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Sacked By the Quarterback
by Belle MauriceCan bad luck be caused by the wrong you've done to someone? Sonny Black thinks so, and he's about to do something change that. Sometimes, love means saying you're sorry ... and proving it! Sacked By the Quarterback, Belle Maurice's new contemporary romance and the next book in the Afternoon Delights collection.Sonny Black was the star quarterback in high school who couldn't possibly be in love with the geekiest girl in school, Mandy Daws. He'd been seeing her under the guise of chemistry tutoring, but when his buddies found out there was a little more going on, he lied and said she was a slut, wrecking her life and earning her enduring hatred. Eleven years later, Sonny is the star quarterback headed for the Super Bowl despite amazing bad luck that has earned him the nickname Sonny Black Cloud. When someone mentions that the bad luck must stem from someone he failed in the past, the first name that comes to mind is Mandy's. He tracks her down at the small university where she teaches chemistry and tries to seduce, beg, or win her forgiveness, and he needs it before the Super Bowl.Content Notes: Hot, Contemporary, Athletes, Sports
False Start
by Marianne RiceVowing to never follow her heart again, Meg Fulton keeps men at a safe distance. But retired NFL player Connor McKay manages to crack Meg's defenses, and she discovers the sports-loving alpha male is much more than a sexy package wrapped in great biceps and a tight rear end. False Start, Book 1 of Marianne Rice's new romance series will be a welcome addition to your romance library.Ex-NFL player turned high school football coach, Connor McKay is well loved by all ... except by the sexy principal who wants to make changes to his athletic program. Intrigued by Meg Fulton's beauty and intelligence, Connor doesn't mind going head-to-head with her. When he and Meg are set up on a blind date, he's finally able to open a crack in Meg's high emotional wall and see the caring woman inside. What Connor doesn't expect is that his buddy and ex-teammate is the one responsible for Meg's wall in the first place. To choose between a one-time brother and the woman he's fallen hopelessly in love with, Connor will make the riskiest play of his life.Always the misfit growing up, newly hired high school principal Meg Fulton uses a fashionable wardrobe and a sharp tongue to keep men at a safe distance. After a drunken, abusive experience in the back of a Chevy as a naïve teen, she became a single mother with a tough hide...until Connor McKay walks into the picture. She can't stand him. He's a sports-loving alpha male--no thanks! Meg has a good reason to hate jocks. Been there, done that, much to her regret. But as her path continues to cross with Connor's, and attraction heats to a boiling point, Meg learns there's more to Connor than biceps and a tight rear end. Things are heating up with them, when someone from her past threatens to tear them apart. Meg runs for cover...and from Connor. It will take a leap of love for Meg to shed the scars of her past and let love into her life.Content Notes: Sweet, Contemporary, Sports, Athletes
False Hope
by Marianne RiceMason Tucker prefers solitude and the company of his laptop, but when vivacious Emma Fulton begs for his computer expertise in tracking down family secrets, he agrees in order to keep an eye on the feisty brunette, as trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes. Welcome back to the world of the McKay-Tucker Men. Marianne Rice is pleased to present False Hope, Book 2 of her suspenseful, romance series.Emma Fulton never had to worry about much. Socially driven and happily single, she's been blessed with charm, good looks, and a close-knit community. But after a medical emergency, a dollop of family drama, and a series of near-tragic events, she finds she must question who she can trust.Preferring solitude to intimacy, Mason Tucker's relatives make it difficult to escape social gatherings and small talk. When Emma's mother marries into his family, he finds himself reluctantly drawn to the beautiful woman who is his complete opposite. But after helping her through a terrible discovery, Emma begins to break down some of Mason's communication barriers and insecurities.When Emma asks for his assistance in tracking down a secret, Mason tags along in order to keep her safe. Unfortunately, not everyone has Emma's safety in mind when danger waits for the perfect opportunity to strike.Content Notes: Spicy, Contemporary, Suspense, Medical, Athletes
Screaming Quietly
by Evan JacobsIan Taylor is a varsity football player at School, dating one of the hottest cheerleaders on campus. At home he is his divorced mother's right hand, helping her to keep his younger autistic brother, Davey, in line. Ian considers Davey a freak. And no one must ever know about him. But it's a game changer when Davey begins attending a special day class at Ian's school. Undaunted, Ian continues his charade of denying Davey's existence, even when Davey has massive public meltdowns. He internalizes his strong feelings--Screaming Quietly inside--until resentment, anger, and embarrassment force him to burst. But his love for Davey and his desire to man up eventually allow him to overcome peer pressure and fully own his life.
