Good ol' American thumb wrestling meets the East with this unique kit that brings the competitive Japanese contact sport to both wrestling and sumo enthusiasts all over the world! This humorous kit includes two rubber sumo wrestlers that cover your thumbs, and a 32-page guide packed with fun facts and new variations on the classic pastime.

Everything you need for a thumb-thumping throwdown! Thumb wrestling is such a time-tested, universally admired life skill for kids that, frankly, we're surprised by how long it's taken for it to get the Klutz treatment. But there is no rushing the awesomeness that is The Sleeve of Doom. Sleek, shiny and sensational, The Sleeve of Doom is the ultimate instrument of combat. Two contenders slide their hands in and clasp them together, poking their thumbs through the holes. The sleeve prevents cheating by locking the hands in place. Thumb Wars: The Ultimate Guide covers everything from classic challenges, strategies and training exercises to fake-outs, trash talk and never-before-played games. Since image is everything in the wrestling world, some clever thumb names and flashy costume ideas are also included. There's even a handy referee guide and score cards. All of which makes Thumb Wars more than just a book. It's the official rules of thumb.

From New York Times bestselling author Eric Lustbader, the suspense mastermind behind the smash bestsellers featuring Robert Ludlum’s™ Jason Bourne, comes a blockbuster thriller of one man’s debt of honor—and his ultimate destiny. Years ago, Nicholas Linnear, a.k.a. “the Ninja,” made a promise to his father: If a man named Mikio Okami ever sought his help, he would respond without question, no matter the cost. Now the time has come to fulfill his pledge. Okami is the Kaisho—the boss of bosses of the Yakuza, the Japanese underworld—and in his Venice headquarters, he realizes that he has been marked for death. But the identity of the assassin and the inexorable compulsion that drives him are shrouded in mysticism and madness. Honor bound to protect Okami, Linnear is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice: a descent into a chasm of knowledge so potent, of dangers so unfathomable, that even if he survives, he will emerge changed forever.

In mid-1960s Tokyo, Japan, where the aftereffects of World War II are still felt, eight-year-old Kazuo lives an ordinary life, watching American television shows, listening to British rock music, and dreaming of one day seeing the world.

One of the world's greatest powerlifters offers a look at how to train and compete in the sport. Ten-time world champion Dan Austin has packed Powerlifting with technical advice for both men and women on nutrition, warm-up and recovery, training for competition, and mental health strategies.

How can musicians express themselves and recreate the great masterworks with ease and expressiveness and yet avoid injury in the process? Musicians face many challenges: a highly competitive environment, performance anxiety, demanding repertoire, years of solitary practice, and awkward postures. The hectic pace of rehearsals and performances when added to the mix often results in the very real risk of physical pain and injury. This book is a readable and comprehensive guide and reference for all concerned with pain in musical work: professional and amateur musicians, teachers and students, doctors and therapists. This book is essential for all musicians. String, keyboard, percussion, harp, brass and wind players will play better and feel better. Read about: Why it may hurt to play; Injury susceptibility quiz; Risk factors & danger signals; Hearing, back, disc, arm and shoulder problems; 10 onstage tricks; TMJ, teeth, larynx and joint laxity; Stretching & strengthening; Rehabilitation & work-hardening; Musician's survival kit; 10 do's & don'ts; Instrument modifications; Guide to safe practicing.