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Star Trek Kirk Fu Manual
In unabashed celebration of Captain James T. Kirk’s singular fighting skills, Star Trek: Kirk Fu Manual is every Starfleet cadet's must-have training guide for surviving the final frontier.
As captain of the legendary U.S.S. Enterprise, James T. Kirk engaged in his share of fisticuffs, besting opponents with a slick combination of moves and guile that remains unmatched. Is there anyone you’d rather have watching your back as you take on Klingons, alien gladiators, genetically engineered supermen, and even the occasional giant walking reptile?
Kirk Fu is a series of unarmed combat techniques developed by one of Starfleet’s most celebrated starship captains over several years of encounters with alien species on any number of strange new worlds. A blend of various fighting styles, Kirk Fu incorporates elements of several Earth-based martial arts forms as well as cruder methods employed in bars and back alleys on planets throughout the galaxy. It is as unorthodox in practice as it is unbelievable to behold. Including excerpts from Kirk’s own notes and personal logs, the Star Trek: Kirk Fu Manual is the perfect training guide for surviving the depths of space. With proper training and practice, every Starfleet cadet can become one with Kirk Fu.
As captain of the legendary U.S.S. Enterprise, James T. Kirk engaged in his share of fisticuffs, besting opponents with a slick combination of moves and guile that remains unmatched. Is there anyone you’d rather have watching your back as you take on Klingons, alien gladiators, genetically engineered supermen, and even the occasional giant walking reptile?
Kirk Fu is a series of unarmed combat techniques developed by one of Starfleet’s most celebrated starship captains over several years of encounters with alien species on any number of strange new worlds. A blend of various fighting styles, Kirk Fu incorporates elements of several Earth-based martial arts forms as well as cruder methods employed in bars and back alleys on planets throughout the galaxy. It is as unorthodox in practice as it is unbelievable to behold. Including excerpts from Kirk’s own notes and personal logs, the Star Trek: Kirk Fu Manual is the perfect training guide for surviving the depths of space. With proper training and practice, every Starfleet cadet can become one with Kirk Fu.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
3 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Dayton Ward
106 books319 followersDayton is a software developer, having become a slave to Corporate America after spending eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps. When asked, he’ll tell you that he left home and joined the military soon after high school because he’d grown tired of people telling him what to do all the time.
Ask him sometime how well that worked out.
In addition to the numerous credits he shares with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore, he is the author of the Star Trek novels In the Name of Honor and Open Secrets, the science fiction novels The Last World War and The Genesis Protocol, and short stories which have appeared in the first three Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthologies, the Yard Dog Press anthology Houston, We’ve Got Bubbas, Kansas City Voices Magazine and the Star Trek: New Frontier anthology No Limits. Though he currently lives in Kansas City with wife Michi and daughters Addison and Erin, Dayton is a Florida native and still maintains a torrid long-distance romance with his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ask him sometime how well that worked out.
In addition to the numerous credits he shares with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore, he is the author of the Star Trek novels In the Name of Honor and Open Secrets, the science fiction novels The Last World War and The Genesis Protocol, and short stories which have appeared in the first three Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthologies, the Yard Dog Press anthology Houston, We’ve Got Bubbas, Kansas City Voices Magazine and the Star Trek: New Frontier anthology No Limits. Though he currently lives in Kansas City with wife Michi and daughters Addison and Erin, Dayton is a Florida native and still maintains a torrid long-distance romance with his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 29, 2021
This is quite fun. Even though the focus is on Kirk’s fighting prowess the excerpts from his log are more cerebral and reflect an overall strategy of non-violence whenever possible.
March 6, 2020
Now that I'm fully trained in Kirk Fu, nothing can stop me!
July 2, 2024
If you've ever watched Star Trek, especially the original series, you're probably familiar with the fighting "style" of Star Trek (which isn't really known for its hand to hand fighting scenes), and especially Kirk. This fun parody book takes a look at "Kirk-Fu" and breaks down some of the famous fighting moves and fights of the TOS show.
