Customer Reviews

Evolution of Kenpo

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book follows the same style of the Bachman book series. A lot of topics are discussed to expand your level of thinking and to expose you to new ideas. Some are gone into more indepth than others. The Chapter breakdowns are as follows: 1) Intellect to Application 2) Pyramids of Learning and Wisdom (my favorite chapter) 3) Kenpo fundamentals and Progressed Basics 4) The Basics of Motion 5) Kenpo's DNA 6) When, Where and Why 7) The Bladed Weapon - Utilization 8) Wavelengths and Movement 9) Closing Notes. The first five chapters are worth the puchase alone. Six,Seven & Eight cover knife concepts taking into account environment (weather) and distinguishes between crude, raw and clean motion in knife striking execution. There is also a good little section on target locations. If your looking for knife techinque sequences this is not the book, but if you what to know some concepts to take into account when creating or executing knife techniques this book might shed some light. Once again I enjoyed this book and feel that it can help expand the way we think of the Art.

I've studied Kenpo for 5 years and I find this book to be awsome. The indepth breakdown of the use of the bladed weapon is extremely useful. All the concepts and principles can be applied to your open hand techniques. It's a keeper.

Ok. On the back of this book, the autor lists the fact that he trained with Ed Parker. However, through some parts of this book, I have felt that there were several things which go directly against the concepts of "standard" parker-style kenpo. But that's really another issue.

I find that this book can be divided into 3 divisions. 1/3 good material. 1/3 junk. 1/3 wtf is he talking about.

1/3 good material: Much of the things about knives (which is what this book seemingly is about) is somewhat decent. Giving you a list of good large muscle group targets, arteries, etc. The best part, I believe, was a breakdown of the types of targets that are suggested based upon weather conditions (i.e. if its cold, aim for these more vulnerable targets). The author, however, failed to make this an excellent section by neglecting to use diagrams and photos for this section, which is a shame. Although this is a good part of the book, there are cetrainly better knife books out there.

Another good part of the book, is part of the 2nd chapter, where there is a breakdown between mental and physical training, and how lack of one will limit your development and application of the other. A very good section on theory in my opinion.

1/3 junk: A lot of the rest of the books seems like the author is attempting to make his own "infinite insights" book. Small sayings and anecdotes and rehashed kenpoese from other sources. Unfortunately for Mr. Bachman, Ed Parker he isn't.

I'm going to include in the junk section the fact that there are spelling and typesetting errors throughout this book. Aparently the editor needs to give himself a 2 on the mental spectrum. (see below)

1/3 wtf is the talking about: At one point, I believe in chapter 3, Bachman has a list where you place your mental, emotional, and physcial abilities on a scale, and then do math to figure out how powerful your soul is or something like that, and its just plain stupid. He follows it up with a failed witty line saying that "If all your levels=10 you're lying to yourself". Please, give us a break. Its not the late 70s anymore.

Perhaps the worst part of this entire book has to be crap with the punnet squares. Where he makes up the genetics of attacks and tries to use a punnet square to show that like...oh forget it, I can't even try and explain the nonsense he's trying to convey. I've been studying various martial arts for several years, and I minored in biology in college, and I swear to God that its the most idiotic dribble I've ever read.

And remember kiddies "Life is not a mystery, you have a map (martial arts)." You know, with wisdom like that, I don't know why this guy isn't on Dr. Phil.

(((please forgive the irony of any spelling errors that I may have left. and please note that I'm not selling this review to anyone)))

While nominally a book on bladed weapons, much information in this book is on motion per-se and its effective application in combat, with or without a bladed weapon. This is only natural, because the old saying that the weapon is an extension of the body is cliche but true. Hence many of the principles set forth in this book may be put to use whether you are empty handed or holding a weapon, and may well give you an advantage if ever forced to face a weapon attack.

While there was some good information here I was personally left with the feeling that the author was trying prove he has the IQ of a rocket scientist. A decent read if you want to read everything on the subject otherwise I would recommend something else. Sometimes less is more.