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Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training (4th Revision ed)
 
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Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training (4th Revision ed) (Paperback)

~ Thomas Kurz (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
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Customers buy this book with The Genius of Flexibility: The Smart Way to Stretch and Strengthen Your Body by Bob Cooley

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Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

...Three items from Tom Kurz, athlete, instructor, coach, and graduate of the University School of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland: a videotape Secrets of Stretching, and two books: Stretching Scientifically and Science of Sports Training. Tom presents a uniquely Eastern European look at this practical subject matter. The video chiefly focuses on the exercises and techniques necessary to achieve a dramatic full split position, while the books emphasize the technical aspect of stretching and sports training. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From The New Yorker

Rare are the books whose authors demonstrate the training methods they write about. Stretching Scientifically is one such book. This is a classic combination of knowledge with experience.

Works like this inspire trust... --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 214 pages
  • Publisher: Stadion Publishing Company, Inc.; 4 Rev Upd edition (March 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0940149451
  • ISBN-13: 978-0940149458
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,772 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #6 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Exercise & Fitness > Stretching
    #20 in  Books > Sports > Training
    #22 in  Books > Sports > Individual Sports > Martial Arts

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More About the Author

Thomas Kurz
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Customer Reviews

56 Reviews
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 (30)
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 (13)
3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (56 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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89 of 90 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Stretching Scientifically yields phenomenal results, March 22, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training (Paperback)
I read this book several years ago after starting martial arts training in my later 30's. Prior to following the methods of Stretching Scientifically, I had slightly better than average flexibility. In less than 6 months after reading this book, and most importantly, actually following its methods, I could do the full splits in all 3 directions while simultaneously flattening my body to the ground. Now at 40, I've maintained the stretch, and take full advantage of it in martial arts. I've trained with some great world-renowned martial artists, but have not met anybody who understands stretching the way Thomas Kurz does. This is a great book.
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72 of 72 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars I wish I read this while still a college athlete, August 20, 2005
This review is from: Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training (Paperback)
I am not out of shape. At 190 pounds - I can bench press 2X my bodyweight, squat 2.5X and run 100 Meters in 10.7 seconds. Why then have I never been able to touch my toes?

I spent years as 22 foot plus long jumper. Nothing my coaches or "Physical Therapists" tried (PNF streching for 3 hours a day, partner stretching, warm ups, warm downs, Yoga etc) ever did a thing to visibly improve my extension. After 8 to 10 years of training 3 hours a day and streching every day I could never do any better than mid shin (and that was after fully warming up).

Kurz's book puts all of my coaches to shame and puts an end to the myth of inborn flexibility. I learned within the first 30 pages what I was doing wrong. Within two weeks of following his suggestions I can now easily touch my toes during the day without any warmup. This is the most flexible I have been in my life despite now being over 30.

The truth is that gaining flexiblity using his methods is much easier than what I was doing for all those years for 0 results. This book works.

It is true that there is a lot of scientific "filler" as one reviewer calls it and a distinct lack of pictures. I imagine it is kind of a dense read for people who haven't studied physiology so they might want to have a dictionary handy. Still, I had no problem creating a routine from the presented material that has produced amazing results.

I'm going to buy the video now. I hear it is pretty dated but If his suggestions worked this well without really knowing if I have been following them correctly I can't wait to get my routine closer to ideal.

-M
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99 of 105 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Fourth edition gets it the fourth star., December 16, 2003
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
*** This review is for the 4th edition, superceding my 3rd edition review.

Buying this new edition, especially since I thought the third edition was a good enough start, was a matter of integrity. I'd blistered the editors for not organizing the book well, and took the author to task for some vagaries in his descriptions and the lightness of graphical assistance, i.e. crummy drawings and mediocre photographs.

I can say that the editors improved the book significantly. The organization of the chapters is now more-logical, and it also begins in a very direct, simple manner that gradually adds complexity as you read. Which is fine, since concepts introduced earlier are laying a foundation of knowledge required for the later , extremely scientific chapter on how muscles, tendons, and ligaments work together to move your body in three dimensions.

I enjoyed the new edition more than the third, and I was very pleased with the updates and corrections. I believe you still need to invest some sweat to extract any value from this, but I would surmise no one is picking this up for light reading: this is an owner's manual for your body in some respects, and it requires hands-on application.

The fifth star is not forthcoming, and I don't think a fifth edition will change this. The photographs and stick figures you loved to hate from prior editions are still here, and I can't help wonder why the publisher didn't just run a contest at SVA or Pratt for book illustrators.

Still, there's less excuses for readers to employ if they can't figure out a good routine after reading this book, and Thomas Kurz's admonishing commentary is hilarious: I can actually see him as a professor taking some of the dimmer student body to task for not fully reading the relevant material. The FAQ section alone is worth the price of admission.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars WASTE OF $$$
IF you want to be bored buy an anatomy book. No tips or tricks. The information is
presented in the most generic way. Nothing new. Waste of $$
Published 1 month ago by Angel Edwards

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read on flexibility
This book is very informative and easy to read. It use of common sense and research will make you re-think all the years of poor advice you have received on stretching. Read more
Published 3 months ago by L. Davis

4.0 out of 5 stars very informative
prior to reading this book, i used to have a lot of misconceptions on how to gain flexibility. my own methods were all wrong and maybe, even dangerous. Read more
Published 4 months ago by anthony

1.0 out of 5 stars Scientifically good but practicaly no good at all
I've been in martial arts for more than 20 years of which I spent the last 10 training other people. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Deks Zagreb

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Great book still reading it but it seems like the stuff really works and made me understand more about stretching its anatomy
Published 9 months ago by carlos solis

5.0 out of 5 stars Train Smart and USE this Book
After 2 months, I'm inches away from splits in all 3 directions and am confident that another month or 2 will do it. Read more
Published 12 months ago by ninjattorney

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Impressed
This book explains some things about stretching , puts labels to some things that you might not have had a name for, and reminds you of some stretches that you may not have pulled... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Samuel Clements

3.0 out of 5 stars More and Less that what you need
This book contains a lot more information than you will need to actually stretch. Personally I think that takes away from it in the form of needless details. Read more
Published 17 months ago by D. Driscoll

5.0 out of 5 stars Stretching How-To at It's Best
The description of this book is very good, but it doesn't do this book justice. Both the underlying scientific principles of stretching and the mechanics of achieving one's... Read more
Published 17 months ago by T. R. Torrez

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on stretching.
I have read over a dozen books on stretching, and own several that I ound useful. Though if I had found this book early on I woould have saved a lot of time. Read more
Published on March 16, 2008 by C. Harding

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