Reviews (3)

Extremely useful exercise guide
This book is exactly what i wanted. Simply a collection of great various plyometric exercises with the medicine ball. No fluff.

Basic yet effective
This book reads like a blue print for medicine ball works as it pertains to developing speed and strength.The exercises presented are the foundation of such work and hence are valuable to the beginner.Thoselooking for more advanced exercises and techniques will probably bedisappointed.Conclusion: great for the beginner.

PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES With the Medicine Ball
PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES With the Medicine Ball: Optimum performance of an athlete requires two complementary abilities: skill and power.All sports share these features.This book describes exercises designed to developpower, particularly the speed component of power, in the upper extremitiestrunk and lower extremities.It begins with planning of a programfocusing on intensity, duration and recovery.It explains theclassifications of the exercises.It then moves into the actual exerciseswith usually five in each area of:Arm - individual, Arm - partner; Trunk- individual, Trunk - partner; Leg - individual, Leg - partner; Passing;general Upper, general Trunk, general Lower; with a whole section ofexercises for the Wheelchair Athletes.As you can see, it is varycomprehensive and I find it an excellent book that I have now incorporatedin to the exercise class I teach at a local fitness center. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health & Fitness / Exercise    4. Health/Fitness    5. Medicine balls    6. Sports & Recreation / Training    7. Plyometrics    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Training   

Reviews (23)

Over price status symbol book
Once again, I find another [...] publication not living up to the hype in other dragondoor books. The price [...] was not worth it. The book had few illustrations and and seldon corresponded to the type. A person could get very frustrated in trying to figure out how to do these few exercises. There were never enough illustrations to properly understand the exercises.Horrible- little thought went into this book just hype on how to be a great player. Dragondoor is a rip -off factory.NOT RECOMMENDED

For experienced weight trainers
I have played football very competively in both high school and college and can tell you that the fooundation that Davies lays out in his book produces better results than any other workout I have seen. There are some problems with the book however. First, as everyone has stated, there is no scheduled training guideline, this requires the reader to formulate their own. Thankfully I was very experienced and could do so with no problem. But I know that not everyone else is. Another problem with the book is that Davies has no emphasis whatsoever on gaining size. And yes, ask anyone who played real football and they will tell you that speed and then size are the two most important things (acceleration x mass= force). Davies has few if any exercises for developing much mass and even alludes to size slowing one down. Big mistake for anyone who wants to play a high level of football. It is few and far in between when someone has so much muscle that they are slowed down by it, look at the professionals. So again I had to go back and address that problem as well. Lastly, these exercises are not easy to accomplish. Many require considerable experience on how to perform the lifts, though Davies does a decent job with the pictures of showing you how to perform them. I strongly recommend this book to anyone with enough experience to formulate their own routine, if not it will only give you insight into some new lifts.

Picture book
This book is a collection of exercises and drills you can do to train for football. It's just a bunch of pictures with descriptions. There is no guidance on how to sequence your training. Dissapointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise    2. Football - General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Training    6. Fitness training    7. Soccer (Association football)   

Reviews (7)

Good Information, But Not Great
I initially purchased this book without hesitation upon recognizing Clyde Soles' name and recalling his excellent work as the gear editor for "Rock and Ice."And while he has done an excellent job of amassing a wide variety of information and adjusting it to a climbers needs, none of the material presented is really that original or profound.The bottom line of this books is eat healthy, train both aerobically and anaerobically, and supplement your climbing with strength training.I would reccommend this book for someone new to climbing and looking to set the foundation for good health and climbing.More experienced climbers looking for an additional edge or those with a solid understanding of the principles of health and fitness, however, should look elsewhere.

Best training book for all-around climbers available!
There are numerous training books for sport climbers who want to send 5.13 or boulder V12. But this is the only book for everyone else. It's a great resource for alpinists, big wall climbers, weekend 5.8 craggers, and most other outdoor athletes. This takes the training and nutrition chapters in Mark Twight's "Extreme Alpinism" to the next level with far more content and detailed explanations. It offers practical advice and emphasizes time efficiency and having fun for a healty lifestyle. Definitely a good book for almost any climber!

