| Crescent Kick is the fourth book of the Achieving | | | | having to refer back to different chapters. Kovacich |
| Kicking Excellence series by Shawn Kovacich. Just as | | | | uses plentiful photographs and illustrations to |
| he did with the other volumes of the series, Kovacich | | | | demonstrate all aspects of the kick, striking angles, |
| attacked the instruction of the crescent kick with | | | | foot placement, and the arc of the kick. As I |
| meticulous detail and thoroughness. | | | | mentioned, he attacks this with meticulous detail and |
| This book is the most detailed written description | | | | you will not find a more complete written account of |
| you will find on executing the crescent kick, and | | | | the crescent kick anywhere. |
| should be included in any martial artist's book | | | | The chapters on strength, speed, and power are the |
| collection who incorporates kicking into his or her | | | | weakest chapters of the book. While it is nice that |
| training. This is not a book you just sit down and | | | | Kovacich included a bit on these topics, the real |
| read cover to cover for enjoyment. It is a resource | | | | strength of this book is with the detailed instruction |
| text to be studied and referred to at various times | | | | of the kick itself. There are many other resources |
| during your training or teaching. Yes teaching! I think | | | | out there that cover strength, speed, and power in |
| instructors will learn tips on how to teach the | | | | more detail and depth than Kovaich does here. The |
| crescent kick by reading this manual. | | | | good thing is he introduces these concepts and any |
| The most valuable sections of this book are the | | | | good martial artist will further his or her study of |
| chapters that teach the basics of the crescent kick | | | | these to incorporate into their training with different |
| and then the variations. The variations Kovacich | | | | resources. |
| covers include: Step-Back Crescent Kick, Back Spin | | | | The trouble shooting guide offers some good tips to |
| Crescent Kick, Hop/Slide Forward Crescent Kick, Hop | | | | better your kicking, and Kovacich also includes a |
| Slide Backward Crescent Kick, Front Leg Crescent | | | | short chapter on crescent kick applications. |
| Kick, Switch Crescent Kick, Off-Setting Crescent | | | | If you want in-depth instruction on the crescent kick |
| Kick, Butterfly Crescent Kick, and the Back Spin | | | | and ten of its main variations, this book with over |
| Crescent Kick. The chapters do have some | | | | 200 pages of text, photographs, and illustrations is a |
| repetition, but this enables the book to be more | | | | must have addition to your martial art library. It is an |
| easily used as a reference tool, since you can pick | | | | excellent resource for any martial artist regardless of |
| the book up and review any of the kicks without | | | | style. |