Product Description

Reverse Crescent Kick is the fifth volume in the extremely well written and fully illustrated, Achieving Kicking Excellence series of martial arts related books.

Reverse Crescent Kick, along with the other nine volumes in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series, goes into intricate detail over all aspects of executing the primary kick, which in this case is the Reverse Crescent 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 Reverse Crescent Kick, and then you dive right into learning the proper execution of the primary kick, Reverse Crescent Kick.

Once you have finished with this section, you are taken to the variations chapter which builds upon the primary kick, Reverse Crescent 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.

Your next chapter takes a question and answer approach to some of the most common problems people have executing the Reverse Crescent Kick and the solutions to correct them.

The next chapter in this book deals with a very brief and basic application section for the Reverse Crescent Kick and each of the variations previously detailed in this book.

NOTE:

The combat/self-defense applications of the Reverse Crescent Kick are discussed and demonstrated in much greater detail in the companion book to this book, Reverse Crescent Kick: Achieving Kicking Excellence; Volume 5, which is Reverse Crescent Kick: Applications in Combat: Achieving Kicking Excellence; Volume 15. This book goes into intricate detail over all aspects of applying the primary kick, which in this case is the Reverse Crescent Kick, and several of its main variations, against twelve of the most common attacks that you are most likely to face in an actual unarmed self-defense/combat situation.

At the conclusion of this book you are given a sneak preview of the next volume in the Achieving Kicking Excellence series, which in this case is the Front Kick.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #533601 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-14
• Released on: 2007-02-14
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

About the Author


Shawn Kovacich has been a practicing martial artist for over 25 years, and is a high ranking black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn also holds ranking in the martial arts of Aikido, Hapkido, and Judo. Shawn is also a certified Krav Maga instructor and over the past several years has been primarily focusing on a wide variety of armed and unarmed combat fighting skills.

In addition to being a high ranking black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do, Shawn has also worked as a psychiatric aide in a state run mental hospital (and no he wasnt a patient), he has also been a law enforcement officer, provided security for a major casino, worked as a bouncer in various bars, nightclubs, and strip clubs, as well as, providing personal protection services.

Shawn has also gained world wide attention for his two world records for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. He achieved his first world record on September 27th, 1986 with 10,502 high kicks in 5 hours and 30 minutes. His second record was even more impressive, with 11,000 high kicks in 5 hours 18 minutes and 43 seconds. This was accomplished on January 21st, 1989.

Shawn is the author of the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence series of martial arts books, co-author of the Wicked Wisdom series with Bohdi Sanders, and is currently working on several additional marital arts and self-defense related books, as well as several instructional DVDs. Several of these books and DVDs are scheduled to be released in 2009 and 2010.

Customer Reviews

Kicking series teached the martial artist about kicking form
Achieving Kicking Excellence

If you are a novice martial artist, a kick-box exercise video nut, or someone who wants to advance their knowledge of martial art kicks, this book looks as if it would be very helpful.

The series of books is organized by type of kick: back, wheel, axe, crescent, reverse crescent, front, hook, hatchet, roundhouse, side kick. Ten books in all.

The volumes are absolutely loaded with pictures of not only kick technique but also of helpful strength-with-weight exercises, especially gym exercises with machines like the hack squat and leg press sled and of course the all-important lunge. So you get not only a discussion of how-to, but of what exercises can improve overall performance by gaining muscle strength. There are pictures with overlays of angles and axes, giving you an idea of proper form, though there is no substitute for a sensei giving you real-time feedback, of course. So these books are a good adjunct to martial arts class in the dojo; something to read and then take to practice and work on with real-time help.

There is a section on sparring--right and wrong. There is a suggested reading list in the back. A very complete series.

The only thing these volumes suffer from is slightly dark and low contrast black and white photograph reproduction due to pictures being on paper stock and not glazed plate stock, in order to keep costs reasonable for publishing. And the cover photo is wonderful but the graphic design (showing the title being shattered by the someone doing the title kick) was a GREAT concept but you can't read the title on the front cover (because it's being kicked to bits!) This is annoying; you have to read the spine to see which kick the book is about. If this bugs you, it's easily fixed: get some stickers or a Sharpie and mark the front cover with something like SIDE KICK VOL 10 or whatever works for you.

