Harry K. Wong

Every martial artist is continually striving to improve speed and power. However, conventional methods, such as weight training and calisthenics, have as many drawbacks as they do benefits. For over 29 years, Kkung Fu San Soo Master Harry Wong has been teaching his unique system of Dynamic Strength training, which has all the benefits and none of the negatives of training with equipment or floor exercises.

Dynamic Strength could best be described as 'flowing isometrics,' where the practitioner's own body provides the resistance. Unlike isometrics, the resistance exercises of Dynamic Strength are performed in motion, which enhances flexibility and increases the blood flow. Best of all, absolutely no equipment is needed! Harry teaches you how to continually improve your strength and physique. His students have shown phenomenal results in an amazingly short time without ever touching a weight!

Take contol of your destiny!

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Harry Wong's, 'Dynamic Tension.' I have owned this book for over 20 years and have not only used the specific exercises contained within it, but I have also adapted the techniques for several different exercises that I not only use, but also teach in my classes.

Harry starts off his book by pointing out the benefits that can be obtained through using this method compared to the more conventional method of weightlifting. Some of the benefits described are as follows:

1. Increased physical strength.

2. Improvement in your balance.

3. Improvement in your flexibility.

4. Increased body awareness.

5. The ability to heighten all five or your senses through force of concentration.

6. No injuries from lifting weights improperly.

This is followed by a very in-depth section on mental preparation and breathing. Harry stresses that you must breathe correctly not only during the performance of every exercise, but also during every moment of life. Although it may seem like a funny or somewhat absurd statement, we seem to lose our ability to breathe correctly as we get older. This is a bad habit that can be unlearned and should be in order to enhance your every day life.

The mental preparation section covers such things as;

1. Define your goals.

2. Having a positive mental attitude no matter what you are doing.

3. No matter what you are doing, have fun doing it.

4. Free your mind of negative thoughts.

5. Focus completely on your body and the exercise you are doing.

6. Have proper body posture during all exercises.

7. Concentrate on each individual body part for that particular exercise.

8. As hard as you focus during an exercise, you must totally relax after it is done.

9. Breathe properly during each and every exercise.

The following section gives you some of the basic principles that should be followed when you are warming up. Harry then gives you a brief overview of some of the basic warm-up exercises that you should perform prior to executing any of the 'dynamic tension' exercises featured in this book.

Now here is the meat and potatoes of this entire book, the dynamic tension exercises, which covers 24 different exercises for everything from your neck, chest, upper body, and arms to your legs. Each exercise follows the same outline in providing you with the following information:

1. Description of the exercise.

2. Number of repetitions you should perform.

3. The count for each exercise.

4. The effects of each exercise.

5. Variations of the main exercise.

6. The martial arts benefits of each exercise.

This book then finishes up with a brief section on training. Included in this section are;

1. Exercise routines for beginner, intermediate, and advanced users.

2. How to set-up a time and place to train.

3. How to do a self-evaluation.

This book offers another great alternative to the standard forms of exercising. I have even modified these exercises and incorporated the principles behind them into my own training routine. I now utilize this type of exercise while doing my forms, practicing combinations (whether it be hand and/or foot combinations), or as a compliment to my normal weight lifting routine. I highly recommend that you buy and practice the exercises in this book. If you do, you will notice an improvement in your overall physical abilities. I personally saw results after about 6 weeks of training.-Shawn Kovacich

f you want to practice dynamic tension exercises, this is the book for you. It explains the exercises far better than any of John Peterson's books, especially the proper breathing. Essentially, Wong treats the exercises as a form of hard Qigong, and if you follow Wong's instructions properly one is able to get all the benefits of of a moving Qigong system while doing strength training as well. There are also some excellent self resistance and bodyweight exercises in the book as well, and if you're a martial artist, there's additional benefit in that Wong shows you the martial art benefit of each movement.

There are no isometric exercises in this book. Other reviewers who have said that there are either do not understand what isometrics are, or do not understand the exercises in this book. The program is meant to be done every other day, and probably only takes about 20 minutes or so. Overall, it's a very time efficient, well designed program that gives you enough exercises that you can pick and choose the ones that work the best for you and toss out the rest.-S. Stoller

Contents

Introduction
Preliminaries: Mental preparation and breathing
Basic warm-ups-Core warm-up exercises; Supplementalry warm-up exercises
Dynamic strength exercises-Complete upper torso conditioning; Upper torso chest conditioners; Upper torso waist conditioners; Upper arm conditioners; Hand and forearm conditioners; Leg conditioners; Neck conditioners
Trainng… (more)

When I taught in Utah, this was required reading before the 1st day. I remember certain parts of it giving me focus and direction. After a really rough 1st year back after grad school, I pulled this out again and re-read it. Much of it is second nature to me at this point--which is great--but there were some things that I'd been forgetting to do. It was nice to be reminded. This next year should be better for many reasons, including that I re-read this book.

If you ever know anyone who is going to be a teacher, this is a perfect, perfect gift.… (more)