Beyond Stretching:

by Pavel Tsatsouline

Learn the complete Joint Mobility Training Program, a Russian system for improving your joints' health, even when damaged by arthritis. Discover Russia's most advanced method of Plyometric Flexibility... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0938045180
• ISBN13: 9780938045182
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Dragon Door Publications
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The comprehensive re-education text for gaining flexibility

First the bad news. This is not Pavel's best book. It could be better illustrated, and a little clearer in presentation. Then why the five stars you might ask? Nobody else does it better.For those of you who don't know by now, Pavel Tsatsouline is probably the best authority on physical training in the English speaking world. He has taken his training and education from the Soviet Union as a University student and member/trainer of the Red Army's Special Forces and parlayed that into a career as an author, military advisor (now for the U.S.), and trainer for various law enforcement and government security agencies. In all of his books, Pavel shatters the western myths about various forms of exercise, and imparts us with the knowledge and techniques developed in the formerly communist countries of Eastern Europe (Ironically, many of these techniques originated in the West but were forgotten or ignored over here).In this book, Pavel teaches us the true nature of flexibility, and how to gain it. It is not, as most people assume, a book on how to "stretch" one's muscles. It does, however, teach us how to re-gain full joint mobility through simple exercises, and increase muscle flexibility by strengthening our muscles in their extreme range. Want to perform full splits in 3 to 6 months? This book will show you how, and help you become more injury resistant in the process.Pavel has since divided the material in this book into two books, "Super Joints" and "Relax into Stretch", and has expanded the material in each and made them more "user-friendly" with new illustrations and explanations. However, I like this book because it explains ALL of the different types of flexibility and the methods for gaining it. You can always get one of the new books if you want more information on one area. I know of no other English language source for the useful information that Pavel provides in his books. Beyond Stretching, although imperfect, is the definitive text for flexibility training.ADDENDUM JULY 3RD 2002. I have continuously used the material in Beyond Stretching since I bought it two years ago, and I will always use this useful material. I had forgotten how I had to read and re-read some of the material on various isometric streches and muscle and tendon structure to understand it, but that may be due to my limited intellect. Regardless, I ultimately understood and put to use this material, and I have yet to find another source for either the information or the methods. This is still the best book on flexibility.

Especially great for cops and martial artists

As a police officer, don't you hate those calls when the bartender asks you to escort that obnoxious, combative drunk (OCD) out of the tavern when you are as stiff as The Tin Man from driving around for the last six hours? Don't you wish you could warm up first before you tackle the big OCD? Well, check this out. There is a quick and easy way to warm up before you get to work that will make you feel loose and energized your entire shift. There is also a routine that you can use that will increase your flexibility faster than you can imagine. Here is why flexibility is good for hard-working crime fighters. * Stretching feels good after a long shift in a car or behind a desk * Flexibility increases your range of motion * Flexibility reduces the chance of your getting hurt * Flexibility is good for your joints * Flexibility may increase your strength * Flexibility increases your speed Can't see yourself doing ballerina stretches and you're a little afraid you just might like wearing a tutu? Well, don't worry about it because here are a book and video that present a revolutionary Russian system of stretching that's easy to do and get results fast. I wrote in my review of Pavel Tsatsouline's book Power to the People! : Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American that Pavel's methods get results while violating many of the "truths" that have been held as sacred for so long in the world of strength development. In Beyond Stretching: Russian Flexibility Breakthroughs, he again offers result-producing methods, this time for increasing flexibility, while again violating what has been held as truths ever since you were in grade school gym class. Beyond Stretching is divided into three main chapters. In Chapter one, "Nerd Stuff," he lays the foundation of his unique system. In Chapter Two, "Do It My Way," he gets into the physiology of his system as to why and how it works, and in Chapter Three, "Mobility Drills and Dynamic Stretches," he demonstrates the actual exercises. These are not the usual flexibility exercises done the usual way. Pavel's writing style is no nonsense, efficient and quite often funny. If you are looking to be coddled, you won't get it from him. He tells you when something is tough and then he tells you to do it any way. The beauty of it is when you do what he says, you will begin seeing progress in a couple of weeks. Here are some of the things you will learn in this Beyond Stretching. * How to develop optimal flexibility in weeks instead of years * How to do splits and high kicks even if you are over 40 or 50 * How to avoid injuries * How to not feel like the Tin Man in the morning * Learn how much flexibility you really need * Learn how to display maximum flexibility without a warm-up * Learn how to stretch in the morning to be loose all dayPersonal Note: I have been training in the martial arts for nearly 36 years and, as such, stretching exercises have been part of my regular routine. As

A genuine and revolutionary book about stretching!