Author Kovacich is a black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do (which of course is one of the martial arts for which the kick is the premier technique.)

Master-level technique: the reverse crescent kick
This is Volume Five of ten books devoted to mastering kicks. Shawn Kovacich devotes this book to the Reverse Crescent Kick. This review examines Shawn's book from a practical stand point--how well does this book enable me to learn the reverse crescent kick?
I'm 50, 6'3" tall and 220 pounds, but I'm not an athlete--just healthy. I cannot perform the back kick higher than my own waist right now--I'll need to improve my flexibility. It isn't too much of a handicap for self defense--or active military service--but for those of you involved in karate matches, you need the high kicks for the match-winning points.
So, what is a reverse crescent kick and why would I use it? Shawn writes that the reverse crescent kick is like a tennis backhand swing. The striking surface is the outside edge of the heel and the targets are the same as the crescent kick in Volume Four: face, neck area, lower legs and forearms. The reverse crescent kick is difficult to execute (at least I found it difficult!) but the arc of the kick is deceptive and may confuse your opponent. Getting inside another's Observe, Orient, Decide and Act loop can win a match for you--or allow you to seize and keep the initiative in a fight.
I have training prejudices: I like to employ mirrors, a video camera or two, a minimum of one sparring partner, and at least one referee when I train. Multiple sparring partners are to keep me from getting stuck kicking at the same height each time, and because in the real world, my problems usually come in bunches. Often, I must train alone or not train at all, so I have to limit my training intensity for safety. A second set of eyes can help spot flaws--and prevent injuries. It is very hard to dial 911 when one's back is thrown out. These kicking techniques can injure the practitioner if done incorrectly. I like both mirrors and video because when I initially practice, I can watch myself in the mirror. For realistic practice, I need to concentrate on technique and the target instead of watching my own reflection--instant video playback aids me in spotting what happened. I can even figure out if my kick was in the right place or not! Shawn wrote about the "crawl, walk, and run" phases of training and the basic and advanced kicking techniques are covered in detail. Exact detail. Train at your own risk. I perform a risk reduction prior to training--assess the risk level and employ risk reduction techniques to make training safe. Remember that training is synthetic reality, intended to be less expensive than gaining real-world experience.
I think that "Achieving Kicking Excellence: Reverse Crescent Kick" is well organized. There are ten chapters. The introduction defines the kick and advises how to use the book. Chapter One is kick anatomy: bones and muscles. Chapter Two recommends warm up and stretching exercises. Chapter Three is Basic Principles: striking surface, target areas, and 11 other key points. Clear graphics left me with little doubt about what part of the foot to apply and where to hit my opponent. Chapter Four covered the primary kick technique. Again, the graphics are very clear. They include "dance step diagrams" showing where the feet go--footwork is critical to effective kicking. The photos have numbered labels stressing correct positioning of each part of the body. Chapter Five is variations of the primary technique. Chapter Six covers training and practice techniques to achieve skill, strength, speed, and power. Chapter Seven is a trouble-shooting guide. Chapter Eight is applications: how to use this in competition or combat. Chapter Nine is Shawn's awards and accomplishments. Chapter Ten previews the next volume in the series. There are a table of contents, a recommended reading list, and an index.
This is an excellent study guide. I can train some now, on my own, and when I find training partners (sparring partners and a referee) I might even get proficient!

The Other Crescent Kick
Volume 5, "Reverse Crescent Kick" (outside crescent in many styles) in Kovacich's "Achieving Kicking Excellence" series, like the previous four books, covers the kick from about every angle one could possibly imagine. Shawn if anything, is consistent, which aids this series. Format is the same throughout all books so far, which aids the instructor or the student, making information more quickly accessible. The reader knows what to expect, details about muscle groups, target areas, and proper technique are standard.

His application for the spinning crescent (step back turning reverse crescent) on page 187-188 is right on. I first, before reading martial books with photos, normally skim the photos and titles of chapters before begining to read. I saw the photos on this page and thought "Oh no, bad technique to throw with his opponent's maneuver."
Then I finally get to that page later in the day and Shawn uses the occasion to show what is wrong with the kick. Thank goodness and I wasn't disappointed. So far, Shawn Kovachich's technical knowledge about the kicks thru volume 5 have been impressive. This book is a bonus for students and instructors a like.