The Gift (Red Rhino)
by Jim WestcottZeke’s parents have split up. His dad is hurt and angry when Zeke sides with his mother. But Zeke’s emotions go on a crazy roller coaster ride when he’s visited by a mysterious kid that only he can see ... until he finds out his grandpa can also see the ghost. Zeke’s world is rocked in new ways when he finds out that he can see and talk to the dead.
Clan Castles
by Evan JacobsNinety-nine levels. That's how tough it is to win the video game Clan Castle. Jake and his best friend, Kyle, have been playing the game for months. Now they're at Level 99. The toughest and most challenging. With luck and skill, they clear it! What happens next is unbelievable. They get transported inside the game. And they're back at Level 1. Will they ever be able to get out?
Starstruck
by Jeff GottesfeldNo longer will upper-elementary students have to read material junior to their maturity and interests. Characters are age appropriate and come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Science fiction, sports, paranormal, realistic life, historical fiction, and fantasy are just a few of the many genres.
Soccer Star Lionel Messi (Goal! Latin Stars of Soccer)
by John Albert TorresConsidered by some to be the greatest soccer star of all time, Lionel Messi's story is nothing short of spectacular. As this sports biography highlights the biggest moments of his career, it becomes quite clear why he is the most important player to Argentina's national squad and his club team, FC Barcelona.
Beyond the Battleground
by Tom BisioDrawing on ideas from classical military strategy, the Yijing (Book of Changes), and Chinese martial arts theory, Tom Bisio presents a fascinating exploration of how insights from these sources can be deployed to manage crisis situations in all aspects of our daily lives. Suggesting approaches for cultivating a strategic mindset that can be applied to one's relationships, work, and personal self-fulfillment, Beyond the Battleground offers methods of adapting to circumstances, conserving one's own resources, and avoiding or dissolving conflict that will aid any reader navigating the uncertainties of the changing world, including the business person, military theorist, or martial artist. Deftly interweaving his background in East Asian philosophy and history and his career in traditional Chinese medicine with his lifelong interest in the martial arts and military science, Bisio also presents examples of successful strategies from history's great commanders such as Sunzi, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and Mao Zedong.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Lost Samurai School: Secrets of Mubyoshi Ryu
by Antony Cummins Mieko KoizumiAvailable for the first time in English, this book is both an illustrated samurai arts manual and a groundbreaking historical account of the teachings of a Japanese samurai who formed a school known as Mubyoshi Ryu in the 1600s. Abundantly illustrated with more than 350 images representing the practices of Mubyoshi Ryu, The Lost Samurai School collects and translates ancient documents that contain the instructions of founding master Hagiwara Juzo, revealing the enthralling martial arts, secret weapons, magic, and espionage as they were practiced by samurai in their daily lives. The scrolls contain fascinating descriptions of "civilian" samurai skills, which concentrate more on personal protection than battlefield warfare, including the full ninja curriculum and elements of esoteric magic. Antony Cummins contextualizes the many expertly translated documents with a history of the era, the school, and its grandmaster. The illustrations bring to life the skills required to master everything from jūjutsu, to shuriken-jutsu (throwing blades), to swords, to chain weapons, to the quarterstaff. The Lost Samurai School is a journey into the past that will preserve such skills for the future.
Introduction to Baguazhang: From Circle Walking to Advanced Practices
by Kent HowardThis clear, step-by-step guide to the fundamentals of Bagua Zhang lays out the principles, practices, and underlying philosophy of this cerebral and sophisticated Chinese internal martial art. Leading readers from the most basic precepts of Bagua Zhang practice to advanced techniques, Kent Howard draws on his deep understanding of the art and his decades of teaching to set students on a path toward mastery. While Bagua Zhang is often perceived as a complex martial art that is difficult to learn, Howard breaks it down into clear and easily absorbed principles and exercises that beginners can master and incorporate into higher levels of practice at their own pace. Numerous easy-to-follow photographs illustrate core practices such as circle-walking, post standing, and palm changes, as well as foundandational techniques of posture and alignment, fluid motion, generating whole-body power, absorbing and redirecting energy, striking while in motion, and much more. In addition to providing a solid foundation for a lifetime practice, Bagua Zhang Fundamentals also offers more advanced practitioners valuable tips on how to increase their knowledge and understanding of this multifaceted martial art.
