Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22503 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780981504414
• Condition: USED - GOOD
• Notes:
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Inside Flap

About the Author

Customer Reviews

Fantastic MMA Technique Book for Aspiring Fighters By A World Champion Human Being
I had been eagerly anticipating this books release since I first heard it was coming out a few months back. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed.

The layout and format for this book is very well done and it abounds with literally hundreds of full color photographs printed on glossy paper to ensure their richness and clarity, and this is just the aesthetic properties of this book, and I haven't even got to the quality of the actual content, which is nothing short of fantastic.

For the most part, the techniques themselves are described in very good detail to go along with the numerous photographs depicting the actual technique. However, there were a few instances were I felt that a little bit better description would have been appropriate. But please don't let this even be anything more than a minor inconsequential annoyance compared to the wealth of material that is presented here. The author does a very good job of providing a lot of good solid information on a variety of subjects, although no great amount of in-depth discussion is really given to any one subject.

The following is a list of the main topics and the sub-topics which are discussed in this book.

1. STANCES & FOOTWORK

A. Stances
B. Footwork

2. COUNTER MOVEMENT

A. Evasive Techniques
B. Parries and Blocks
C. Checking Techniques

3. STRIKING TECHNIQUES

A. Punches
B. Elbows
C. Kicks
D. Knees

4. ATTACKS

A. Same Stance
B. Opposite Stance
C. Feints
D. Striking to the Clinch

5. COUNTERATTACKS

A. Same Stance
B. Opposite Stance
C. Countering Kicks

Each section is loaded with sound well-rounded information and goes over numerous techniques and combinations. This is definitely a book that any aspiring MMA fighter wants to own in order to improve their fighting skills in the cage. I would highly recommend this book without any reservations whatsoever. Here are two other books that I would also recommend.

Wrestling for Fighting: The Natural Way

Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge

Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

Great Book from Anderson
I just recently got a chance to read one of the newest books from Victory Belt publishing, Anderson Silva's "striking" volume in his upcoming book series. Firstly I want to say this is one of the better striking instructional manuals I've seen. I've never seen any book break down angles, concepts, and strategies like this book. First thing the book stresses is the importance of learning to strike from both stances, because whether you're fighting opposite stance or same stance really determines your angles, your strategies, and in general what techniques you can execute. Secondly it stresses the difference between a high and a low stance, and how the degrees of separation between the two stances will determine what techniques you can execute more easily than others. The third thing this book stresses is good foot/head movement. All the footwork and body movement (slips, bob/weave, ect) sections are very simply displayed, and any subtle movements are made more clear with graphical arrows to demonstrate the movements. And as mentioned before, the importance is stressed between inside movement and outside movement, as well as proper movement during same stance fighting and opposite stance.

The first few chapters of techniques are all movement and defensive based. Checks, parries, slips, foot work, blocking with high guard, and circling out are all covered in thorough detail. The next few chapters cover all of Anderson's striking techniques. These chapters focus on the base technique it's self (without combos or counters). The pictures show in multiple angles with and without opponent, to show the accurate way to execute these techniques. The attacks cover the entire range of strikes you'll see from Anderson Silva, or anyone else for that matter. Everything from inside cut kicks to spinning rear elbows are covered. There's a chapter for punches, elbows, kicks, and knees covering each in heavy detail.

The final few chapters are meat and potatoes of the book in my opinion, and it's also what other books I've seen haven't covered. The sections are broken down in attacks and counter attacks. And each set of attacks and combos are broken down by same stance (say orthodox on orthodox) and opposite stance (say orthodox to southpaw). The same with the counterattacks. If you've never really sat down and analyzed the difference between the two situations, you will likely be amazed by this section. Anderson really covers all the scenarios between each different circumstance. The counter-attacks section is the same. There are huge differences between how you slip a punch and counter a southpaw and an orthodox.

The technical information in this book is right on. Technical notes through out highlight important features that may not be covered in the set of still photos such as lead foot placement, maneuvering around your opponent, and proper counters through switching stances. I'm not sure where it mentions that punching and round kicking range are the same, but that's a valid technical point. If you're practicing muay thai and kicking with your shin (which is the proper technique) your kicks range will about the same or maybe only an inch or two longer than your punches range. Overall it's a great book, and any martial artist will be able to pick up a thing or two to add to their game. I highly recommend reading this book if you get the chance.

The best primer on striking for MMA
I was very excited to receive the latest Victory Belt publication in the mail: Anderson Silva's MMA Instruction Manual STRIKING.

I'm a huge fan of this series. Co-authors Erich Krauss and Glen Cordoza have also done books with Randy Couture, B.J. Penn and Karo Parisyan.

Like the others, this one is a very well produced tome -- clearly written, excellent color photos, step-by-step instructions on techniques both basic and advanced.

The first thing to jump out at me on perusing this one was a bit of disappointment. A quick glance at the section titles left a glaring omission: Stance & Footwork, Countermovement, Striking Techniques, Attacks and Counterattacks...where's the section on the Clinch?!?!? I had to flip through the book four times, seeing only the barest reference to the Thai Plum or the Dirty Boxing Clinch before I noticed Page 271 --- "Related Projects by Anderson Silva". There it was -- Anderson Silva's MMA Instruction Manual: THE CLINCH.

Ah, I see, they're going to do a whole 'nother book on Silva's clinch work. Damn. The dude has so much to say about the clinch that it needs its own book.

Anyway, the book I have in my hands is still totally awesome. My favorite thing about the Victory Belt series is the insight these books give to the fighting style of the authors. This book, like Anderson Silva, is an interesting combination. Its two parts methodical attention to footwork and positioning, two parts tactics -- how to set up combinations and how to counterattack, and one part crazy flash moves that reveal Silva's love of martial arts movies!

The bit on the Lead Reverse Back Elbow (the move he famously KTFO'd Tony Fryklund with, watch it here) is classic. Anderson describes how he first saw the move in a movie called Ong Bak starring Tony Jaa, a Muay Boran master. He decides that he's going to use it in his next fight and his trainers tell him to quit wasting his time with stupid movie moves that are never going to work. So he goes home and gets his wife to hold the pads for him while he secretly practices the move hundreds of times. Then he unleashes it in Cage Rage.

So after I've flipped through it a few dozen times and looked at all the flashy, exotic moves, I go back and read from the beginning. The thing that jumps out at me is just how much of Anderson Silva's flashy flashy fighting style is based on his total mastery of fundamentals. He puts everything in a context of footwork and positioning, combinations and counter-attacks.

The amount of information I gleaned about striking, particularly footwork, from this book positively dwarfs that I've gotten from every other MMA book combined. Lets face it, Silva is light years ahead of most MMA practitioners as a striker and comparing his striking instructionals to those of B.J. Penn or Randy Couture is like the difference between basic algebra and advanced calculus. You will not be disappointed if you buy this book looking to learn about advanced striking technique for MMA.

I've been going back and watching all of Anderson's fights and I can already tell the difference in my level of understanding of his artistry. I've even spotted him using several of the combinations and counters from the book.

You will be a bit bummed if you were looking to learn about the clinch but we'll just have to wait for 2009 when Victory Belt releases that one.

On the whole this is another excellent production by Krauss and Cordoza and I recommend it highly. Even if you don't train (like me) its a great way to learn the nuances of the sport so you can appreciate it even more when you watch it. If you do train, this book could unlock a whole new world of striking technique for you.