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Title: Excellent introduction to joint manipulation techniques
Review: The Art of Holding does an excellent job of explaining fundemental concepts in joint locks and holding techniques, as well as getting into some more advanced combinations and counters. It's a particularly useful reference if you already practice a martial art that teaches these techniques as you will have context and background for the various moves. The experienced martial artist will appreciate the explanations of the different moves, the use of pressure points to strengthen familiar techniques, and the excellent categorization of the different holds. Beginners will also find the concepts easy to understand, although it will probably be difficult (and dangerous!) to practice many of the techniques without a qualified instructor.
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