What a Great Book
I had been climbing for a while, and wanting to get better.When I started to train with climbing in mind, I really didn't know where to start.So, I did the usual things and felt frustrated.Fortunately I came across this book.It really answers questions, is immensely practical, and is a pleasant read.If you want to climb stronger, get this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Rock climbing    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Training    6. Climbing & mountaineering   

Subjects:  1. Athletes    2. Athletic Training And Conditioning    3. Diet Therapy    4. Health & Fitness    5. Health/Fitness    6. Nutrition    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Training    9. Fitness & diet    10. Health & Fitness / Nutrition   

Reviews (6)

Great book but rather technical
Love the book and it's advice but yes, it IS technical and there is alot to go through. Great for general guidelines and specific advice on particular sports and exercises. Plenty of stuff you can do at home if you don't have access to a gym. I'd recommend it to anyone in training!

Excellent Overall Guidance & Specific Training Tips
The word "comprehensive" seems very fitting for "Conditioning for Outdoor Fitness" because the volume packs in a lot of background information on physiology as well as specific training regimens for particular outdoor sports.I particularly value the icons for different sports used to identify exercises that are particularly valuable for the sport you are preparing for.The final chapters provide focused training regimens for specific sports, which are cross-referenced to the exercise descriptions found in other parts of the book.The book also provides valuable tips on functional exercises that focus on combinations of muscle groups to achieve more practical training than the muscle isolation process used in many weight training machines.All in all, this is one of the very best I've seen for sport-focused training.

Take it in moderation
The book is clear and describes a lot of interesting exercises but doesn't translate into a realistic program.Read more

Subjects:  1. Athletic Training And Conditioning    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Exercise    4. Outdoor Skills    5. Outdoor recreation    6. Physical fitness    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Training    10. Fitness training    11. Fitness    12. Physical Therapy    13. Athletic Trainers   

Reviews (3)

Louis van Gaal: Genius
During the late 1960's and early 1970's Rinus Michels and Ajax took flowing, attacking soccer and turned it into a science.This science has become widely known as 'Total Football.' Offensiv soccer when it`s best !!
This a Bibel for all people, that likes Ajax Amsterdams 4-3-3 soccer. You simply become glad for Van Gaals`, and the others Ajax coaches way to think about the greatest sport, soccer !!

easy scoring
great subject,lot's of jari,and no adze's at all. makes me feel melancholic considering the lame results of ajax nowadays. But it remains to be the best club in the world so we have rank this book in importanceabove (for example) the work shakespierre or goethe ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Soccer    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Training    5. Coaching    6. Soccer (Association football)    7. Soccer--Coaching    8. Sports training & coaching   

Reviews (39)

Good Info, But...
...the book, as many have noted, is pricey.The other thing that bothered me was the tone.Pavel more than occasionally dismisses other perspectives in the most childish ways, referring to preferences for "pink dumbbells" and making declarations like, "Go get a manicure" to "effeminate" people who apparently don't train correctly.Can we be interested in improving our bodies without acting childish?

The Skill of Strength....and some advertisements to boot
What can I say?Pavel is always a blend of the best and the worst in the fitness genre.He has some of the most intriguing, refreshing, hard-to-find, scientifically proven information out there.Like him or hate him, one cannot deny his genius and authority.At the same time, he is a salesman without peer.I'm glad to see him enjoying the benefits of free-market capitalism, but he could do without adding so much fluff and hyperbole to his books.His rhetoric can leave the uninitiated distrusting numerous other exercise methodologies, many of which are legitimate.Yes, as Pavel says there has been a softening of the fitness industry in america, but one does not have do subscribe to his version of "hardcore" fitness to see results.
Bodyweight Exercises
This book is excellant.Even though my personal focus isn't bodyweight exercises, I still consider this book valuable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding    2. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    3. Consumer Health    4. Exercise    5. Healthy Living    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Weight Training   

Reviews (6)

A Good Intro to the World of Plyometrics
This book does an excellent job introducing the topic of plyometrics to the reader.It discusses the different types and categories of jumps as well as the varying intensities.It even gives sport specific plyos as well as sample programs.However, this is not the definitive book on plyometrics.I think of it as more as a good reference tool.I would really recommend "High-Powered Plyometrics" for even more in depth info on this wonderful method of training.