Heaven's Wind: The Life and Teachings of Nakamura Tempu-A Mind-Body Integration Pioneer
by Stephen EarleFor the first time in English, Stephen Earle tells the epic story of Nakamura Tempu, one of Japan’s most inspirational twentieth-century thinkers and teachers, whose mind-body approach to personal transformation influenced hundreds of thousands, including prominent leaders in government, industry, and the arts. Earle chronicles Tempu’s origins in the samurai tradition, his genius for martial arts, and his work in Manchuria as a spy during the Russo-Japan War of 1904–1905. He relates how, after escaping a Russian firing squad, Tempu contracted tuberculosis; how he embarked on a search for a cure that led to the halls of Columbia University, the salons of Paris, and the foothills of the Himalayas, where he practiced yoga under the tutelage of an Indian guru; and how he not only regained his health but also underwent a spiritual transformation. This transformation laid the groundwork for the secular and practical methodology for self-realization and the cultivation of will that Tempu developed and disseminated to the sick and socially disenfranchised, as well as to princes and prime ministers. Over the course of nine decades, Tempu’s philosophy of mind-body unification has charted a clear and accessible path to mastery over hardship and the ability to meet life’s challenges head-on. Yet, the man, his story, his teachings, and his legacy remain almost unknown outside of Japan—until now. In addition to demonstrating how Tempu’s teachings were significant to Japan’s reconstruction and economic rise following the devastation of World War II, Heaven’s Wind is also an engaging historical narrative, an account of personal transformation, and a clear guide to the practical philosophy of mind-body unity.
Lifelong Yoga: Maximizing Your Balance, Flexibility, and Core Strength in Your 50s, 60s, and Beyond
by Alexandra Desiato Roy Williams Sage RountreeYoga offers vital tools for healthy aging: strength, flexibility, balance, and peace of mind. In this one-of-a-kind book, Sage Rountree and Alexandra DeSiato describe the poses and routines that can help keep people of any age fit and injury free. In addition to demonstrating simple ways to maintain and even increase our ability to be active into our 50s, 60s, and beyond, the authors—both yoga teachers with decades of experience—offer poses and routines aimed toward specific goals, such as improving balance, maintaining strength and flexibility, and recovering properly between workouts. Each fully illustrated sequence is introduced with a brief overview of its benefits, along with modifications and options suited to individual requirements. Rountree and DeSiato also offer sequences that help support specific activities such as running, swimming, or golf, as well as yard work, travel, and caring for grandchildren. An essential and easy-to-follow guide, Lifelong Yoga offers key practices for maintaining and improving physical and mental well-being throughout a lifetime.
Moving Stretch: Work Your Fascia to Free Your Body
by Suzanne WyldeMoving Stretch is an effective, powerful, and enjoyable type of resistance stretching that not only strengthens and frees the body, but reconditions the body's fascia, rejuvenates the tissue, releases adhesions, relieves pain, and increases flexibility. This accessible guide gives step-by-step instructions for people who feel tight or older than they should, people with poor posture, athletes who want to boost their performance, and those who want something more than conventional stretching. This book provides you with many different stretches for the whole body including the hands and feet, as well as routines for specific goals such as improving posture, helping office workers stay healthy, stretching the back, and more. Even those with sedentary lives will see and feel a difference, with just 10-20 minutes of stretching yielding benefits that may last the whole day.Many of us are limited in our movements, hunched over, or tight. Ideally we would move in a variety of ways throughout the day, keeping our bodies fresh and youthful. However, office jobs and sofas can lead to bodies that are imprisoned in a cage of tension, whose tissue is dehydrated and stuck together, with some areas that are very weak or tight. Normal stretching is not strong enough to break us out of that state. When we tense our bodies and move through that tension, we engage the fascia and recondition it into a more youthful state, restoring great posture, elasticity, and power.
The Kata and Bunkai of Goju-Ryu Karate: The Essence of the Heishu and Kaishu Kata
by Giles HopkinsChallenging timeworn conventions of karate training and revealing the original intent of classical kata—or forms—through detailed descriptions of self-defense applications known as bunkai, this is a crucial addition to any martial-arts library. Containing more than 265 photos, the book is divided into chapters that illuminate each of the ten classical kata of Goju-ryu. Drawing on more than forty years of experience in the martial arts, Giles Hopkins Sensei takes us on a journey into the Goju-ryu karate system, providing a principles-based method for analysis of kata practice. Arguing against the commonly held notion that kata techniques can have multiple interpretations, he insists that a kata cannot simply mean what the user wants it to mean, but contains specific martial principles that must be followed for it to work effectively. The step-by-step descriptions of the receiving, controlling or bridging, and finishing techniques contain in-depth analysis of commonly misunderstood aspects of kata. Each chapter concludes with an engaging anecdote from the author’s time in Okinawa, the birthplace of Goju-ryu, connecting it with the kata under discussion. Equally useful for the novice and for more advanced karate practitioners looking to deepen their understanding of kata and bunkai.
