Customer Reviews

Effortless Combat Throws: Principles, Analysis, and Application of

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This volume is to throws as the volume "Practical Chin Na" is to joint locking. Finally we have books which explain exactly how and why the techniques we have been using for years work. Tim Cartmell gives us a complete guide to throwing, explaining and grouping techniques by the principles under which they are executed. Cartmell's roots are, interestingly enough, in Jimmy Woo's ever practical San Soo Kung Fu, although later Cartmell moved to Taiwan and then China and trained there with a number of extraordinarily skilled teachers, including Hsu Hong Chi and Hsu Chen Wang (Hsing Yi), Chen Tso Chen (Hsu Hsi Tao), Lin Ah Lung (Tang and Chen Taiji), Kao Liu-te (Yi Chuan), Hsu Fu-chin (Chen Taiji), Luo Te-hsiu (Kao-style Pa Kua Chang & Chen Pan-ling Taiji), Sun Jian-yun (daughter of the famed Sun Lu-tang & present headmaster).

Author Tim Cartmell begins by describing types of throws (arc, circle, and spiral) and the basic principles which guide their application. Next, he explains principled of body use, and then the bulk of the book, comprised of an analysis and application of each throw. Cartmell is extremely thourough in his description of each stage of the technique, describing every little facet of motion, how to balance, how to turn, what you will feel and what is happening to your partner. Each technique offers an analysis of entry, analysis of the technique, of body use, of practical application, of counters and combat use, and variations on the throw. While there are plenty of illustrations, you will need to be a patient reader to glean the most from this volume. It is with words that Cartmell makes the whole picture come together. Whatever your discipline (Chinese style or not), if your art includes throwing techniques, this is the volume to explain the how and why's.

This book was great from start to finnish. The author starts out by changing the way throws are classified. He defines them by how the opponent moves through space, and simplifies it into arcs, spirals, and circles. He then moves in to eight principles of motion for effortless throws, like transfer of momentum, and then goes into different methods of executing those principles. Chapter two focuses on eight principles of "body use", which amounts to some very specific details about proper posture, but which is nessesary in order to execute throws with minimum effort. These two very important chapters make up about 1/4 of the book. The next chapter goes into the performance of the throws, as classified by arcs, circles, and spirals. There is even a separate part for sacrifice throws. In demonstrating a throw, Mr. Cartmell starts by describing the throw, showing how it is applied, then analyzing it's entry, the throw itself, and the use of your own body in the throw. He then gives examples of how to move into the throw based on different defenses, such as vs a punch or headlock. At the end of the book is an appendix section that covers a broad range of topics, like relaxation and stability vs. mobility. The focus of the book is using a minimum amount of force to throw an opponent, and I believe it explains it well. I would recomend this book to folks who have to use throws for self-defense, such as bouncers and police officers, and for those who wish to understand the internal arts, but like me, don't really get the whole "expand your chi" thing. It's also just a really good book to read, and would complete anyones martial arts library.

In "Effortless Combat Throws" Tim Cartmell masterfully unravels the core principles of internal martial arts devoid of "chi" oriented mumbo jumbo. Tim clearly explains how to generate natural, effortless power starting from posture and alignment. This book is extremely well written and organized in a "tell, show, do" format that takes the reader step by step through the application of effortless power in the form of arc, circle, spiral and sacrifice throws. This is a gem of a book and a MUST read for aspiring, novice or highly experienced martial arts. I have practiced martial arts for 21 years and this book changed the entire direction of my training and my understanding of the essence of martial arts.

As the title of my review says, this is the greatest martial arts book I have or will ever read. Those that give this book a 3 star review because of poor photo quality (...) just don't get it. Studying and understanding the contents of this book will improve your martial arts skills considerably. The principles explained in the book are universally applicable. It doesn't matter what kind of martial arts you do. Just because the title says "Effortless Combat Throw" doesn't mean it's just all about throwing. The book goes far deeper than that if you bother to actually read it.
Too many people just like looking at pictures and think they can add another technique to their repertoire. Guess what? It doesn't matter how many techniques you have in your repertoire. It will not work unless you understand the principles Mr. Cartmell has so eloquently put down on paper. Get this book. Read if from cover to cover. When you're done, read it again.

Tim Cartmell provides a detailed explanation of 12 combat throws; why and how they work, practical applications etc. If you're looking for a compendium of throws then this book is not for you. However if you're looking to gain a better understanding of throwing methods then buy the book. Apply the principle not the throw.