Excellent Resource for your Personal Library
This is an excellent resource for the Strength & Conditioning professional. To begin with you get a little history and physiology of plyometrics. Then the author dicusses some of the basic nomenclature of plyometric training, along with the equipment that is needed. We use Donald Chu's techniques every day.
As a high school volleyball coach, I've found Donald Chu's book a terrific help in increasing our team's "credit card" jump reaches! Using Chu's techniques, we've noticed a great improvement in team performance and quickness, and I've been extremely pleased with the results.Read more

Subjects:  1. Athletic Training And Conditioning    2. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    3. Exercise    4. Physical education    5. Physical education and trainin    6. Physical education and training    7. Plyometrics    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Training    11. Fitness training   

Reviews (1)

Fit to Play Tennis
This book is a must-have for every tennis player. It covers all relevant topics of and gives you dozens of easy-to-follow exercises on how to keep the body in tip-top condition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Sports & Recreation    3. Tennis    4. Training    5. Sports & Recreation / Tennis   

Reviews (11)

All Runners Should Own This Book!
I bought a used copy on Amazon Marketplace and it was the best three bucks I ever spent!Entertaining, informative and inspiring, it profiles fifty of the greatest runners in short but amazingly detailed and well structured chapters...complete with racing states, biographical info, training plan and memorable quotes.There is something for every runner in the book...I came away with many interesting ideas and memorable words of encouragement.
Excellent Look at Best US Distance Runners: Bio/Workouts
This book surpassed my expecations because it not only masses the best all time U.S. distance runners of both sexes but Bloom does not just give you the workouts but includes compact and effective biographies on each runner that I found the most interesting of all. The fact that Frank Shorter was fair runner in his private HS years but later won the NCAA 10,000 meters is quite amazing and of course so are his marathon medals as well. Bill Rogers virtually borrow gear to get appropriately outfitted for a race (Pre sent hima pair of shoes he still has) and then runs his first 2:09 while stopping to tie his shoe (Bloom didn't mention that Rogers often stopped to drink water). Everyone remembers Jim Ryun but what about Billy Mills the great cinderella story gold medalist of the 64 Olymmpics and asthmatic Bob Schull who also wins in 64 in the 5000. Well both are covered extremely well and Schul wonders like Bloom where the top runners are of today (soccer suggests Bloom).Great personal nuggets of information plus a bit of where are they now in four pages on each athlete. The women are well represented with Doris Brown, the great miler and 800 runner Jan Merrill, Francie Laraeu, Pattie Catalano (2:27 marathon), Joan Bennoit and Mary Slaney. What's great about this book is that Bloom gives you a career look in the few pages he has on each athelete with their PR's and dates and locations along with their greatest acheivements, times, records and victories and touches of ther personal life (Schul's wife was his workout timer). For example both Slaney and Laraeu were well known milers and 1500 specialists but late in their careers both Francie Laraeu and Mary Decker Slaney ran excellent 10ks both qualifying for the Olympics late in their careers. Listed at the end of each chapter is a week out of one of their workouts during their peak period such as Frank Shorter doing intervals on the track with only 50 yards of rest just before the Olympics. Bill Rogers running almost 30 miles a day for over 200 miles a week. Mary Slaney and her impressive track workouts and Pre running 30 second 220s with a 40 second 220 (jog?) for two miles at an overall 9:20 pace. The book also includes recent stars like Bob Kennedy, Suzie Hamilton and Regina Jacobs (now shrouded in controversy).
a decent introduction
If you don't know much about the history of American distance running, this book will give you a good introduction.Each runner profiled gets only 3 pages, though.Of course the result is that the book is super-formulaic and gets boring after a while.
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Subjects:  1. Rating    2. Rating of    3. Runners (Sports)    4. Running    5. Running & Jogging    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Training    9. United States    10. Sports & Recreation / Running & Jogging   

Reviews (1)

