Essential Gear / March 2007
Essential Gear / March 2007 |
In Competitive Taekwondo: Winning Training and Tactics, four-time Korea national champion Yong Sup Kil teaches stances, foot angling, conditioning, flexibility and timing, as well as proven attack strategies. The 210-page softcover is illustrated with black-and-white photos and sports a retail price of $18.95. www.humankinetics.com
New from Shambhala Publications is The Illustrated Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi’s classic treatise on strategy. Thomas Cleary provides a modern translation of the 1643 manuscript, and the hardcover’s 156 pages contain plenty of color photographs and illustrations. The book lists for $24.95. www.shambhala.com
Diallo Nkenge Frazier makes no bones about it: He used to be a gang “enforcer.” But that was before he embarked on a mission to help others defend themselves. In his Ghetto Blocks DVD set, he teaches the no-nonsense fighting method he learned on the street. In his Revelations of a Warrior book, he espouses the philosophy that helped him reshape his life. The three DVDs go for $72, and the 58-page book sells for $9. For more information about the DVDs, call (800) 899-8153 or visit www.trsdirect.com; for the book, visit www.dorrancepublishing.com
Grappling for Middle-Aged Martial Artists If you like what Roy Harris has to say in his feature article in this issue, you should check out his DVD course titled Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Over 40. In its one hour and 51 minutes, Harris covers all the topics outlined in the story and more. It sells for $39.99. www.royharris.com
Martial artists who are into the Philippine arts but hesitant about making contact with rattan sticks should check out Revgear’s Soft Stix. Available in 21-, 25- and 28-inch models, they’re stiff enough to provide a secure grip but soft enough to minimize the pain of a strike. The retail price is $39.99. www.revgear.com
Martial Feats on Film Budo Exotica offers 60 minutes of amazing breaking demos, full-contact matches, knockouts and battles with bulls. Now available in DVD format, it comes to you courtesy of Yamazato Productions for $29.95. (888) 299-9262, www.yamazato-videos.com
Guide to Karate’s Highest Skills Frequent Black Belt contributor Tom Muzila wrote Mental Karate: A Warrior’s Guide to pass on the knowledge he acquired under the tutelage of Tsutomu Ohshima and other masters over the years. The 206-page softcover addresses 19 essential topics, including belief, perception, visualization, confidence, fear, intuition and chi power. It sells for $24.95. (714) 636-4437, www.tommuzila.com
New Self-Defense Tool Martial artists in need of a handy self-defense device should look at the ShoBo Defender. The 6-inch-long kubotan-like implement is made of plastic and sports a lanyard and key ring. It comes with an instructional DVD and costs $19.95. (843) 909-0794, www.shobo4u.us
Tribute to Bruce Lee Sid Campbell and Greglon Yimm Lee collaborated to write Remembering the Master: Bruce Lee, James Yimm Lee and the Creation of Jeet Kune Do. Based on personal letters and recollections, it chronicles the period in which Bruce Lee lived and trained in California. The 212-page illustrated book costs $19.95. www.bluesnakebooks.com
Isshin-Ryu on DVD Isshin-ryu karate is widely practiced, yet few understand its true uses. Now, longtime Black Belt author Chris Thomas presents Isshin-Ryu Master Class, a DVD program that contains demonstrations of the eight kata, as well as a thorough treatment of bunkai. The three-disc set contains four hours of instruction and costs $99.95. www.requisite-variety.com |
