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Wheel Kick (Achieving Kicking Excellence, Vol. 2) | 
| Author: Shawn Kovacich
Publisher: Chikara Kan, Inc.
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $19.55
You Save: $0.40 (2%)
New (6) Used (4) Collectible (2) from $18.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  19 reviews
Sales Rank: 780252
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6
ISBN: 0970749619
EAN: 9780970749611
ASIN: 0970749619
Publication Date: September 1, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
This book is the second volume in the extremely well written and fully illustrated, Achieving Kicking Excellence series of books. Like all the other books in the series, this book goes into intricate detail over all aspects of executing the primary kick, which in this case is the Turning Wheel Kick, and several of its main variations.
Starting with a basic anatomical analysis of this kick, you quickly progress to the basic principles associated with the Wheel Kick, and then you dive right into learning the proper execution of the primary kick, Turning Wheel Kick.
Once you have finished with this section, you are taken to the variations chapter which builds upon the primary kick, Turning Wheel Kick, by teaching you 10 of its main variations. From here you are taken to the Training and Practice Methods chapter for a look at some very simple, yet effective methods for adding speed and power to your kicks.
The next chapter takes a question and answer approach to some of the most common problems people have executing these kicks and the solutions to correct them.
After you have finished the Troubleshooting chapter, the next chapter in this book deals with a brief application section for each of the kicks previously detailed in this book. Please be advised that a second ten volume series of books is currently being written which deals strictly with the combat applications of each kick, and how to defend against it.
The book finishes up by giving you a sneak preview of the next volume in the series, which in this case is the Axe Kick.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
 Kickin' it with Shawn Kovacich - Wheel kick edition November 13, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I recieved this book, the second installment of Kovacich's series, and found it as informative as the first volume. this book centered around the dynamic wheel kick. 200 pages on one technique is absurd in how well it is broken down, step by step, to every minute detail. everything from what muscles are activated, exact positioning of limbs to guarantee efficiency and powers, and footwork and trajectory is scrutinized. I felt like i was back in college, only my professor was telling us his thesis on kicking instead of james joyce. highly recomended, this book is the most thorough guide you can find on this technique, and this author puts out excellent books on the subject.
 Excellent reference and learning tool November 11, 2008
I like this book (wheel kick) and I liked the first book in the Series (back kick) as well. Both are detailed, logical and clear presentations that will provide you the means to learn and refine a particular kicking technique. Each starts out with a presentation of the anatomy involved and ends with weight and plyometric training ideas. While neither are perfect books (which ones are...) any defect lies generally in production values and not in the substance of what the author, Shawn Kovacich is teaching. The author presents ten variations of the wheel kick and each type of wheel kick is carefully laid out step-by step in each section to insure that the reader can easily translate the written words on how from print to image in their own mind's vision to enable them to produce the same kick. The authors careful presentation makes learning the wheel kick from a book doable. Few martial arts skill books can honestly make that claim. The writing is better in Wheel Kick than Back Kick, but the black & white pictures are a little dark in both. That's the sum of the negatives. The writing in Wheel Kick makes good use of the active voice and provides clear examples and a level of detail that is absolutely excellent. When you balance the few negatives of this book and it's predecessor against the positive attributes and add the sheer value of these reference books, it makes them a must have for the library of a serious martial artist who is committed to improving their kicking skills.
Detailed and Comprehensive November 5, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
At first I thought it quite curious to see a 200+ page book devoted solely to a single kick. I have to admit part of this is personal bias due to my primary martial arts background - grappling. But when I look at it from a broader perspective it makes complete sense. After all, I don't blink an eye when I see an entire book devoted solely to the triangle (or some other submission). Such specialized books make complete sense for the practitioner wanting to hone or perfect a particular move, regardless of style(s). That said, I can't imagine a more complete treatise on kicking strikes than Kovacich's Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
Chapters 1, 2, & 3 cover Basic Anatomy, Warm Up & Stretching, and Basic Principles of Kicking Movement, respectively. These are basic concepts, and as such, the chapters are nearly identical in the few books in the series I have reviewed. In the same vein, some of the material in the latter part of the book, specifically the training and practice methods, also are largely repetitive between volumes. It is the middle part ("the meat," if you will) of each volume where Kovacich's expertise really shines. Here we see each kick explained in minutest of details and copiously illustrated. The photos (though dark and shot against not-the-best-of backgrounds) are well-labeled, and the accompanying illustrations showing foot position/movement are top notch. I would have liked to see more on the possible applications of this kick, but the publisher has informed me that a separate, more detailed series with that very focus is forthcoming - I eagerly await. I found the troubleshooting section of this volume more valuable than that of volume 1 (Back Kick). Rather than being a result of different writing style or content, I think this is largely due to my personal lack of proficiency in the wheel kick relative to the back kick. This section alone has led to some improvement in my wheel kick execution.
I also want to mention two other valuable features of these volumes, features often overlooked in other books. First is the list of recommended reading. This short bibliography is very handy for readers wanting to expand their research. Second is the index, which is useful for looking up abstract concepts mentioned in the text and not readily findable using the table of contents.
Overall I think the Achieving Excellence in Kicking series would make a very valuable addition to any martial artist's library. The only thing preventing me from giving these books 5 stars is the poor quality of the photos. Someday perhaps we may see all the "the meat" of every volume in the series combined into some sort of omnibus edition with better photos.
Lots of Detail October 17, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is very detailed and should help both the novice and the advanced practitioner as well. It goes into many different applications and situations, and should be a fine resource for any martial artist of an art that utilizes kicks. Please be advised that all martial arts should be reviewed with a live instructor. That being said, this is a useful book with lots of detail.
Another fantastic book in the series!! October 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Like the previous volume, Back Kick, this book will really improve your kicking ability. Imagine a whole book devoted to a single technique!! First of all, I like the analogy of this kick to the swing of a golf club. I had never thought of it that way, but it makes perfect sense. The basic description of the kick is filled with various check points at all of the steps of the technique so that you can check to make sure you are performing the kick properly.
As with the first book, my only complaint is that the section on applications has mistakes that the reader is supposed to find rather than showing correct form.
In spite of this one flaw, this book is a keeper!!
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