Cartmell knows a lot about martial arts,,,,,but he does seem to know much about photography. He has both tori and uke wearing grey t-shirts and black pants. Furthermore nobody taught the photographer to open up the lens aperature to let a little light into the camera. All the photos are too dark. So the result is in most of the pictures, there is a mass of black where four legs ought to be, and some arms and hands, but you can't really tell which arms belong to whom.
The book needs to reprinted on good paper, hire a photographer and make the book something to showcase Mr. Cartmells' vast knowledge. As it is, it's a good read, but the last 2/3 of the book are really pretty useless.

The first 50 pages of this book, which I think many readers may skip over, are absolute gold. Most Westerners, myself included for a long time, don't get, buy into, or even care about 'qi', that internal force that predominates in certain martial arts. Tim Cartmell writes wonderfully about the mechanical principles of combat throws and body usage in order to obtain smooth, fluid power, all the while using your opponents force to your benefit. In the end, you will have 'qi', even though the author never once told you that's what he was doing. Pretty slick and effective if you ask me...which you didn't...so there you are.

This book is a good companion to the excellent video of the same name as it covers in greater detail the "theory" behind many of these characteristically Chinese throws. As a stand-along product, however, the book is only fair: it is marred mainly by very poor picture quality.

As both a martial artist (student & instructor)and a person who loves to read and collect books, I own and read a tremendous amount of material on different subjects. Tim Cartmell's depth of knowledge on this subject shines through page after page, matched only by his ability to explain the details of motion in such a way that the reader can easily envision and perhaps 'feel' what he's talking about.

Each section covers a fundamental 'type' of throw, detailing both WHY it is done and HOW it is applied. Then the rest of that chapter is filled with variation after variation of the standard throw. This type of extrapolation and depth of content makes "Effortless Combat Throws" one of the richest sources of information on throws that I've ever seeen. Most books on martial arts techniques rely heavily on the photographs to convey the material and then give shallow written details. This book is almost opposite this norm. The photographs are black and white and very basic, yet adequate to demonstrate the sequence of motion. The explanation, however, is what FEW other martial arts books can actually achieve, it's "Instructive".

My ONLY complaint?
That Mr. Cartmell hasn't put out MORE books!

Level: Beginner to Advanced

I've spent quite a bit of time reading, re-reading, and practicing the techniques and principles of Tim Cartmell's excellent book. The techniques work, the principles are superb, and the insights quite eye-opening.

Cartmell is another young championship-calibre martial artist who basically makes things real. In a martial arts world where there is so much mysticism and legend clouding the picture (qi, qigong, breathing, auras, whatnot), it's great to hear from someone who has had success, and puts things in verbiage that make it understandable to the everyday Westerner. I am struck by the fact that in our school we have two students who work as Chinese interpreter/translator types. They are fluent in Chinese. But contextually, when the great Master from China gives us a seminar, there is so much that is unique to the Chinese martial arts-- history/legend/context-- that they cannot interpret for us. Interesting no? The analogy I use is this-- how would a medieval Chinese peasant/martial artist/monk explain to you how to learn to ride a bicycle? Today we have terms like center of gravity and equilibrium. Back then... nope.

So Cartmell keeps it real. Principles, physics and body mechanics, mental attitude. The throws are examples, certainly. 14 techniques total-- with so much explanation and analysis it's almost overkill. The throws are illustrative of the four main categories of throws. In each throw, Cartmell talks about the category, the lever arm, the key structural elements, the approach, and applications to self-defense situations. It's quite good... like I said almost redundant, but necessary especially if one reads only about one technique without reading the rest of the book, for example.

The pictures ARE poor. Especially by today's standards. But good enough to understand what's going on. I would have been more pleased if the publisher had recommended twice as many pictures, of better quality, with about 1/3rd less text.

Before/after the techniques are descriptions of principles, exercises to develop balance, breathing, mental attitude, and body awareness useful in these techniques. Cartmell discusses his opinions on body mechanics, etcetera, including pelvic positioning. The afterward essay relating these issues to martial arts "myths" is also a bit redundant-- basically stating the same thing but relating it more to traditional Chinese martial arts training.

I really think that conceptually, this is an essential book for any martial artist... not just throwing arts. The principles are prudent to striking arts, as well. It allows one to see more clearly openings and possibilities-- one sees/feels the body with a different completeness that's nice. In fact, that's how I'd explain it-- instead of just feeling the opponent's center-- as is somewhat more typical-- Cartmell helps us see it, as well.