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Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts
 
 
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Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts [Paperback]

Sang H. Kim (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)

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Book Description

January 10, 2004
Ultimate Flexibility is the book you've been waiting for. More than a collection of exercises or an explanation of technique, Ultimate Flexibility is a complete guide to stretching for martial arts, from the very basics of why you should stretch to detailed workout guidelines for every style and level of martial arts practice. Written by acclaimed author and martial artist Sang H Kim, Ultimate Flexibility is your guide to achieving maximum flexibility in your training. Begin with an in depth look at the hows and whys of flexibility and stretching. Learn about the many types of stretching, which methods are best for beginners, when to graduate to advanced techniques and why you should completely avoid certain types of exercises. You'll also find information that you wont find in any other martial art book, including a detailed exploration of how your body works for or against you in your training and how flexibility can make you stronger and faster. Building on this foundation, Sang H Kim teaches you nearly 200 flexibility exercises that he has personally used to achieve the highest levels of flexibility. You'll get detailed instructions, workout planning guides, goal setting tips, difficulty levels, injury prevention and recovery, and over 400 photos to guide you. Special bonus sections: 10 Tips for Full Splits, 20 Tips for High Kicks and 10 workouts for specific martial art types.

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Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts + The Anatomy of Martial Arts: An Illustrated Guide to the Muscles Used for Each Strike, Kick, and Throw + Speed Training for Martial Arts and MMA: How to Maximize Your Hand Speed, Boxing Speed, Kick Speed and Power, Punching Speed and Power, plus Wrestling Speed and Power for Combat and Self-Defense
Price For All Three: $42.07

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sang H Kim is an internationally respected author of 8 books. He currently devotes his time to teaching, writing and presenting seminars around the world.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Turtle Press (January 10, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1880336839
  • ISBN-13: 978-1880336830
  • Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sang H. Kim is an internationally respected author of 14 martial arts books, including the widely acclaimed Vital Point Strikes and the classics Ultimate Flexibility, Ultimate Fitness through Martial Arts, Combat Strategy and Teaching Martial Arts. He has also created over 100 martial arts instructional DVDs and video programs including Self-defense Encyclopedia, Knife-defense, Power Breathing, Junsado Training Series, and Complete Taekwondo Series.

He has over 40 years experience in the martial arts. Has has taught tens of thousands of students in his own schools and at seminars in Europe, Asia and North America and reached millions more through his books, videos and DVDs.

He won the 1976 Korean National Championship and was named Instructor of the Year by the Korean government in 1983. As a special agent during his military service, he developed tactical combat methods for hand-to-hand and hand-to-weapon combat for covert operatives.

 

Customer Reviews

51 Reviews
5 star:
 (39)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (1)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (51 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

186 of 207 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing., September 24, 2005
By 
R. Jernigan (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts (Paperback)
It's not a *bad* book about stretching, and does contain some 200 exercises--even if half of them are about as complex as 'lace your fingers together, palms out, and push your hands away from your body' (my paraphrase).

What really bothers me, though, is a pair of problems:

First, the book mentions almost casually that static stretching (touch your toes and hold the position) has almost no correlation with functional stretching (how high can you side kick?). In the next paragraph it states quite clearly that martial artists should be focused on improving functional stretching--that static stretching is largely useless except for rehabilitation.

Now, even if that *isn't* poppycock--which I'm not qualified to judge, but it does sound flaky--one would think that this book, intended for martial artists, would therefore proceed to focus on other kinds of stretching. No: the vast majority of the exercises are static stretches. So either the advice is flawed or the book's target audience is wrong.

A second issue is PNF stretching. The book goes to some effort to push PNF as the most effective, best stretching technique: over and over, the refrain is that one should work towards incorporating PNF stretching into your workout as soon as is feasible (it's not for beginners).

But just as soon as you've become convinced of the benefits of PNF stretching, the book goes on to state--and here I'll quote--"Because PNF stretching requires detailed hands-on instruction and guidance, PNF stretching variations are not included in the exercise descriptions". In other words, the book says pretty clearly, "This is what you want, and this book doesn't describe it."

I'm disappointed that I bought this book, and can't say I'd recommend it to others.
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46 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written and useful, November 11, 2004
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts (Paperback)
If you have been doing martial arts for a while you probably won't learn any new exercises but you will truly understand not only why they work, but more importantly how to make the most of them. Important anatomical information is distilled in a way that just about anyone can readily understand and use. This book is well laid-out and illustrated effectively to convey the information. It is holistic and thorough. Although at my age I will probably never be able to do the splits, it has measurably improved my flexibility. Great book!

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, March 9, 2005
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts (Paperback)
Ultimate flexibility is an excellent book for those who practice the martial arts, regardless of their current flexibility level. It's even great for those who don't. My wife (who doesn't practice martial arts) joins me for flexibility exercises and enjoys the workout quite a bit.

The book is divided to 3 main categories.

The first chapters deal with the scientific background. What are the mechanisms behind flexibility; what can be improved; what are the limitations; and what are the potential hazards for the un-educated, practicing flexibility. It details the major muscle groups and explains the benefit of having each flexible. It has good suggestions in terms of keeping workout logs and setting goals.

The second part has actual flexibility exercises, all clearly explained along with a photo for each. Some exercises are presented with a few alternatives-- easier versions and harder versions.

The third and last part suggests flexibility workouts. That is, what a workout should include depending on your background and goals.

Ultimate Flexibility has helped my flexibility tremendously. It's educational, clear and concise and most importantly, motivating. I now look forward for some time off so I can go out and practice some flexibility.

Bravo.

- Petel
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Before we get into specifics about stretching and flexibility, let's take a moment to orient ourselves. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
kicking height, supplementary stretches, flexibility for kicking, beginner variation, seated toe touch, feet about four feet, core workout, stretching bar, axe kick, active flexibility, static flexibility, advanced variation, dynamic stretching, spinning kicks, martial arts movements, static stretching, deeper stretch, quad stretch, dynamic stretches, crescent kicks, kicking range, static stretches, ballistic stretching, training log, active stretching
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Martial Arts Application, Primary Benefit, Torso Twist, Chest Opening, Groin Stretch, Back Stretch, Heel Stretch, Side Stretch, Spinal Twist, Instep Stretch, Ankle Rotation, Corner Press, Fist Roll, Leg Exercises, Stick Twist, Controlled Kicks, Hurdler Stretch, Shoulder Stretch, Butterfly Stretch, Calf Stretch, Cat Stretch, Frog Stretch, Knee Rotation, Neck Pull, Shoulder Exercises
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