Broken down by log entry and illustrated similarly to what you see on the cover, "Kirk" takes us through the famous fights, moves and a little bit of the episode from which it was drawn. There is not a big detailed breakdown (it is not a behind the scenes production book, after all), but it is a fun look and might be seen as a supplemental entry to Kirk's official logs and reports to Starfleet Command, when they ask him to explain himself. XD
That's pretty much it. It's all in good fun, it has some nice artwork and is probably a fun item for a fan. As an actual manual it would be useless (heck, when you watch some of the fight scenes you're probably glad they do have stuff like phasers), but that is not it.
Nice little gift for a fan, probably at best a completionist collector's item sort of thing but not "serious" for martial arts and probably not for a casual Star Trek fan unless you also happen to be curious/like making fun of the fighting sequences and/or Kirk's personal fighting style.
I got this as a bargain buy since it wasn't available from my local library and I would recommend it as a borrow. I personally did not mind buying it since I was that curious (and it was a cheap used copy) but that would not be for everyone.
Broken down by log entry and illustrated similarly to what you see on the cover, "Kirk" takes us through the famous fights, moves and a little bit of the episode from which it was drawn. There is not a big detailed breakdown (it is not a behind the scenes production book, after all), but it is a fun look and might be seen as a supplemental entry to Kirk's official logs and reports to Starfleet Command, when they ask him to explain himself. XD
That's pretty much it. It's all in good fun, it has some nice artwork and is probably a fun item for a fan. As an actual manual it would be useless (heck, when you watch some of the fight scenes you're probably glad they do have stuff like phasers), but that is not it.
Nice little gift for a fan, probably at best a completionist collector's item sort of thing but not "serious" for martial arts and probably not for a casual Star Trek fan unless you also happen to be curious/like making fun of the fighting sequences and/or Kirk's personal fighting style.
I got this as a bargain buy since it wasn't available from my local library and I would recommend it as a borrow. I personally did not mind buying it since I was that curious (and it was a cheap used copy) but that would not be for everyone.
December 31, 2021
Defending yourself Captain James T. Kirk style!
Stardate 99598.66
Hello cadets. In addition to your already extensive self defense courses here within lies the time tested methods as have been used by James Tiberius Kirk in his voyages upon the Starship Enterprise. Within this book you will find twelve techniques that should help if you are ever caught in a situation where adaptability is key to your survival against an extraterrestrial threats that your normal training may not be sufficient to fully cover as well as personal insights from the personal logs of Captain James T. Kirk when such techniques have proven useful. Be sure to read each entry for there is a quiz at the end of the book to ensure you have a grasp on what is found in the book. After all Kirk Fu is the most feared martial art in Starfleet so the basics are essential. :)
Of course if one can avoid combat all together it can be ideal so be sure to hang out after you have received your certificate for completing this course and check out the logical alternative to Kirk Fu in Spock Fu (though it seems to be a flaw to print the certificate on the opposite side of the beginning of the Spock Fu instructional guide.)
With all that said I wish you all the best of luck as we venture into the Earth year 2022. Hopefully you will not have need for anything in this book but as historic figure Benjamin Franklin has said "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." You are dismissed.
Stardate 99598.66
Hello cadets. In addition to your already extensive self defense courses here within lies the time tested methods as have been used by James Tiberius Kirk in his voyages upon the Starship Enterprise. Within this book you will find twelve techniques that should help if you are ever caught in a situation where adaptability is key to your survival against an extraterrestrial threats that your normal training may not be sufficient to fully cover as well as personal insights from the personal logs of Captain James T. Kirk when such techniques have proven useful. Be sure to read each entry for there is a quiz at the end of the book to ensure you have a grasp on what is found in the book. After all Kirk Fu is the most feared martial art in Starfleet so the basics are essential. :)
Of course if one can avoid combat all together it can be ideal so be sure to hang out after you have received your certificate for completing this course and check out the logical alternative to Kirk Fu in Spock Fu (though it seems to be a flaw to print the certificate on the opposite side of the beginning of the Spock Fu instructional guide.)