Fantastic reference work, and very entertaining
There is only one billiards encyclopedia in the world better than this one (and it costs upwards of [$$]!)This is a *great* reference on the terminology, history, and facts of pool, billiards, snooker and other cuesports, written by the curator of the Billiard Archive (i.e., he knows what he's talking about.)I can't recommend this enough.The trade paperback version is more affordable than the hardback, but I'm really happy to have the hardback version. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    2. Encyclopedias    3. Pool, Billiards, Snooker    4. Reference    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Reference / Encyclopedias   

Reviews (50)

Good overall guide with more exercises than most weight training books.
I have searched MANY books on weight training and have found this to be the most comprehensive, offering the most variety of exercises - suitable for home and gym alike.This is by far the most inclusive book I have found, and turn back to it frequently so that I can keep my work-out varied.
Excellent info for building a woorkout plan
We found this book to be an excellent resource for us. We were trying to develope a workout plan for us and this book has all the answers. We could find specific exercises for each body area and it helped us to blend weights with an aerobic program. Highly recommended!

I'm no athlete
I checked this book out of the Library, xeroxed the parts I liked and use the exercises to get in shape for a trip.In three months, there was a noticable difference.What I like best is there are so many charts set up in a series of routines broken down by what you want to work towards.For someone like me who knows nothing of sports or exercise, it was a big help. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Fitness & diet    5. Fitness training   

Reviews (7)

100% Correct!
The title says it all. A very good book for anyone who is into physical conditioning using only body weight exercises!

Capoeira Conditioning
A very good book to learn the basics of capoira movements. It is great for general fitness for anyone of any age and fitness levels.
OK beginners book
Capoeira conditioning in a basic stretching and capoeira exercise book.
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Subjects:  1. Capoeira (Dance)    2. Consumer Health    3. Dance - Folk    4. Exercise    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Training    8. Fitness & diet    9. Health & Fitness / Exercise    10. Oriental martial arts   

Reviews (3)

Not for the average person
Briefly, this book is definitely a recap of what you see over a year of Iron Man magazines. But let's face it...has the bench press chnaged at all in 30 years? Info like this is repetitive because of that reason. This book does a great job of going over the same material everyone has.
A good book
Basically, the book seems to be a culmination of different issues ofIronMan magazine. This book gives some pretty good tip's and a bunch ofworkout routines (Although some are a bit advanced). If you've beencollecting IM mags for a long time you'll be familiar with some of the infothat is in this book.

Best Buy on the Market
Ironman's "Ultimate Guide to Building Muscle Mass" isone of the best buys on the market.you get thetrue information of how most of the current bodybuilders train along with a how-to-guide that includes the best mass-building routines of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding    2. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Healthy Living    6. Muscle strength    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Sports & Recreation / General   

Reviews (6)

great rudimentary read
Marathon for Dummies is an excellent way to acquire a holistic understanding about what to expect/prepare for when running your first marathon. I highly recommend it for beginner marathoners.

Has some good info but also some dubious advice
I've run one marathon and am training for my 2nd so I'm not a veteran by any means.
Tere Stouffer Drenth knows her stuff
What is Reader from Eastern US talking about? Tere Stouffer Drenth is a 3:06 marathoner, a time she won't brag about but she's a 37-year-old woman, so it puts her in a really elite category. This book has been reviewed by numerous running experts and it does not contain ANY misinformation that could lead to an injury. The fact is Tere did exhaustive research for this book (and tried everything on herself first), so it covers the latest trends in marathon training not outdated information from 10, 20 or 30 years ago.Read more

Subjects:  1. Marathon running    2. Running    3. Running & Jogging    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Training    7. Jogging    8. Sports & Recreation / Running & Jogging    9. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (3)

New Edition is Way Better
I'm a multi sport athlete who trains all year round regardless of what sport I play. I bought a few of these Ultimate Guide to Weight Training books, and they definitely helped me train specifically for the different sports that I play. Then about a year later I received an email from amazon that there was a new edition out.These upgraded editions are even better than the originals, with more articles and a lot more sport-specific information. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who plays a lot of sports or wants to specifically focus on training for one sport in particular.