"Beyond Stretching" is a quite revolutionary book about flexebility and stretching. Its diveded into three main chapters. First, a teoretical and initial part about flexibility and typical misconceptions. Second, a practical part that easy describes each stretching methode. Third, a picture part that shows all the different stretching exercises and tells you how to practice them.This book offer plenty of new informations about its topic. New and extremely effective techniques like Plyometric,Pneumomuscular and Shutdown Threshold stretching are clearly described. The traditional static or relaxed stretching methode is, in this book, considered as an ineffective way to stretch. The author claims that warming up is unnatural and stretching twice a week is sufficient to develop flexebility. By using the methodes that is shown in this book, you will gain astonishing results with even small amounts of stretching. That is a great benefit!Learn: How to develop optimal flexibility in a fraction of the time you spend stretching today . How to do splits and high kicks even if you are old! How to achieve great strength without bulky and big muscles. How to avoid injuries. How to stop feeling like the Tin Man when you wake up in the morning. How to increase the blood flow in the joints and keep their surfaces smooth and painfree. How to use the three new,revolutionary and effective stretching systems. I regard "Beyond Stretching" as an amazing book, with a new point of view on stretching and flexibility. I am a dancer and martial artist, so I have read plenty of books about stretching but this book was different. Becuase the text sometimes can be a bit confusing to understand; I read the book more than once. But, because this book offer so many new and useful tips and advices, it is worth every penny. Are you searching for a new and effective stretching methode? Which can be as seldom as twice a week, and done without any sweat warm up, and gives impressive flexibility and strength? If your answer is "yes" , you should purchase this "Beyond Stretching" immediately!

Not quite perfect, but close

This is the only really interesting book on stretching I've encountered. Pavel's ideas are radical, but sensible if you think them through and apply them carefully.His joint mobility drills alone are worth the price of this expensive book. Alas, the book isn't perfect. He could have used the input of a hands-on editor. The photo sequences and verbal descriptions are not always clear. A companion video is available and is helpful for viewing the exercises and seeing the speed at which Pavel does the exercises (surprisingly fast). Unfortunately, the video doesn't demonstrate all the exercises shown in the book.Much of this book is geared towards the elite athlete who is already far along the learning curve. Nevertheless, as a reasonably in shape middle-aged guy with increasingly creaky joints, I found this book to be an invaluable resource. Ignore the high price, buy the book and the video. You'll get your money's worth.

The Russian way to ultimate flexibility- the ONLY way to go!

Pavel's stretching protocol should be considered the first, last, and only choice for athletes, full-contact fighters, and sedentary folks alike for achieving maximum results in minimal time. This system actually teaches you how to reset the neuro-muscular control of your muscles! No kidding, by following the specialized methods in this book, even an untrained, middle aged man can achieve FULL SPLITS in less than half a year... fighters will learn specialized kicking drils and "dynamic flexibility" drills that greatly improve the velocity and destructive power of your kicks while at the same time protecting the knee ligaments from injury - even if you miss a full-power kick! Using these techniques I got incredible results in under a week. Pavel teaches how to achieve extreme range strength(vital for preventing injuries)and how to manipulate your "feedback loop" to increase your functional strength. This book also details sport-specific flexibility and strength principles of "accentuation", which dramatically increase performance in the movements essential to your chosen sport. My punches and kicks got an immediate boost in sharpness and power and my joints actually feel good afterwards. Pavel's system does not stress ligaments or tendons and therefore does not produce the weak, rag-doll looseness that conventional western relaxed stretching produces. It is a no-delayed gratification deal. You will also learn how much flexibility you actually need for a given athletic pursuit, and what to do if you already have the "rag-doll" problem (i.e., how to fix overflexibility), and how to tailor your reflexes for maximum performance! As if that weren't enough, Pavel teaches why warmups are actually counterproductive and how to display maximum flexibility "cold"! Also, SIXTY illustrated drills are provided to speed you on your way to dynamic, powerful, flexibility in motion - perfect for the fighter, athlete, and even those with joint problems! I am shocked and amazed at the quality of the results that his training methods have produced for me. And in so little time! There is something here for everyone, and I give this book (and all Pavel's books) my highest recommendation. Truly, a masterpiece that belongs in every athlete's collection.