With all that said I wish you all the best of luck as we venture into the Earth year 2022. Hopefully you will not have need for anything in this book but as historic figure Benjamin Franklin has said "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." You are dismissed.
April 1, 2020
Originally published at BORG.
Red Alert–Star Trek’s Kirk Fu Manual is coming your way next month
Connoisseur of all things Star Trek, author Dayton Ward is back next month with his next in-universe look at what makes the Federation tick in Star Trek Kirk Fu Manual: A Guide to Starfleet’s Most Feared Martial Art. It’s a comical look at everyone’s first (or second) favorite Captain, in his familiar 1960s (or 23rd century) uniform and scene stealing stances, rendered for the willing student or old-school fan by artist Christian Cornia. Providing a how-to manual of some of Captain James T. Kirk’s more eccentric hand-to-hand combat moves, it gives you some step-by-step instruction in being cool like Kirk, complete with excerpts from his personal log.
See more here at BORG.
Red Alert–Star Trek’s Kirk Fu Manual is coming your way next month
Connoisseur of all things Star Trek, author Dayton Ward is back next month with his next in-universe look at what makes the Federation tick in Star Trek Kirk Fu Manual: A Guide to Starfleet’s Most Feared Martial Art. It’s a comical look at everyone’s first (or second) favorite Captain, in his familiar 1960s (or 23rd century) uniform and scene stealing stances, rendered for the willing student or old-school fan by artist Christian Cornia. Providing a how-to manual of some of Captain James T. Kirk’s more eccentric hand-to-hand combat moves, it gives you some step-by-step instruction in being cool like Kirk, complete with excerpts from his personal log.
See more here at BORG.
May 6, 2022
Utterly charming, with both an open tongue in cheek playfulness and a straightforward directness from Starfleet Academy demonstrating that the legendary Captain James T. Kirk would have developed a series of fighting tips and techniques for upcoming cadets. From the Gorn (hit him in the ears) to Khan (fight dirty) to Nazis (yep, see “Patterns of Force”), Captain Kirk’s famed hand-to-hand abilities are broken down.
Bonus Chapter: Spock Fu!
Bonus Chapter: Spock Fu!
March 29, 2020
In a binging of books, a slice of unadulterated fun. The techniques brought to life with specific instances from episodes of the Original series, all wrapped up nicely in the presentation of a faux Academy manual. Laugh or not, these are smiles gift wrapped from the 60s.
July 30, 2020
It's ridiculously fun, not just for the fighting moves (all of which end with Kirk's uniform ripped and torn) but for Kirk's brief comments about the episode each move is taken from. The artwork fits the tone of the book just right. Best taken in small doses.
March 16, 2020
Cute look at some of the unorthodox fighting moves Kirk has used over the years.
If you're a fan of Trek you should pick this up.
If you're a fan of Trek you should pick this up.
April 5, 2020
This was fantastic! Just what I needed right now. Loved the humor and style, and the illustrations were perfect. A must-have for every ST library.
October 24, 2020
This book is great and very funny. Highly recommended for fans of Star Trek.
January 25, 2021
A great fun read and humerous homage to the amazing martial art skills of Captain James T. Kirk.
April 3, 2021
Nice short read. The artwork is really well done, too.
November 20, 2023
Amusing tome of "Kirk Fu."
January 5, 2025
The illustrations are the best part!! The whole book is great and a quick, fun read
November 23, 2025
Great art but barely amusing.
January 26, 2025
Star Trek: Kirk Fu Manual is a nice retrospective of James T. Kirk's literal greatest hits from TOS. Fun, light read. I like the consistency in the last image of the illustrations of each maneuver. In fact, it gave me a chuckle.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews