Weight Training for Martial Artists [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Jennifer Lawler (Author) "If you've picked up this book, it's because you're a martial artist or an aspiring martial artist and you want to increase your strength..." (more)
Key Phrases: bicycle stretch, groin lift, hamstring lift, Groin Stretch, Back Stretch, Shoulder Stretch (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A complete guide to weight training for martial artists of all styles. Covers weight machines, free weights, isometrics, traditional martial arts strength training and maintaining your flexibility while adding speed and power.

About the Author
Jennifer Lawler is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a free lance writer. She trains at New Horizons Black Belt Academy of Tae Kwon Do, in Lawrence, Kansas, under Masters Donald and Susan Booth. She also teaches Tae Kwon Do and self-defense classes. She is the author of several books, including The Martial Arts Encyclopedia. She has published numerous articles on martial arts and women. She recently earned her Ph.D in English. She lives in Lawrence with her husband, Bret Kay, who is also a martial artist.

Product Details

• Paperback: 201 pages
• Publisher: Turtle Press (CT); 1st edition (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880336235
• ISBN-13: 978-1880336236
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,018,807 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of TIME & MONEY, May 22, 2002

By	David Tran "Qirklin" (Alhambra, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm currently a student of Kinesiology at a University, and I'm trying to increase my knowledge of weight training specifically for martial artists. I bought this book thinking that I would be able to use some of the information in a new way.

After just skimming the book Weight training for Martial Artists by J. Lawler, Ph. D., I was faced with just horrible information, from the terminology to the exercise, and the classifications of the exercises. One such example is on page 12 on the table of "Strength Training Methods," Lawler states that isometric exercises include crunches and push-ups. According to J. L. Hesson's book Weight Training for Life (2000), iso- refers to same, and -metric refers to length, so isometric is referring to a contraction that stays at the same length. Crunches and push-ups both involves motion, therefore, cannot be isometric.
Exercises do not present the correct information, such as the "Lateral Pull Down" (pg 74). First, the name is the "Lat" Pulldown. Lat referring to the Latissimus dorsi muscle. Another example is the "Lateral Raises" on the next page. This exercise does not work the "laterals" (Lawler, 1999), they work the deltoids and the trapezius. Also the exercise is explained in an incorrect manner. Swinging is not a term that should be used, instead raising could be used.
Other problems with the book are that many exercises are classified in the wrong way. Leg lifts, "Bicycle Stretch", and "Hamstring Lift" "Groin Lift" (as described in the text) are not flexibility exercises.

These are just some of the problems with the text. I would recommend a complete overhaul on the book, go back and use some sources such as the American Council on Sports Medicine (ACSM) or some other reference materials.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing and Misleading., April 29, 2000

By A Customer

The previous reviewer is correct in stating your money is better spent in a gym or on MA Training magazine. The author's lack of credibilty on this subject should be apparent to anyone with knowledge of martial arts. There are absolutely no exercises that focus on body balance, an essential for martial arts training. Even worse, anyone knowledgeable about weight training should be able to see that most of the exercises are minimal and incomplete, and will most likely lead to underdevelopment in martial arts conditioning. A far better manual for martial arts students looking to develop strength would be Harry Wong's Dynamic Strength, or Loren Christensen's The Way Alone.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I was very disapointed., August 16, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews

I was very diapointed, the author displays her lack of knowledge in both weight training and fighting arts through out the book. Most of the information in the book could be learned from taking ten minutes with a fitness instructor on any gym floor. I was also disapointed that the author was neither an experineced martial artist or a certified personal trainer. I believe that one would better spend your money on a subscription to MA Training magazine, where you will get both experience and certification. I feel I can say these things after 20 years of training, Black belt holder in several styles, and I am also a certified personal trainer.