Speed Training for Combat, Boxing, Martial Arts, and MMA: How to Maximize Your Hand Speed, Foot Speed, Punching Speed, Kicking Speed, Wrestling Speed, and Fighting Speed

What's actually made me buy this book is my perception -- perception coupled with my inner voice and intuition (and experts say that intuition is accurate) -- based on just initially looking at the book cover and reading the product description. I have simply perceived this book as potentially very helpful and revealing on my current journey of personal transformation and growth. And here's what's made me write the above headline... I knew that this book is GOLD and I can fully trust the author especially when I got to the chapter on kinesthetic perception. This has strongly reminded me on the importance of having a fine-tuned kinesthetic sense -- or kinesthetic intelligence -- not just for fluidity of movement but also fast learning. I'd already learned that kinesthetic learners have the ability to use their bodies effectively and create something while solving problems fast. They have great hand-eye coordination and quick reactions. Those with kinesthetic intelligence are able to use their bodies with great precision...move from intention to action...and therefore, realize their personal goals. Some celebrities like Jackie-Joyner Kersee, Britney Spears, Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan are perfect examples of kinesthetic learners. They all have a natural sense of how their body should act and react in a demanding physical situation... My point: kinesthetic or bodily intelligence is the kind of intelligence that you can learn through whole-body movements characteristic of martial arts, yoga and similar ancient mind-body practices. Kinesthesia, also referred to as proprioception, is the sense of self-movement and body position. It's sometimes also described as the "sixth sense." And, you'll be pleased to know that in this book the author discusses the sixth sense and many other vital mind-body topics that are relevant not only to speed but also peak performance. Last but not least, just in case you wonder how I know all this about kinesthetic intelligence...I've learned this from the latest research on fascia that I've discovered while working on my current writing assignment on the health and wellbeing benefits of the basketball-yoga cross training. If you want to learn the details on why your fascial tissue web is the most efficient and largest sensory organ -- the organ that's responsible for the kinesthetic intelligence -- in your body, and why some surgeons even call it the branch office of the brain, I highly recommend you check out two books: 1) Yoga: Fascia, Anatomy and Movement, and 2) Fascia in Sport and Movement. These two books are also GOLD especially if you want to learn the little-known facts on why having a healthy and properly trained fascia is the key to not only having a fine-tuned kinesthetic intelligence but also naturally achieving oneness with both your inner and your outer world. Live your life to the fullest!

I usually don’t start reviews with much about myself since, well, I didn’t make the product. But since reviewing this book really needs more than a theoretical perspective, I thought a bit of background about myself would be a good start. For a time I was studying Krav Maga. An unrelated knee injury sidelined me (about a month before my first test) and let’s just say the surgery didn’t go as planned and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to practice fully again. So I have some, but not much, experience in martial arts. Enough to be interested in what this book teaches. Now on to what you’re really interested in. It seems odd to get advice about a physical endeavor from a book, so I was a bit hesitant when I read this but I was certainly interested since speed is not my strong suit. But I found the book impressive. He treats the subject exceptionally well with clear organization and a lot of drills and advice. It is obvious that Barnes has a lot of experience and knows how to share that knowledge. It won’t take long to read, but it will take a good amount of time to master all the drills recommended. If you’re working on developing your speed for any reason, this is a book that can really help. You begin by focusing on each of the senses and there are drills to help with each one. For example, early on you work on your peripheral vision and fighting the urge to blink. Some of the drills feel a little silly, but I didn’t come across a single one that I thought is useless. Drills were always my favorite part of class because when you’re only doing punches, you expect punches. But when you’re standing around with your eyes closed, you have no idea what’s coming next. Honing reflexes is another big topic in this book. And all the drills are prefaced with a solid explanation of why you need to work on a certain aspect of fighting (such as initiating speed). I never wondered why he was bothering with a particular subject. It’s not easy to explain complicated concepts like kinesiology to nonexperts, but Barnes pulls it off here. And he does it without coming across pompous, a skill I greatly admire. Instead you get the voice of a confident, knowledge man who is trying to help as many people as possible with this book. And each chapter ends with a summary list to reinforce the big concepts. It’s a great way to stay organize and feel a little more engaged with the reading if you’re not doing drills as you go. As to the writing itself, I was pleasantly surprised. Barnes is a very strong writer. His paragraphs are short and to the point; he is concise while still making his point understandable. It could use a bit of editing, but it is very well done. Particularly for a self-published book. And it’s formatted very well for my Kindle (something I don’t find often enough with self-published works). The tone is really relatable and approachable. Barnes is by no means dry, but I wouldn’t mind a bit more personality interjected into it. Since this is really a reference book, it’s a fine line in the sand how lively the author should get. This is a more conservative, informative text. Barnes says this book isn’t going to help you if you read it once and only once. I completely agree. It’s a book to work with full of goals to work toward. If you’re serious about improving your speed, this book is going to help. The number of drills alone is an impressive resource. I took Krav for a mix of exercise and self-defense. For the self-defense aspect, the practicality of this book appealed greatly to me. Even though I can’t practice formal martial arts at the moment (stupid knee), I can do everything here and feel a little more confident on the security side of life. No matter the reason or your background, I think it’s a great book to have on your shelf (physical or virtual). Whether you do one drill per section or work until you’ve done them all well, I expect you’ll see improvement. And you’ll have a better understanding of where your weaknesses originate. With the isolation of each sense and stage of motion, you will learn so much about your fighting stance. I’m looking forward to digging into these drills.

