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This manual, which was recently announced on this list as the "DSI- Instructors Reference Manual", was received by me in the mail the day before yesterday.
My first shock was it's size. To say that it is a pocket sized book is no overstatement. It would fit in the pocket of even a very tight pair of jeans. Because of this my first impression was "The price and this book's size don't go together, it will never sell."
But, hey, I had it, and since I did, I might as well read it. (While I read at over 12,000 words per minute, no one would have to be a speed reader to read this book in one sitting).
What I learned in the next few seconds was that the adage "never judge a book by it's cover" needs to include "never judge a book by it's size".
There are many books available on TCM, there are quite a few books available on tuite and kyusho jutsu techniques, and there are lots of tapes out there on the same subject. The problems is that you would have to buy most of the tapes and make a sizeable investment in books (well over $500) to glean the same information that is presented in this book.
My real opinion on this book? "It's about Time!"
While there are contributing authors such as Ray Fisher, Rand Cardwell and Michael Patrick, there is no question that the contents of this book are a condensation of the essential material researched by Tom Muncy and Rick Moneymaker in their many years of study of this art and it's associations with the principles of TCM.
It is a goldmine in a very small package. As a magician I often found magic books contained one good trick, and dozens of useless ones, which the authors substantiated by insisting they were for the sake of completeness.
Nothing is wasted in this book. The TCM theories are clearly presented and documented, but not from a pure Chinese Medicine aspect, as you would find in a TCM text, but from a clearly Martial Art aspect.
Many charts aid in understanding theories of 5 element, Yin - Yang, extraordinary points, point charts, tonation and sedation, diurnal cycle, you name it, it is here, clear, easy to read, and refer to. No gobble-d-gook, just straight information, simply put, clearly illustrated. You don't have to be an O.M.D. or a TCM expert to understand this book. And to be honest, anyone who has it can come close to sounding like an expert, even if they are not.
Those on the list who have had trouble understanding the theories as presented by some of the more studied and experienced members of the list, can finally get a hold on what they are talking about.
I personally spent well over $2000 gleaning the information contained in this book from other sources (and folks I've been given a heck of a lot of tapes and books free by students, authors, and other interested individuals). So I can't imagine what I would have paid to get this information if I had to buy it all.
I have also read and watched a lot of superfluous material in the process, which took a lot of time and caused a lot of frustration.
Now for one very reasonable price (less than the price of one seminar), you get the benefit of literally buying several thousand dollars worth of books and tapes, as well as the benefit of having the core information from all of Rick Moneymaker's theories as presented on this tapes and what is presented in his seminars, including the Master's Series.
It is no substitute for attending such seminars, or viewing and studying such tapes, but it is an excellent follow-up, and emphasiser of the key elements you should know.
Regardless of your level of expertese in this field of martial arts, this book is well worth the money, and don't be surprised when in a few months you buy a second one, because you wore out the first one with your constant referrals back to it.
If you don't have a pocket on your training uniform, sew one on and put this book in it. Then no matter what question a student puts to you, or in the middle of a move in demonstrating a move from a kata, you mind suddenly goes blank as to what you could apply, just whip out your trusty book and literally in seconds you can locate an answer.
This is unquestionably smallest, briefest, book on tuite and kyusho jutsu commercially offered, it is also the one volume with the most pertinent and complete information out there. A must have even if Moneymaker triples the price!
Dr. Charles Bouton, 8th dan
Headmaster - Dai Ni Gojuryu Karate Kyokai
Executive Director - Chin Sook Hage Kwan/American Karate Black Belt Association
Rating:  [5 of 5 Stars!] |
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