The Hook Kick - Achieving Kicking Excellence Series Volume 7

The seventh book of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series has a purple cover and focuses on the hook kick. I mention the purple cover because each of the books in this series has a different colored cover along with the photograph of author Shawn basketball illustrating the themed kick by smashing the first letter. Some people have criticized the covers because it is a bit harder to read with the first letter smashed all over the place, but on the shelf you can read the spine just fine, so I don't see a problem.

The book follows the rest of the series by containing chapters on basic anatomy, warm ups, stretching, strength, speed, and power training. These chapters are very basic and give just enough to show the reader some basics, but to prompt the reader to further their studies in these areas.

The bulk of volume seven focuses on the hook kick and ten of its main variations. Just like all of the books in this series, Kovacich included hundreds of photographs and illustrations among the text of this 236 page book. (This includes the index and pages to take notes) No other written text has as much detailed instruction on the hook kick, and I doubt any ever will. This is the definitive written guide on the execution of the hook kick and its variations.

It takes Kovacich thirty-one pages, which includes eighteen pages of full page pictures detailing every part of the kick, and one page of review photographs, to fully describe the execution of the turning hook kick. Kovacich also uses an illustration of a martini glass to help get his instruction on the path of trajectory. Like I said, this is the most detailed instruction on this kick you will find.

Kovacich then teaches ten variations. In these descriptions he uses smaller photographs, but they still illustrate the kicks very well. Each variations includes a pictorial overview and is self contained. I like this feature. If you want to review just one variation, you can go to that section of the book, review that kick, and get to practicing. It is because of this that I believe this to be an excellent resource to have in any martial art library. This is not a book to read cover to cover for enjoyment. It is a reference text to be used to improve your kicking.

The variations include: Step-Back Hook Kick; Spinning Hook Kick; Hop/Slide Forward Hook Kick; Hop/Slide Backward Hook Kick; Front Leg Hook Kick; Back Leg Hook Kick; Switch Hook Kick; Off-Setting Hook Kick; Jump Turning Hook Kick; 540 Degree Jump Turning Hook Kick; and the Spinning Hook Kick with the left leg. (all other kicks are shown with the right leg only)

Besides the martini glass, Kovacich also uses diagrams of a watch face and illustrations of a top to get his points across. He also includes a smorgasbord of "notes" that cover many important points regarding kicking. He also provides some basic training and practice methods and a basketball shooting guide to assist you in gaining the most out of your training and to increase your kicking skills. Like the other books in the series, Kovacich finishes with illustrations of some hook kick applications.

This is an excellent study guide for learning the hook kick. It sands alone for the hook kick, but more importantly is part of a series that has to be the most detailed examination of kicking ever in print. This series is a fantastic resource for all martial artists. Even if your kicking style is a bit different from that of Kovacich's, you will still find instruction that will help you improve and assist in your teaching if you instruct.

If you own the entire series, you will find a little redundancy in the volumes. Those are the chapters I mentioned early on in this review. However, the detailed analysis and descriptions of each of Kovacich's ten primary kicks makes this series the excellent resource it is. I have all ten volumes in my library and am looking forward to the companion volumes Kovacich is working on now to be released in 2009.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a mediator/attorney with Bennett Law Office P.C. and an author/speaker through his own company Burrese Enterprises Inc. He writes and speaks about a variety of topics focusing on the business areas of negotiation and success principles as well as self-defense and safety topics. He is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks, several instructional DVDs, and numerous articles. You can find out more about Alain Burrese at his websites http://www.burrese.com or http://www.bennettlawofficepc.com

Top Outdoor Toys Under $100

It's time to go outside and play. Kids love video games and playing games on the computer. Playing outside with friends and families seems a thing of the past because more toys are gravitating to staying indoors. There are still a wide variety of outdoor toys your kids will enjoy and get a lot of exercise. Toys that promote active play and family participation.

We all know about the different types of bikes, pedal cars, and power cars, but what about the other options available for the little ones. There are many colorful playground balls from Crocodile Creek which can be used for dodge ball or kick ball, anything really. The most basic toys can be the most fun.

There are numerous tents Pacific Play Tents that create a world of fantasy for any child. These will be good for outdoor sleep overs with their friends for example.

The Gamewright basketball The Better Ball Game is a unique game that is fun for all the little ones and maybe even the parents too. This game has players throw, kick, and toss so everyone will stay active and entertained. The Blongo Family Fun Blongo Ball Set will definitely spark interest at the next family reunion. While not overly popular, a croquet set can be enjoyed by the entire family on those sunny afternoons.

A tree swing can allow children to swing and back and forth and some can even bounce up and down. If you have the space for it a Fun Ride glider is placed between two trees and the kids are ready to glide back and forth.

