Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #140109 in Books
• Published on: 1982-01-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 159 pages

Customer Reviews

Not for beginners,more a reference
I have found this book to be more a reference then anything else.
It is not for a beginner since explanations of a presented form (Yang style) and certain technics like "pushing hands" and "uprooting" are very shortly explained,without getting into details.
Furthermore,illustrations are black and white photos and on most of them is hard to see whats going on.
So to summarize, this book is a reference,nothing more....

Easy to follow and helps build strong roots
Master Cheng's Tai Chi Chu'uan is an easier to follow, more basic companion to his Thirteen Chapters on Tai Chi Chu'uan. I would recommend the former to students/stylists and the latter to advanced students and instructors (I found myself out of my element with Thirteen Chapters).
Master Cheng writes lucid instructions on the essentials of this martial art. Explaining the theory and physiology of such alien terms (for some) as 'chi', the 'tantien', 'wu wei', and 'essential hardness.' He also explains his philosophy of 'investing in loss.' All of which is eye-opening and thoroughly inspiring/reassuring to anyone who studies Tai Chi, or is thinking of taking it up.
There are pictures in here and detailed intructions on the short form of Tai Chi Chu'uan. And even a small amount on the advanced technique of 'pushing hands.'
Can you learn Tai Chi from scratch from this book? I would say that it's better as an accompaniment to joining a club.
I do not study Chu'uan, but actually a rarer, Buddhist form of Tai Chi. This book has been very helpful to me. To someone who studies the Taoist Tai Chi Chu'uan form it is almost essential.
One more thing. Remember to relax! I feel like I've wasted so much time in Tai Chi not relaxing and going through the form with rigid muscles!

This is the original classic on the most popular Tai Chi
This is the original classic about the Short Form the most popular and widespread form of Tai Chi in the West, it is a must read for every serious Tai Chi student.