Teaching Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: A Practical Guide
by Brendon Abram Mark Stephens Margaret A. HowardA practical, hands-on, experienced-based guide from a military veteran turned yoga teacherBrendon Abram combines his first-hand experience with PTSD in the field and years of teaching to offer this practical guide to bringing trauma-sensitive yoga to both clinical and studio settings. Drawing on his work with military veterans, first responders, and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, he emphasizes the importance of respecting the uniqueness of every individual and demonstrates how to use the foundational principles of yoga to create a safe experience. Abram explains that basic principles of yoga bring power to the practice and that breath, mindful movement, focused awareness, and acceptance of present-moment experience form the foundation of any yoga offering.
Martial Structure: How to Maximize Your Martial Arts Skills through Body Alignment, Movement, and Breathing
by Phillip StarrA guide to becoming faster, more powerful, and more effective in martial arts through correct body alignment and proper structureIn all martial disciplines—including karate, judo, taekwondo, and gong-fu—real martial skill does not require the development of large muscles or great strength but rather correct posture. Drawing on decades of experience as both a student and a teacher, Phillip Starr, author of Martial Mechanics and Martial Maneuvers, focuses on how physical posture affects not only physical abilities but also the mental condition and emphasizes the importance of developing power without exerting unnecessary muscular force. His thorough and accessible explanation of the principles of physical structure as they pertain to the human body and how these affect martial arts performance shows how anyone, regardless of size or strength, can learn to generate uncanny power with very little muscular effort through the enhanced stability achieved by maintaining correct alignment and proper structure. Abundantly illustrated throughout with photographs that provide step-by-step instructions, Martial Structure is essential for anyone wanting to understand how the laws of physics and biomechanics can be harnessed to make them faster, more powerful, and more effective in actual combat.
Aikido Off the Mat: One Woman's Journey Using Aikido Principles to Stay Sane in Body, Mind, and Spirit
by Kathy Park Jamie Leno ZimronA deeply personal and compelling memoir that illustrates how the basic principles of Aikido can help us cope with the challenges of life outside the dojoDrawing from more than forty years of experience as an Aikido practitioner and teacher, Kathy Park explains how principles such as embodiment, grounding, centering, extension, 360-degree awareness, blending, and alignment can be applied to everyday life. Candid stories from her own life show how the purpose of practicing Aikido on the mat is to take it off the mat and into the world.
The History of Karate and the Masters Who Made It: Development, Lineages, and Philosophies of Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Karate-do
by Mark I. CramerA concise yet comprehensive history of traditional Okinawan and Japanese karate, with biographies of the great karate mastersThis concise-yet-comprehensive history of traditional Okinawan and Japanese karate includes authoritative biographies of the great karate masters of the past and the philosophical issues they faced as karate changed and evolved. Bringing a fresh understanding to the study of the martial arts, Mark I. Cramer dispels many of the often-repeated martial-arts myths as he details the lineages of the modern styles of karate and describes the social, cultural, and political events that influenced them. While most books focus on a single style of karate or the biography of just one of the great teachers, this book offers a well-researched and detailed overview. By bringing all of this knowledge together in one volume, Cramer—an award-winning inductee into the USA Karate Federation’s Hall of Fame—fills a crucial gap.
The Anatomy of Sports Injuries, Second Edition: Your Illustrated Guide to Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
by Brad WalkerFor anyone who plays sports and is looking to facilitate recovery or prevent injuriesEveryone who plays sports experiences injuries. Many people never fully recover because they're not aware of what they can do to facilitate recovery. But there's no need to simply resign yourself to "living with" a sports injury. In The Anatomy of Sports Injuries, author Brad Walker brings years of expertise--he works with elite-level and world-champion athletes, and lectures on injury prevention--to this how-to guide. The book takes a fundamental approach, bringing you inside the body to show exactly what is happening when a sports injury occurs. At the heart of The Anatomy of Sports Injuries are 350 images. This second edition includes updated illustrations and more anatomical information and is for every sports player or fitness enthusiast who has been injured and would like to know what the injury involves, how to rehabilitate the area, and how to prevent complications or injury in the future.
