Customer Reviews

Athletic Body in Balance

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
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Very thorough, almost tactical approach. The author in his preface states that "efficiency and effectiveness" are his central themes. As the title suggests, the book focuses on balance, stability, agility, and strength of "the core" to build up a non-sport specific conditioning guide. The thrust of the book is really towards improving overall athletism.

There is definitely a clear emphasis throughout the book on the concepts of movement and space. The prose in the book and the depictions of different routines are very clear, and framed in a way that provides extra insights. A random example follows: "... Also a coiling movement is followed by an uncoiling movement that starts at the hips and then moves to the shoulders and arms. The weight shift is the trip hammer that sets the level of power. The goal is not to generate rotational power but rather to transfer linear or weight-shifting power into rotational power ... imagine an off-center playground seesaw ...You turned a short-distance force into speed because the long end traveled through a longer arc of movement in the same amount of time ..."

This should be required reading for athletes as well as coaches. The author does an excellent job in defining the "weakest link" as a cause of injury or tissue failure, and distinguishing between the too-often blamed "over-training" and the real culprit, improper training. Stability is emphasized, as it should be, as the basis for effective movement. (As my Burmese boxing coach once told me, it does no good to launch a rocket from a bamboo pad.) Other good points of emphasis, among many, are the need to relax to maintain fluidity with speed, and to "be quick but don't forget to stick." Again, in boxing we were always told to stick and move, but too often the person advising this had no idea of how to go about it, let alone teach someone else to do it. Gray Cook does. Throughout the book, his prose is effective, his explanations are clear and concise, and his recommended goals are accompanied by explicit step-by-step instructions to achieve them. For poviding the reader an understanding of athletic movement and training and actual how-to for practice and execution, this book tops my list.

I believe this was Gray's first book and it is excellent! Introduces his novel concepts of movement and exercise which have revolutionized the fitness world. The book is concise and easy to read with great photos illustrating each movement. My only complaint could be that the actual program leaves one wanting more. Although this book revolves around the Functional Movement Screen, I do not believe it to be a substitute for taking a FMS course.

Will make you reconsider how you train yourself/clients... worthwhile reading. You might be able to get it on loan from a library - I bought it as a reference, and to expand my library of training books. One book won't give you everything, but this one will give you a new perspective on how to train.