This book presents methods for building muscular strength and an attractive masculine physique, for using strength and increasing skill and endurance in athletic performance or gymnastic competition, and for learning and applying the traditional methods of self-defense. Inherent in developing strength and the ability to defend oneself is the building of confidence, the calm, quiet confidence of the person trained in the Oriental arts of self-defense—by means of which one reacts to attack but never provokes physical reaction. The body-building programs are comprised of “muscle tension” exercises, setting-up exercises, tumbling, gymnastics, and weight-lifting. The fundamental rolls, stands, springs, bends, flips are presented before the basic throws and releases of the Oriental systems of self-defense, among them judo, jiu-jitsu, karate. The exercises and movements are illustrated by photographs of athletes in actual work-outs.

At age 26, scrawny, Oxford-educated Samuel Fussell entered a YMCA gym in New York to escape the terrors of big city life. Four years and 80 lbs. of firm, bulging muscle later, he was competing for bodybuilding titles in the "Iron Mecca" of Southern California-so weak from intense training and starvation he could barely walk. MUSCLE is the harrowing, often hilarious chronicle of Fussell's divine obsession, his search for identity in a bizarre, eccentric world of "health fascists," "gym bunnies" and "muscleheads"-and his devout, single-minded acceptance of illness, pain, nausea, and steroid-induced rage in his quest for the holy grail of physical perfection.

Inside the Lion's Den is the remarkable story of Ken Shamrock's ascent to the top of reality martial combat. A legendary Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter and former professional wrestler, Shamrock is an inspiration to thousands. This is the story of his rise from a troubled youth to champion in the ring in both America and Asia. The first "King of Pancrase" in the Japanese fighting circuit, and the first "Superfight Champion" of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Shamrock also founded the Lion's Den in Northern California, a facility that has trained many champion MMA fighters. Readers and fans will learn the secrets of Shamrock's ultra-efficient submissions fighting system and the training regimen that he and his trainees followed. With over 150 dynamic photos, Inside the Lion's Den is both an inspiring portrait of the fighter known as the "World's Most Dangerous Man" and an invaluable guide for the martial artist, novice and master alike.

A groundbreaking self-defense and fitness book for women by a ballerina-turned-self-defense expert. Learn how to become your own weapon of self-defense and fitness so that you can create and target your best life. After ballerina Avital Zeisler was savagely attacked as a young woman, she lived in fear—until she took action to train with experts in self-defense from around the world. Seeking a method specific to women and using Krav Maga as a base, she created her own self-defense program: the Soteria Method. It was an immediate sensation, and is now in demand by everyone from corporate executives to Hollywood stars—such as Amanda Seyfried, Megan Boone, and Keri Russell, to name a few—who seek her classes both for the self-defense and for the intense, body-sculpting workout. Unique and empowering, Weapons of Fitness will help get you into incredible shape—and just might save your life.

One of the world's most recognized vegan bodybuilders presents a comprehensive guide to building a fit body on a plant-based diet. Author Robert Cheeke inspires people to develop magnificent bodies. His experience with diet, training, contest preparation and other facets of this sport make Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness a fantastic resource for beginners and experienced athletes alike. Readers are provided with insight into the mental and physical aspects involved in becoming a successful bodybuilder. An overview of nutrients and how they function in the body, along with mass-building menus for training, show how to thrive as an athlete and bodybuilder on a vegan diet. Recommendations are given on how to create a successful training regimen that will yield the best results. Throughout the text the author's voice resonates with passion, dedication, and determination. From invaluable advice on how to find sponsorship and make bodybuilding a career to learning how to use bodybuilding for activism and outreach, readers find multi-leveled support for their lifestyle. A resource section is included for products, services and equipment that are completely vegan. Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness leaves a lasting impact by providing tools for motivation and commitment for any area of life.

Approximately 1.9 million women are physically assaulted annually in the United States alone. In Survive the Unthinkable, Tim Larkin empowers women to understand that surviving a potential attack isn’t about being physically bigger, faster, or stronger; it’s about knowing how to self-protect, not self-defend. Survive the Unthinkable reveals the effective, proven principles behind Target Focus Training, the system Larkin has used to train Navy SEALs, celebrities, and soccer moms. It’s a counter-intuitive mind / body approach women can use to protect themselves and their loved ones. Readers learn how to identify the difference between social aggression (which can be avoided) and asocial violence (which is unavoidable), recognize personal behaviors that may jeopardize safety, and target highly specific areas on an attacker’s body for a strategic counterattack. Larkin discusses how predators think and teaches women how to spot them, outsmart them, and stop them in their tracks. With principles proven to work regardless of size, strength, or athleticism, Larkin’s approach revolutionizes women’s perspective on violence and self-protection. Armed with the tools to neutralize any threat, readers will blast through the victim mindset and live freer, safer, more peaceful lives.

For every woman who has ever been called outdoorsy comes a collection of stories that inspires unforgettable adventure. Beautiful, empowering, and exhilarating, She Explores is a spirited celebration of female bravery and courage, and an inspirational companion for any woman who wants to travel the world on her own terms. Combining breathtaking travel photography with compelling personal narratives, She Explores shares the stories of 40 diverse women on unforgettable journeys in nature: women who live out of vans, trucks, and vintage trailers, hiking the wild, cooking meals over campfires, and sleeping under the stars. Women biking through the countryside, embarking on an unknown road trip, or backpacking through the outdoors with their young children in tow. Complementing the narratives are practical tips and advice for women planning their own trips, including: • Preparing for a solo hike • Must-haves for a road-trip kitchen • Planning ahead for unknown territory • Telling your own story A visually stunning and emotionally satisfying collection for any woman craving new landscapes and adventure.

The easiest, most inexpensive way to build muscle strength, size, and power turns out to be the best, with this supremely effective guide from the world's largest men's magazine Workout fads and fitness equipment come and go, but as trainers and bodybuilders know: nothing tops a simple set of dumbbells for convenience, reliability, and versatility when you are trying to build muscles and get in shape. In Men's Health Ultimate Dumbbell Guide, Myatt Murphy, a fitness expert and longtime contributor to Men's Health, shows readers how to use dumbbells to develop just about every part of their bodies. For anyone who believes that dumbbells can be used only for arms and shoulders, Myatt Murphy proves them wrong. Featuring 200 photographs, Men's Health Ultimate Dumbbell Exercises demonstrates how to perform a total body workout and get maximum results. There are exercises here—lunges, squats, dead lifts, curls, shrugs, kickbacks, presses, and more—that develop abs, arms, chest, legs, and shoulders, along with innovative new ways to get the most of this versatile piece of strength-training equipment. With instructions for creating literally thousands of dumbbell exercises for the novice to advanced lifter, Men's Health Ultimate Dumbbell Exercises will be an indispensable addition to any home gym.