "odd" places such as at school, the office, etc. The system is a strength building system (not cardio) so in many ways it is similar to weight lifting without the stress. It is the ideal low impact system for those that want to develop additional strength.