Stretching Scientifically Testimonials

I have had your stretching book for a couple of years and was able to do the side splits after a couple of months. I was satisfied with that accomplishment until the beginning of this past summer. I decided to do the `impossible,’ the split between the chairs. Enclosed is my photo. I totally agree with your statement, in the magazines, `An “authority” that can’t show this [the side split or box split between chairs] is no authority.’ Thanks, your method does work, and it is the best.

I think that a great part of this book is the underlying science. I strongly believe that if you know why, you get better results and you can perform your task more determined and confident. Intricate descriptions of ligaments, muscles, tendons, connective tissues, joint capsules etc., are in the book. However if I’d have it my way, even more science would be added, but still you can get result whether you know or not the science. But whether you want to know or not, this method works.

“Everything that I have read in this book and tried has worked, its sound like a “loose 50 pounds of fat in 2 weeks with the new revolutionizing orange pill!” (which never works) but this one really works.

“Why?

“Science, science, science. The author truly has a great understanding of human anatomy and discards old myth about stretching.

“To be honest, with the results I have gained, it is the best book (or anything for that matter) I have bought IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. And you can quote me on that.

Without the advice and information in Thomas Kurz’s book Stretching Scientifically I hardly could have reached such results. I am a Kyokushin fighter and instructor, but my job is traveling around the world as a flight attendant for a national airline. This means for me a lot of stress from jet lag and lack of a regular life schedule. Anyway, thanks to your fine work, I am able to display such a split on 2 unit boxes, at the age of 40 years old, cold, while flying to Tokyo from Rome at 27000 ft.

After having the video [Secrets of Stretching] for two weeks I made excellent progress and told my friends about it. Next thing, they asked if I would lend them the video, and so the video wandered from one guy to another and that’s the last time I ever saw it. Later my job schedule was so bad that I had to stop my training and with it went my stretching. Now, after a few years, I am able to return to my training and so this time I ordered your book [Stretching Scientifically].

“In mid-October I decided to follow every step outlined in this book and I write to you with pleasure to inform you I have accomplished my goal: a split between chairs, by mid-November. At any given time or place, if anybody asks me to do the split (it happens often), I do it in a split second with no warm-up whatsoever.

“I just want to thank you for the valuable info in your book as well as on the video. The main thing behind it is to follow the outlined steps and stick to it. That way anybody can accomplish maximum flexibility. I know I did.

After using your method for 3 months I have achieved the side split or Chinese split in suspension. In addition, my kicking techniques have become higher and much stronger.

Before I was introduced to your stretching method, it took me six months to [get] 10 inches from the floor in splits using common stretching methods. When I was about to give up I happened upon your ad [for the book Stretching Scientifically] in Black Belt magazine. I was impressed and I wanted that ability. Now I have it.

It initially took me about six months to develop a full split, but I was also practicing 30-minute horse stance. My legs are continually getting stronger and more flexible.

My dad bought me your book Stretching Scientifically; I checked it out and applied your techniques to my workout and I had great results. I have been teaching TaeKwonDo for two years now. I have students from 4 years old to adults and I have them do some of your techniques for the warm-up, I have seen the difference in their flexibility. Thank you for an awesome book.

We instituted your exercises within our class structure and not surprisingly, almost all of our students increased flexibility in a few months. The ad said, `It could be your picture…’ Well, enclosed is actual photo with proof positive that your method does produce results.

“The results have been astounding! Students have displayed excellent flexibility which they parlayed into outstanding kicks in terms of height, speed, and power. Injury rates have declined significantly.

“The stretch I have achieved with your techniques has stayed with me despite brief periods of inactivity. This is especially important to me as my schedule sometimes has me traveling where it is impossible to train.

Thanks for the flexibility.

This split on chairs was done cold, without any warm-up.

It took me about eight months before I could do the full splits between chairs. I’ve been practicing stretching since then. [Stretching Scientifically] has helped me with my bodybuilding as well as my martial arts training through the years. Over the years, I have recommended your book [Stretching Scientifically] to several friends.

“Thank you. Your stretching method is the most efficient I have ever seen.

I would like to thank you for your informative books. Enclosed you find a picture, proving your know-how. It’s all about information — good information, which you wrote in your book!

I am pleased with this system, why wasn’t the book written 15 years ago! [This testimonial was written in 1985.]

As the title implies, this is a scientific and somewhat technical book on stretching. It is also insightful, helpful, and fascinating. It will show you how to learn to stretch physically, and it may stretch your mind as well. This is not a book that shows a series of activity or sport specific stretches for say running, tennis, or golf. It explores what is known about stretching, what is good and bad about stretching.

I have purchased your book Stretching Scientifically and your video Secrets of Stretching. Within three months of following your program I have successfully done the splits without a warm-up. I have improved my kicks too. I now can execute 5 kicks within a second (shin kick, high hook kick, reverse hook kick, extreme high side kick, middle side kick) without a warm-up.

“I am very thankful for the effectiveness of the programs you have included in your book and video.

“Thanks again, best regards and more power to you.

After reading your book Stretching Scientifically by Thomas Kurz, I was able to achieve a full side split suspended between chairs in only three weeks. It has also helped my kicking ability and amazed the other members in my martial arts class. In closing, I would like to thank you for sharing the secrets of Stretching Scientifically.

In 1992 I slipped down a flight of iron steps and injured my lower back. I have a permanent injury to the muscle.

“I have been in the martial arts for 24 years. Before the fall I could do both front and side splits. I ordered a copy of your book Stretching Scientifically in June of 1993. With its help and hard work I have been able to do the front split again and I am working on the side split. I am sending you a picture of myself in the side split and you can see that I still have to support myself. Your book has helped in many ways, especially with my lower back.

“I am 46 years old and I workout six days a week. I spend 30 minutes a day on stretching, half of it in warm-up. Thank you for your book.

In November of 1992 I fell down down a flight of metal stairs and injured my lower back. I was in a back brace almost six months and the doctors said [that] I would be partially disabled for the rest of my life.

“In June of 1993 I ordered your book Stretching Scientifically. Prior to ordering your book, I had talked to other professionals about exercises to help my back and flexibility. Most said I could strengthen my back, but the flexibility was something else. I bought other books, but they were not what I needed.

“When your book come, I first looked through it thinking it was just another book. […] After about two weeks I started reading it and decided to study it more carefully. I would read a part of it , and then I would experiment to find out what could help me. In 1994 I was able to do the front splits and the side splits with the help of a cane for balance.

“In 1992 I was 44 years old. Today I am 50 years old and I feel more flexible than I did when I was 30 years old.

After a few months of using your method of stretching I can kick `cold.’ Without any warm-up or stretching I can throw my feet at anybody’s head as if I had no muscles or bones in my legs. Now I can also do side (straddle) split on chairs.

I can’t believe how well your book [Stretching Scientifically] works! I have never been able to achieve the full splits or have as much strength as your method has given me. Here is my picture, just so you’ll know how well it worked for me. This doesn’t even hurt!

Buying this new edition [of Stretching Scientifically], especially since I thought the third edition was a good enough start, was a matter of integrity. I’d blistered the editors for not organizing the book well, and took the author to task for some vagaries in his descriptions and the lightness of graphical assistance, i.e. crummy drawings and mediocre photographs.

“I can say that the editors improved the book significantly. The organization of the chapters is now more-logical, and it also begins in a very direct, simple manner that gradually adds complexity as you read. Which is fine, since concepts introduced earlier are laying a foundation of knowledge required for the later, extremely scientific chapter on how muscles, tendons, and ligaments work together to move your body in three dimensions.

“I enjoyed the new edition more than the third, and I was very pleased with the updates and corrections. I believe you still need to invest some sweat to extract any value from this, but I would surmise no one is picking this up for light reading: this is an owner’s manual for your body in some respects, and it requires hands-on application.

“Still, there’s less excuses for readers to employ if they can’t figure out a good routine after reading this book, and Thomas Kurz’s admonishing commentary is hilarious: I can actually see him as a professor taking some of the dimmer student body to task for not fully reading the relevant material. The FAQ section alone is worth the price of admission.