Martial Mechanics - Maximum Results With Minimum Effort in the Practice of the Martial Arts
“Martial Mechanics: Maximum Results with Minimum Effort in the Practice of the Martial Arts” by Phillip Starr is a simple book about complex topics. When I say simple, I mean that Starr has simplified these topics to make them easier to understand and incorporate into your training.
Starr has been practicing martial arts for more than a half century, and his studies include Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, Taijiquan, Shao-lin Kung Fu, Kyokushinkai karate, and Filipino arnis. Something common to these arts, and all martial arts, are the physics and kinesiology of movement. Starr explains the science behind martial art techniques and provides a guide for developing more speed and power. In short, he explains how to make your techniques more effective.
As I stated, Starr simplified his instruction to make it easier for the reader to understand the concepts he describes. He did a very good job at explaining, and the accompanying photographs and diagrams are clear and illustrate what he is teaching.
Right up front, Starr tells the reader that this book does not contain any “silver bullets” or “secret techniques.” This book is about principles upon which traditional martial arts are based and how you can utilize the principles to make your own techniques faster, stronger, and more effective.
Some of the topics Starr covers include: principles of power, types of impact, speed, stance, footwork, breathing, spinal alignment, and combining all components into a technique. Starr also includes additional chapters on topics such as strength, density, blocking, and training exercises and equipment. Some of these chapters are very short, and don’t provide everything Starr knows on the topic for sure. (Starr is one of those people who has probably forgotten more than most people ever learn, and to put all of his knowledge in a book would be a tomb that many could not carry.) Even though short, each chapter does contain practical advice and something each martial artist could use in their own training.
I don’t think this book will be appreciated by those that are only interested in all flash without much bang. It seems some of the martial arts today have gotten away from the basics that made them fighting arts for more flashy tournament spectacles. Some have thrown out the traditional for more physical training to compensate for body mechanics. This is too bad, because the traditional arts have so much more to offer than sometimes taught. The basic principles Starr teaches in this book are some of those “gems” that are sometimes ignored but should be the foundation of training.
I recommend this book to all martial artists that want to further incorporate traditional principles of speed and power into their training to make what they do more effective.
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 teaches people to live with the warrior’s edge through his writing and speaking on 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 and http://bennettlawofficepc.com
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