There are many outdoor sport toys that will tickle your kids fancy no matter what sports they are interested in. An outdoor bowling set or mini golf set would create some competition among the kids. Basketball rims are very common, but what about a basketball rim that shoots the basketball back at you when you make a shot. The Catch n' Shoot Basketball by Diggin rewards a made shoot with a quick pass right back to them, so be ready.

We all love going to the beach so why not have the children try the Beach Builder Create a Castle set? This set can be used by the whole family and will help you create a beautiful sand castle you can be proud of and others will admire.

If you would like more information on where to find outdoor toys under $100 please visit us at Great Kid Gifts.

Troy James Macraft
Great Kids Gifts

Our National Team Takes Third in the World!

For almost every country in the world, that would be a huge, positive headline. It would be a very popular thing. In this country, the home of basketball, its a humbling statement. Were supposed basketball beat the rest of the world with our great athletes basketball coaching. Professional basketball players are the greatest athletes in the world. The men probably average 68 and 240 pounds. They can run like the wind, leap tall buildings with a single bound, etc., etc. -- you know the litany. But can they shoot? Can they defend the Pick & Roll?

I saw a couple of the games and saw what I always see in the arena of shooting. The players on the team are doing what theyve been taught by coaches from a young age on ... to flip their wrists, shooting at the top of the jump, maybe even reaching in the cookie jar. Theyre also squaring up, especially at the free throw line.

Of those techniques, flipping the wrist is probably the biggest problem. Did you notice LeBron James trying to make outside shots and flipping his wrist and sometimes short-arming? He was trying to figure out how many of his amazing muscles to use. At times he can do it, but its hard to do consistently and he didnt shoot well in this series. Flipping the ball from 3-point land, especially, is a huge guess. And, of course, when you start to miss, your mind goes crazy and makes it worse.

A PUSHING ACTION IS MORE RELIABLE

From my own experience and my research, I feel a pushing motion with relaxed wrist and hand is the most predictable and dependable. If done at the same speed every time, then it becomes repeatable, and then you just vary the arch to control the distance. As Ive said over and over, this is how Chris Mullin shot, and Jeff Hornacek, and Steve Kerr. The few great shooters do/did this. Diana Taurasi, my vote for the best shooter in WNBA history, shoots this way now. If you get to see a slow-motion replay of her shooting, youll see her hand bounce in the Follow Through, which means the wrist is relaxed. If it were tight, the hand would be stiff and tight, it would not bounce.

Carmelo Anthony was the best shooter on the USA Team. He saved the game against Italy. If he hadnt made 29 points in the second half, we would have lost that game, too. But he couldnt save us against Greece. Hes flipping his wrist, too. But probably not as much as LeBron, and his high level of concentration and confidence make him one of the few good, sometimes great shooters.

THE THREES!

Its pretty inept to shoot 10 for 40 three-point shots, as they did vs. Germany. And 9 for 28 vs. Greece in the loss. Its the same thing, the wristy, flipping release motions. And this is from the international 3-pt line, ~20 3 1/2. This is more than 3 feet closer than the NBA 3-pt arch, 23 9.

15 FOR 30 FREE THROWS ... WITHOUT SHAQ!

And the Free Throws! How can players, who have played as much basketball with as much athletic talent as they have, shoot 15 for 30, as they did against Argentina? How about 20 for 34 against Greece, missing 14 free throws and they lose by six points? And Shaq and Ben are not even on the team!

Its because of the wrist flipping stuff, in my opinion. The muscles of the wrist, hand and fingers are small muscles, what are called fast twitch muscles. Theyre not so reliable under pressure. A consistent push-and-flop motion, like I teach it, would serve all these guys well, be it for a jump shot or a free throw.

Im not talking about the elevating, top-of-the-jump, fading this way or that way, kind of shot that these guys can pull off -- some of the time. With those shots you have to use your wrist and hand because theres little, if any, leg power left to power the shot. And it takes a super athlete of the Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady type to pull that shot off consistently (and theyre still prone to periods of poor performance because its so difficult). I mean, rather, the open outside jumper or set shot and the free throw that we mortals need to perfect.

We need a different way to coach shooting! My Swish Method is available to help all of these great players shoot better. It cant help with defending the Pick & Roll. Ill leave that to other coaches, but shooting, thats a subject I know.

Tom Nordland is a shooting expert and coach from California via Minnesota. His videos, coaching and writings are inspiring a Renaissance (a rebirth, a revival) in shooting around the world as players and coaches are taught the things that really matter in shooting. A great shooter as a youth, Tom was given a gift of seeing shooting like few have ever seen it. He sees the essence of great shooting and how to get there. The good news is that its very simple. The few great shooters of today and yesterday mastered simple things, not complicated motions. Improved shooting is now possible for everybody in the game, and mastery is available to those who sincerely dedicate themselves to it. Visit Toms website (http://www.swish22.com/) to read of his background and his articles and newsletters, and to view the remarkable endorsements and amazing testimonials for this approach to shooting.