A useful and easy to understand reference book with tips I hadn't seen anywhere else. The guide combines both the technical and the very mundane (tips like increasing reflex and speed by practicing getting to a toy faster than your dog) and provides real, down-to-earth, useful information. The drills, which are categorized by each of the 5 senses, are useful for beginners to advanced, and one of the primary innovations here is the “Speed Loop”, which is a concept created by the author to help improve combat speed. The book goes over the 7 essential components of the Speed Loop to help you improve your total combat speed. This is a serious book that contains hard core information and drills that are designed to be used right away to see improvement. It’s clear and well organized and easy to comprehend right away. The author points out that this is not a book to be read once and then never looked at again. It’s a book designed to help you find new ways to practice improving your speed, so it’s really an ongoing reference for anyone who is serious about working toward improved speed in boxing or martial arts. Highly recommended.

The book is ok. I read a lot of martial arts book and I believe this one is helps but it just reinforces things that you learn from classes. If you don't have any classes then this book is a good intro for an idea but do not look to it if you want a game changer. In my opinion there are far better books out there that deal with increasing speed.

I would say that this is the secret resource that the opponents you're sparring with are going to ask you about. If you want to be the fighter that has that "one up", you should follow this guide. You know the author, J. Barnes is an expert and knows his subject matter well because after using these techniques, there are fast results. Speed Training for Combat covers so many fighting styles that it's an all-encompassing guide. In that regard, it's applicable for those of us who are devoted to improving our training - the people who train everyday - no matter how long of a day we've had. One thing I HATE is to come across a fighter who has speed over me. You can't really compete with someone when they are faster than you - and they know it - which sucks. There are techniques in here that take advantage of all your senses and puts them to use within weeks. I know people neglect their other senses, but just convince yourself that you possess secret weapons you just have to learn how to harness them. Now get going!!

If you’ve ever watched MMA matches, Boxing or even Martial Arts tournaments, one thing stands out in stark clarity – the speed is unbelievable. These are men and women that appear fully human – with inhuman like abilities. I’ve wondered how they do it, is there a secret behind their incredible speed, and if so – can I learn it? In J. Barnes’s “Speed Training for Combat, Boxing, and Marital Arts” I learned that there is a method to the madness, and that it CAN be learned. According to Barnes, Speed Training is what really separates the mediocre fighters from the exceptional competitors – a fact that can be seen again and again in the ring. Spanning 10 chapters this covers everything from basic information to more detailed methods, including The Speed Loop, how to develop the ability to stop and adjust instantly and even how to hamper your opponents speed by immobilizing or confusing them. A valuable book for anyone interested in increasing speed. Easy to read and understand this is a go-to guide for anyone in the physical fields.

I got this book because I wanted to level up on my reaction time in all situations, for my health as well as for defense and whatever occasion that might call for speed. It combines boxing techniques with martial arts, which I found very unique and unorthodox. However it really worked for me, and overall I feel enlightened and more aware of myself, my surroundings, and of movement in general. The author not only explains the physical aspects and actions, why we do this with this certain movement, when we use it, etc. but also the mental aspects of it as well. I understand everything clearly thanks to this and the author's simple and explanatory style of writing that made all the information easy to absorb. The reason it's four stars is because although the information in the book was very useful, the formatting problems were so distracting. I understand that it might just be my kindle, but there are apparently other complaints in reviews here with a similar problem. Sometimes the text font would change in the middle of a word or sentence that didn't make any sense, one paragraph's text would be larger than the others'... Small things like these but they added up to quite a bit and made it slightly frustrating for me. Otherwise the book is very useful and efficient, I definitely got what I came fore and then some.

I have been thinking about taking a self- defense class. Being very honest, I don’t want to look like the class idiot and I want to have at least a base knowledge of what to expect. I liked speed training for combat for several reasons- the first one being the title definitely matches the content. I was able to instantly grasp the information and I am thinking the author spent some time creating this book as it is well written and informative. J.Barnes managed to write a book that is versatile in that students of all levels can benefit from reading it. I have zero previous experience learning self -defense yet I was able to totally think with the content. I also feel much more confident in finding a class or maybe even a one on one trainer as now I know what I want to learn. I also have the option of starting this training at home as the author gives detailed instructions so I would feel confident in starting a program at home on my own. I liked the fact that it was easy to read and he provided examples too. I was very pleased with the information in this book and definitely recommend it.

Spiega i vari aspetti della velocità e come allenarli; Un libro molto interessante che da vari spunti di riflessione sull'argomento;

Un petit bouquin, peu de pages, et le gros souci, zéro images, aucune référence, même graphique, avec des dessins sympas ou autre chose. On a un long descriptif, écrit, ok, mais c'est tout, alors ça se lit, c'est pas mal, mais pour donner des infos intéressantes sur un sport de combat, faut aussi un appui photo essentiel. La plupart des bouquins décryptant les arts martiaux, les sports de combats sont toujours accompagnés de photos, et là, c'est le gros manque! Attention, si vous ne lisez pas l'anglais, oubliez immédiatement!

Maybe theoretical information but I doubt if the stuff described is practical !! The title may sound interesting, but in my opinion , the contents seem to cover only general assumptions, There are far more practical books ...

Es muy fácil de leer y tiene cosas muy interesantes, pero tal vez a veces sea demasiado etéreo/filosófico si tuviera algún set de ejercicios más concreto sería perfecto. No obstante por calidad/precio está muy bien

Only just started reading this book but I can see how it will work out the feather in I get