By Phillip Starr
MARTIAL MECHANICS was
my second book. I'd always wanted to write a book like this; a book
that would help martial arts enthusiasts MAXIMIZE THEIR STRIKING
POWER; a book to explain the principles of physics and kinesiology as
they apply to martial arts technique and movement. After all, you
DON'T NEED A LOT OF STRENGTH TO GENERATE TERRIBLY DESTRUCTIVE FORCE
in karate/kung-fu/taekwondo techniques...but you DO NEED to be able
to apply the proper principles of physics and kinesiology!
Otherwise, you're just wasting your time.
It was great fun to
write! I decided that I'd write in the same words that I'd actually
use to teach a class (well, except for some of the expletives)
because I'm tired of the usual sterile approach that reads like a
math textbook. That's about as interesting as watching paint dry on
a storm fence.
My editor didn't
appreciate some of the humor - like the line about squeezing the anal
sphincter when you execute certain movements - where I told the
reader to imagine training in a prison shower... that line was
unceremoniously removed. :-) I had to argue with copy editors about
leaving in a lot of the humor. They said no one would know what a
“klick” is...I told them not to worry. Most people would
understand. If they didn't, they could bloody well ask a friend.
I'd taught these
principles so many times that the words came easily. The photo
sessions were tough, though. I learned a lot about what editors like
in terms of photos for a book and we had to do many re-shoots. It
was really a LOT of work!
When the book came out,
we had a few – very few - people (mostly high school teachers)
whine that the physics were faulted. I contacted a couple and asked
exactly what they meant. One argued that the words “power” and
“force” as I'd used them, were incorrect in terms of classical
physics. I reminded him that I was aware of that but I was writing
for people who'd probably never studied classical physics...not for a
class of science students! Just to sure, I checked with one of my
students in Ireland who is a professor of quantum physics. She
assured me that the physics shown in the book were correct. That
settled the matter. Another critic (in the UK) didn't like my use of
“American humor.” I figured he needed a laughter enema.
On the whole, the book
was very well received and many people wrote to me about how the book
had actually changed the way that they practiced their martial arts.
I was very happy to hear that my efforts had helped them. I'd
perused a couple of other books on the subject (I won't mention their
names here); one was fair but incomplete and the other was seriously
flawed. I wanted mine to be as accurate as possible. To describe
some of the body actions was trickier than I'd anticipated.
All in all, the book
has done very well. My thanks to everyone who purchased a copy. I
hope it's been of help to you in understanding how to improve your
technique!
*Available at Amazon.com and
fine bookstores. Get your copy now! I also teach seminars
worldwide. If you'd be interested in hosting an event, contact me
at: sifustarr@gmail.com
