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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. I have basically been stretching the same way that I was taught in junior high for the last 30 years. I have made more progress toward the split in the 30 days since I began reading this book then I did in all that previous time.
my endurance too. prior to reading this book, i used to have a lot of misconceptions on how to gain flexibility. never in my life did i feel physically fit.i gave a rating of 4 stars instead of 5 because:i) there should have been more illustrations and examples.ii) it should have a more logical presentation of ideas rather than bits of topics scattered all over the book (some useful ideas can only be found in the q & a portion).iii) detailed samples of workouts and explanations (e.g., i had to search the internet what does "adductor flies" mean).iv) i am not that versed in physical education and human anatomy as the author assumes. my own methods were all wrong and maybe, even dangerous. i also missed out a lot of things on pre-requisites for flexibility training such as strengthening the muscles first.after reading this book back to back and following the methods, within a few weeks my flexibility and also strength has improved a lot. maybe, simpler explanations for the layman would make it easier and even more enjoyable.overall, this is a good buy. and i don't regret it.
I am amazed how long Kurtz managed to maintain hip flexibility by doing the side ballistic throws of the leg, I give him credit for that. I've been in martial arts for more than 20 years of which I spent the last 10 training other people. I bought the book (and the DVD too) cause I was interested in the scientific part of stretching, anatomy of the human body and wondered if there are some new techniques in this book. The other thing is that he does not do the front split but a variation because his hind leg is clearly in a straddle position, he is unable to stick the hind knee into the floor and perform a real front split. Kurtz is clearly demonstrating in this book that he can do an excellent straddle split but not the front split properly. The scientific part is good although there are so many scientific books of the same kind (for free) on the internet.
The DVD is even less usable, there might be two clips that are useful and the rest is strenghtening of the inner thighs and abductors. I am flexible to do both the front splits and the straddle split and I know how crucial it is to have a good coach teach you how to do the splits, I myself have had troubles at the beginning before finding the right way. But following the advice from the book like ballistic side leg raises might lead to serious injuries without proper warmup of the hip muscles because that movement is not a usual movement in everyday use. But besides the scientific part this book is NOT a guide to flexibility training as the title says. The method of getting to the splits is really not the best one, specially the part when Kurtz suggests standing in the horse riding stance for long times or strengthening the inner thighs to get to the side-split (I wonder if the author knows that it is called a straddle split). His 'Test your flexibility potential' is a good thing for people to see that they are capable of doing the splits but the rest is going to be of little help if someone want practical advice how to do the splits in a fast, efficient and safe way.
The method he proposes is unfortunately not the best, nor is it worth the money I paid for the book and the DVD.
Great book still reading it but it seems like the stuff really works and made me understand more about stretching its anatomy
The book isn't organized perfectly, so I'd encourage you to read and re-read. After 2 months, I'm inches away from splits in all 3 directions and am confident that another month or 2 will do it. I've gone over it several times, highlighted it, dog-eared it and still pick up new bits of info. I'm a 36 year-old, long-time martial artist and athlete that has never had this kind of flexibility, not even as a competative gymnast many moons ago. My foot speed, grappling agility and explosiveness have also improved greatly as a direct result of this book's stretching methods.Reading is no substitute for training, but you can apply the information here easily, with little time and effort and make great gains. on the next read. If you want to train smart, this is a great resource.
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