Library's review
American Self-Protection Association, Inc
1458 Haase
Westchester, Illinois 60153
Evan Baltazzi, the author, states that he has a substantial Savate background, as well as a university academic research background. The author states that he was also involved deeply in Judo, Aikido and Fencing Arts --
As another reviewer has stated, this fine manual really covers a particular version of Savate Kickboxing. However, the author, Evan Baltazzi, states he spent a great effort to put his experience and understanding of Western and Eastern Martial Arts thru a detailed review and primary analysis in order to create a system worthy of modern folks wanting to learn and practice a rational streamlined discipline. Traditional Savate methods, such as Chasse'-Croise', do reappear -- via the 'Gunsight' stance for Chasse'-Croise', for example. There are also a few 'jamming' takedowns good for quickly exploiting kickboxing-openings. So, yes, a bit of Aikido and Judo-like movement reappears in smooth combination with the Savate Kickboxing. The manual, itself, is very orderly, sharp and clear as the author intended.
The ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman folks had fairly complete kickboxing-and-grappling Arts. There were aslo fairly complex and complete jiujitsu-like striking-and-grappling systems in the Medieval West -- such as shown in the Codex Wallerstein -- a Medieval Western 'Fightbook' -- and in following Western self-defense manuals -- and in older versions of Savate and Boxing up until bare-knuckle prize-fighting. Recent full-contact sparring seems to have rediscovered such 'rational streamlining' versus sharp opposition -- with various kickboxing styles doing very well for coverage and leverage versus close-range and grappling. 'Kickboxing: A Safe Sport, A Deadly Defense' seems like a concentrated purified blend in sync with this ongoing trend Kevin Kiersky
First off, this book really should have had SAVATE somewhere in the title as that is what this book is about, the French art of foot fighting or Savate, and not the western style of kickboxing, which is the misconception that I was under when I first purchased this book.
Now having said that, this is a fairly good book that gives you a pretty decent overview on the martial art of Savate. The author provides a pretty detailed description of the various techniques which he demonstrates in this book and that was a real pleasure to see when so many others seem to skimp when it comes to providing detailed descriptions in their books.
The author really does a great job on explaining the physical basics of Savate and he also provides a lot of information intended to prepare you and your body for the rigorous training that comes with learning Savate. I would recommend this book to anyone first learning Savate as a good reference manual and guide.
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series. -Shawn Kovacich
Contents
1 Introductin
The sport of kickboxing: Fun for everyone
2 Principles
Principles of the fighting arts explained
Priorities and defineitions
Scoring by touch, targets
A method for safe and meaningful training
3 Preparation
How to appraoch physical conditioning
Exercises wighout apparatus
Exercises with apparatus
Considerations on developing powerful punces and kiks
Concentration-relaxation
Sefety
Teaching and other guidelines
4 Stances & footwork
Some considerations on kickboxing stances
Basic training stances: Normal or southpaw?
Footwork from the full-distance B.T.S.
Footwork from the half-distance B.T.S.
Training in footwork
5 Parries, deflections & dodges
The head
The hands, arms andelbows
Parries and deflections
Dodging and ints advantages over parrying
6 Kickboxing punches-in place
Left direct punch
Right direct punch
Left angle punch
Right angle punch
Left lift punch
Right lift punch
Left circular punch
Right circular punch
Left reverse punch
Right reverse punch
Plunging punch
Counters and stop punches
7 Kickboxing punches-in motion
8 Kicking-in place
Low direct kick
High direct kick
Side-of-foot kick
Instep kick
Circular kick
Heel spear
Heel hook
Jumping kicks
Rolling kick
Flying kicks
Kneeing
9 Kicking-in motion
Example
Exercises in kicking combinations alone and with punches, comseks and their purpose
Comsek I: The pivoting kicking sequences
Comsek II: The pivoting, striking and kicking sequences
Comsek III: The star; kicking in all directions with one foot
10 Dodging & parrying kicks
Dodging kicks
Parrying kicks with arms and hands
Parrying kicks with the legs and feet
Leg grabbing
11 Some throws used in kickboxing
Leg scoop
Back knee bend
Knee throw
Banana peel
12 Combining punches, kicks & throws
13 Preparing for competition
14 Developing pwower
15 Some examples of kickboxing applications to self-defense
Guidelines
Against an appraching opponent
Against an approaching opponent
Against several approaching opponents
Against any reaching attack
Against an opponent who attempts to grab you
Against a front tackle
Against a low front tackle
Against an opponent getting ready to box
Against a left jab
Against wrist grabs
15 Some examples of kickboxing applications to self-defense (continued)
Against a sleeve grab
Against a two hand lapel grab with pull
Against a nape push
Against a barroom style eviction attempt
Defense from the ground
Defense from the ground
16 A parallel between boxing and kickboxing practices & techniques
Selection and use of equipment
The fist
Stance
Footwork
Punching
Combinations
Dodging
Parrying
Clinching
Tactics
Appendix I Kickboxing competition rules
Appendix II KIcking as part of A.S.P
1458 Haase
Westchester, Illinois 60153
Evan Baltazzi, the author, states that he has a substantial Savate background, as well as a university academic research background. The author states that he was also involved deeply in Judo, Aikido and Fencing Arts --
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even a top coach in Britain and America for Judo. He found that many interested folks in Britain and America would lose interest in such Arts as Judo and Aikido -- upon seeing how complex and 'fuzzy' they seemingly are -- while still admiring such Arts in style and action. I have felt for quite some time that Kickboxing, Aikido and Judo had something quite special in common -- likely a fluid adaptation to sharp opposition deriving from their [Western or Eastern] Medieval sword-combat origins. So, it would be great if they could be directly combined somehow in a streamlined compact rational way.As another reviewer has stated, this fine manual really covers a particular version of Savate Kickboxing. However, the author, Evan Baltazzi, states he spent a great effort to put his experience and understanding of Western and Eastern Martial Arts thru a detailed review and primary analysis in order to create a system worthy of modern folks wanting to learn and practice a rational streamlined discipline. Traditional Savate methods, such as Chasse'-Croise', do reappear -- via the 'Gunsight' stance for Chasse'-Croise', for example. There are also a few 'jamming' takedowns good for quickly exploiting kickboxing-openings. So, yes, a bit of Aikido and Judo-like movement reappears in smooth combination with the Savate Kickboxing. The manual, itself, is very orderly, sharp and clear as the author intended.
The ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman folks had fairly complete kickboxing-and-grappling Arts. There were aslo fairly complex and complete jiujitsu-like striking-and-grappling systems in the Medieval West -- such as shown in the Codex Wallerstein -- a Medieval Western 'Fightbook' -- and in following Western self-defense manuals -- and in older versions of Savate and Boxing up until bare-knuckle prize-fighting. Recent full-contact sparring seems to have rediscovered such 'rational streamlining' versus sharp opposition -- with various kickboxing styles doing very well for coverage and leverage versus close-range and grappling. 'Kickboxing: A Safe Sport, A Deadly Defense' seems like a concentrated purified blend in sync with this ongoing trend Kevin Kiersky
First off, this book really should have had SAVATE somewhere in the title as that is what this book is about, the French art of foot fighting or Savate, and not the western style of kickboxing, which is the misconception that I was under when I first purchased this book.
Now having said that, this is a fairly good book that gives you a pretty decent overview on the martial art of Savate. The author provides a pretty detailed description of the various techniques which he demonstrates in this book and that was a real pleasure to see when so many others seem to skimp when it comes to providing detailed descriptions in their books.
The author really does a great job on explaining the physical basics of Savate and he also provides a lot of information intended to prepare you and your body for the rigorous training that comes with learning Savate. I would recommend this book to anyone first learning Savate as a good reference manual and guide.
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series. -Shawn Kovacich
Contents
1 Introductin
The sport of kickboxing: Fun for everyone
2 Principles
Principles of the fighting arts explained
Priorities and defineitions
Scoring by touch, targets
A method for safe and meaningful training
3 Preparation
How to appraoch physical conditioning
Exercises wighout apparatus
Exercises with apparatus
Considerations on developing powerful punces and kiks
Concentration-relaxation
Sefety
Teaching and other guidelines
4 Stances & footwork
Some considerations on kickboxing stances
Basic training stances: Normal or southpaw?
Footwork from the full-distance B.T.S.
Footwork from the half-distance B.T.S.
Training in footwork
5 Parries, deflections & dodges
The head
The hands, arms andelbows
Parries and deflections
Dodging and ints advantages over parrying
6 Kickboxing punches-in place
Left direct punch
Right direct punch
Left angle punch
Right angle punch
Left lift punch
Right lift punch
Left circular punch
Right circular punch
Left reverse punch
Right reverse punch
Plunging punch
Counters and stop punches
7 Kickboxing punches-in motion
8 Kicking-in place
Low direct kick
High direct kick
Side-of-foot kick
Instep kick
Circular kick
Heel spear
Heel hook
Jumping kicks
Rolling kick
Flying kicks
Kneeing
9 Kicking-in motion
Example
Exercises in kicking combinations alone and with punches, comseks and their purpose
Comsek I: The pivoting kicking sequences
Comsek II: The pivoting, striking and kicking sequences
Comsek III: The star; kicking in all directions with one foot
10 Dodging & parrying kicks
Dodging kicks
Parrying kicks with arms and hands
Parrying kicks with the legs and feet
Leg grabbing
11 Some throws used in kickboxing
Leg scoop
Back knee bend
Knee throw
Banana peel
12 Combining punches, kicks & throws
13 Preparing for competition
14 Developing pwower
15 Some examples of kickboxing applications to self-defense
Guidelines
Against an appraching opponent
Against an approaching opponent
Against several approaching opponents
Against any reaching attack
Against an opponent who attempts to grab you
Against a front tackle
Against a low front tackle
Against an opponent getting ready to box
Against a left jab
Against wrist grabs
15 Some examples of kickboxing applications to self-defense (continued)
Against a sleeve grab
Against a two hand lapel grab with pull
Against a nape push
Against a barroom style eviction attempt
Defense from the ground
Defense from the ground
16 A parallel between boxing and kickboxing practices & techniques
Selection and use of equipment
The fist
Stance
Footwork
Punching
Combinations
Dodging
Parrying
Clinching
Tactics
Appendix I Kickboxing competition rules
Appendix II KIcking as part of A.S.P
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Publication
Wehman Brothers