T'ai Chi Ch'uan for Health and Self-Defense: Philosophy and Practice

This is the book I wish I was recommended back in the 80's when I started Cheng Man Ching's lineage Tai Chi Chuan! If you could only buy one book on Tia Chi Chuan this would be it. Its depth as well as its breadth can keep you practicing for decades. I do not know why I put off on buying it for so long. Maybe the title? If your a dedicated Tai Chi student, put this book on your must read list.

The book that got me interested in Tai Chi years ago. Great book. Relevant and inspiring. Not a "how to do" book which is what makes it great.

I can't say enough about this book. For the unitiated, this book is a translation of poetic advice by the great taijiquan masters as a notation of the route to take to get where they got, which, if you believe history, were unbeatable as martial artists. I am not so sure about that one, but my own teacher recommended this book to me. Many years ago I bought it and read it, but had no inkling what it was talking about. Through the years I have intermittently practised taijiaquan and studied it also. The book is a route, but only has limited application without a personal translator.The book is perhaps the only Chinese-English translation of the advises and poems from the masters. It's the only one I am aware of. He not only translates it literally but figuratively as well.I don't recommend this for a beginner.

According to TT Liang life begins at seventyEverything before is preparation

First of all, the book took two weeks to get here from Illinois, and they usually take five-six days. Master Liang goes into a lot of detail on the different movements and their function in martial arts. He also comments on four classic Tai Chi Chuan texts and includes a section on the development of the Yang style. I'm taking Tai Chi primarily for health, and I'm not really interested in the martial arts' aspects, although my teacher frequently demonstrates those as the basis for the various Tai Chi movements. Those who are more interested in the martial arts aspects of Tai Chi would probably like this book. I prefer Da Liu's T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Meditation, which talks about Chinese medicine, energy flow and breath as related to the movements and the connection between Tai Chi and meditation.

First and foremost, this is not a text for a beginner. If you are looking for a book that teaches the form, this is not what you are looking for.For an intermediate student, this little book will become a valuable sources of reference. Contained here, are translations of the Taiji Classics. Mainly:-The Tai Chi Chuan Classic,-Wang Chun Yueh's Mental Elucidation of Thirteen Postures,-Wang Chun Yueh's Tai Chi Chuan Treatise,-Song of Substance and Function of the Thirteen Postures,Each passage contains comments seasoned by T.T. Liang's many years of experience. The writings describe the appropriate weight distribution, posture, breathing, and sensations which a practitioner should feel if doing the form properly.Definitely an eye opener for anyone who is serious about their study of Tai Chi Quan, and wants a deeper understanding of the forms and their applications.

Several levels to this book, will use as a reference manual in years to come. As wisdom increases, so the depth of the book will unfold.

Too happy to have received this book finally.

After years of practicing the form, this book was the one that I hoped would pull together the information my Tai Chi teacher has been trying to tell me. I wasn't dissapointed, having read 'Steal my art' this book helped me to unravel some stuff to a deeper level of understanding. NOT the sudden 'someone turned the lights on' that most of us hope to get, but much more subtle. Probably because a student absolutely has to be ready to access this. Only the serious student should get this book and only then after considerable practice and thoughtful study of the classics. The commentary on each part of the classics is excellent.

A classic book on Tai Chi Chuan

interesting