Dino Does Yoga
by Sofie Engström von AltenJoin Tyrannosaurus rex Baby Dino as he journeys through Dragonfly Pose, Mountain Pose, Downward Dog, and more in this charming picture book featuring a simple, fifteen-pose yoga sequence for kids who love dinosaursNewly hatched T-rex Baby Dino wants to explore his world. Taking his cues from the prehistoric landscape around him, featuring a mountain, a pool, a swaying palm, dragonflies, and pterodactyls, he moves through fourteen easy-to-do yoga poses until deciding it's time for a rest in Relaxation Pose. The spare, rhyming prose will delight young readers and make it easy for them to remember the poses. Parents can join in, too, for a healthful family activity. Beautifully illustrated with line drawings with full-color digital collage inspired by the natural world, this delightful book introduces children three to seven to the fun, physical activity, and calming effects of yoga.
Refining Jin: A Master Class in Coiling Power
by Phillip StarrA kung-fu champion explains the “coiling power” of Jin and how to subtly refine it for a more relaxed but explosive force, which can be used with multiple fighting and martial-arts styles Adding to the numerous basic exercises from his previous book, Developing Jin, Phillip Starr focuses on more advanced and subtle aspects of emitting the legendary “coiling power.” Starr explains this unique technique with straightforward ease, dozens of detailed photos, and the patience of a master teacher. This book is ideal for students interested in the martial-arts systems of baguazhang, taijiquan, and xingyiquan (or “coiling power”) who want to deepen their understanding and practice.
Unleash the Dragon Within: Transform Your Life With the Kung-Fu Animals of Ch'ien-Lung
by Steven MacramallaDiscover your Animal archetype to transform your martial arts practice and improve your physical, emotional, and sexual healthA cognitive psychologist and respected martial art instructor brings to life the Animals of Ch'ien-lung, and how to live the martial art philosophy--on and off the mat! This martial art belongs to everyone, not just for self-defense but as a force for healing. Keen on detail, big in scope, Unleash the Dragon Within shows how to tap into the Cat and Snakeaspects of your mind and body. When you combine the movement, breath and meditation of a Cat with a Snake you create the Dragon, bringing all you are to your athletic performance, spiritual practices and even your sexual relationships.
Pain-Free Horse Riding: An Illustrated Guide to Prevention, Self-Care, and Injury Management for Riders of All Abilities
by Nikki RobinsonDiscover why you have pain and tension, learn how they affect your horse and riding, and master techniques for treating and preventing pain and injury in the future.Pain-Free Horse Riding is the first book to combine exercises for horseback riders to increase strength and flexibility and improve riding and address the pain they suffer from and how to relieve it. Horse rider and Myofascial Release therapist Nikki Robinson offers realistic ways to improve common conditions--back and neck pain, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, joint pain and stiffness, and repetitive strain injury--without giving up the activity you love. The book provides an introduction to fascia, covers how your body reacts to injury, and addresses common symptoms such as pain, tension, and inflammation. A key chapter focuses specifically on riding posture--the position of your head, shoulders, back, buttocks, and legs--including exercises to solve your riding problems with myofascial techniques. Also included are personal stories from riders who have had success with these methods. The format of the book allows readers to start at the beginning and read all the way through or to go straight to the sections that address their particular condition. There are cross-references throughout to direct readers where to find additional information if they are interested.
Chen Style Taijiquan Collected Masterworks: The History of a Martial Art
by Mark ChenThe first-ever English translation of the most important masterworks of Chen Style Taiji, as originally published by the renowned grandmaster Chen ZhaopiChen Zhaopi (1893-1972) is universally recognized as a grandmaster of Chen Style Taiji, an ancient martial art that is the foundation of all Taiji schools. During his lifetime, Chen was lineage successor and teacher to Chen Village's current generation of senior masters, including Chen Xiaowang, Wang Xi'an, Chen Zhenglei, Zhu Tiancai, and the late Chen Qingzhou. This book is the first-ever English translation of key selections from his seminal 1935 publication, Chen Style Taijiquan Collected Masterworks. Gathered together are taijiquan's most important texts dating back to its earliest period of development. These include the writings of its putative creator, Chen Wangting, and its reorganizer, Chen Changxing, and the biographies of eminent family members such as Chen Zhongshen. Author and translator Mark Chen's commentary provides readers with the most complete picture of taijiquan's origins, evolution, and theory to date. Also included is a step-by-step, pictorial exposition of Chen Taiji's "old frame" first form, demonstrated by Chen Zhaopi himself.