Excellent Book - Helped My Teams
I purchased this book as an athletic director.I got this and the other sports books in the series.I received excellent feedback on the tennis book.The coach did not know much about training, but said the book is easy to read and understand.even the exercises he did not know how to do, there were photos and descriptions which made it easy for the players to use it.Definitely worth it.

Good general not sport specific
It is a good guide to weight training for someone just starting out and it is easy to understand. But, If you have any other books in the series you do not need this one. The tennis guide is very much like the one for soccer. This book is not very sport specific, if you are looking for a strengh and conditioning book more sport specific to tennis, Complete Conditioning for Tennis by the USTA would be a more valuable resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Tennis    5. Training    6. Sports training & coaching   

Reviews (2)

excellent go by for beginners or trainers a must for sports
With so many books on How TO it's really great to find one that shows you just how without making you feel like you'll never understand the basics. If you are seriously thinking about doing a lot of sports related tapingand handling of those injuries this is the book you want to add to yourlibrary.After doing sports med for 2 years now with college teams andmarines i feel a lot safer knowing this book is out there for others to goby.

Plenty of information for the novice.
With photographs of actual tapings, this book is very easy follow the step needed to tape almost any body part.Also included in the book where recommendations on strengthing tips for injured joints/muscles. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Allied Health Services - Physical Therapy    2. Bandages and bandaging    3. Medical    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sports Medicine    6. Sports injuries    7. Training    8. Treatment    9. Biomechanics, human kinetics    10. Sports injuries & medicine    11. Trauma & shock   

Reviews (50)

How One Book "Shaped" A Life....
I received this book in 1980 when I was fifteen years old. The funny thing is, I don't really remember how it came to me. Did I receive it as a gift? Did I buy it? I don't really remember, all I remember is that I owned a copy of this book and it really changed my life.
Makes you go to sleep.
This is a long over written book, I know Arnold has lot to say about body building, but the text is so boringly written, it should be sold as a sleeping pill.

The Pump.. It's Great Right?
The Education of a Bodybuilder is one of the greatest books I've read. Obviously it's in no comparison to say MacBeth or something like that, but it is as entertaining as it is educational. In the first portion of the book Arnold tells his life story of how he got into bodybuilding, his trial and error process, and ultimately leads up to his first Olmpia win. There are many great stories in between that make both for a good laugh, and also serve as motivation. Secondly, there is a section in the middle that has many of his photos from various contests, teen-Olmypia's. The last part of the book is an intro to certain styles of lifting and techniques, followed by some programs/splits to use as you progress. Overall, I'de say it's the best book I've ever read but that may be because I idolize Arnold and respect the work ethnic he had to become in my eyes the greatest bodybuilder of all time. Either way, I think anyone even semi-interested in exercise, bodybuiling or even a good read will thoroughly enjoy it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Actors    2. Biography    3. Bodybuilders    4. Bodybuilding    5. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    6. Massage & Reflexotherapy    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Biography: sport    10. Sports & Recreation / Bodybuilding & Weight Training   

Subjects:  1. Anatomy    2. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    3. Human Exercise Physiology    4. Life Sciences - Human Anatomy & Physiology    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Weight Training    8. Fitness Training    9. Sports & Recreation / Bodybuilding & Weight Training    10. Strength Training   

Reviews (2)

Fitness and Strength Training for All Sports
Outstanding book!! I have been looking a long time for a book that explains in detail the old soviet sports training techniques. Not only is this book detailed, it is written so that a novice can understand. This book explains Michael Yessis books in more detail. This is a must buy for anyone that wants to get in shape for a sport in the quickest and most efficient way.

Practical information, some cheesy exercises.
This book is full of the scientific explainations as to why and how muscle grows.It is presented in an easy-to-read manner.Charles Poliquin has recommended this book, and for good reason.Based on East German research,the science of weight training is a far cry from what Mentzer proposes! Set, rep, tempo and rest selection are all included.Probably the biggestfaults are the diet and exercise chapters.Some of the exercisesrecommended have to be seen to be believed!All in all, a good addition toyour home library. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise    2. General    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Sports & Recreation / Training    7. Training    8. Athletic Training And Conditioning    9. Fitness training    10. Muscle strength    11. Sports