Product Description

Frantzis spent over 40 years studying internal martial arts and is the first Westerner to be recognized as a Master of Tai Chi in China. In this book he shares his knowledge of this powerful energy art and shows how it works on the health of the body and mind. Tai Chi was originally developed as an effective martial art, but now people all over the world are turning to this Chinese energy system to help them cope with stress, boost immunity, lower blood pressure and enjoy long-lasting health. This text provides inspiration and practical information about using Tai Chi for health in a way that is fully accessible to Western readers, yet true to its Eastern origins. It illustrates and clearly describes Tai Chi moves from the four major styles, explaining the particular benefits of these movements and in what way they encourage the flow of chi energy around the body. Tai Chi is low impact so can be practised by the young, strong and fit as well as older, infirm or overweight readers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #341623 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11-03
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
"Tai Chi Power is not only an encyclopedia but is the foundation for inspiration to begin the study and practice of this fabulous approach to life." C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. President, Holos University Graduate Semina 'Tai Chi, as taught by BKF, is a powerful, yet gentle, healing practice that can help alleviate chronic diseases, especially when the therapeutic tools offered by Western medicine do not fulfill all the needs of the patients.' Marie-Helene Jouvin, MD, Research Associate, Harvard Medical School.

About the Author
Bruce Kumar Frantzis spent over forty years studying meditation, internal martial arts and Qi Gung in China, India and Japan. He was fully trained in Tai Chi in China by one of the greatest Taoist masters of this century, Liu Hung Chieh. His school, Energy Arts, in Marin County, USA, is highly regarded and each year he gives seminars and workshops throughout the USA and Europe. Frantzis is also the author of numerous commended books.

Customer Reviews

As good as it gets...
The Big Book of Tai Chi
By Bruce Frantzis. Published by Thorsons

For a man who confesses to hating writing, Bruce Frantzis does a damn fine job of it. He has produced some of the best, most down-to-earth, books on the internal arts and his new mammoth volume - The Big Book of Tai Chi - is literally just that. He has decided to look at Tai Chi from an unbiased viewpoint, not favouring any particular style or school. Rather, he has looked at the foundation for all Tai Chi styles using his encyclopaedic knowledge and written a primer to them all.

Mr Frantzis begins with the history, always contentious, and progresses to explaining how and why the internal arts work in relation to health, both physical and mental. He has long been a voice crying in the wilderness, warning of the inevitable collapse of the health systems in the West. While working as a Chi Kung doctor in China, Mr. Frantzis saw how vital Tai Chi and Chi Kung were in a country with a shortage of western-style doctors. Consequently, he has worked hard to bring his knowledge to the West, in the hope that it will be used to improve the health of the masses as it has in China. His ground-breaking Chi Kung book, Opening the Energy Gates, was just the beginning. The Big Book has a wider scope, discussing what the differing styles of Tai Chi can do for health and what to look for in a good teacher. Mr. Frantzis also considers the Taoist approach to health and how we in the West could benefit from it. Some of this has been covered in other books, but this one is a real blockbuster both in size and approach. The publishers are pushing its launch worldwide and seem to be of the opinion that this book will bring Tai Chi and Chi Kung to the attention of a much wider audience. It is an easy read but does not 'dumb down' the arts. It is intended for both beginners and seasoned players. One very detailed chapter is geared specifically to intermediate and advanced practitioners, another describes what beginners can expect from Tai Chi.

Most Chinese masters have difficulty with our language and we certainly have trouble in understanding their often flowery and ambiguous descriptions of the form. With his fluent Chinese, Mr Frantzis gained insights into the Chinese culture and arts that is reflected in both his teaching and writing. The author also has the great advantage of being not only a top martial artist but also an accomplished practitioner in medical Chi Kung and Tui Na bodywork, both of which are branches of traditional Chinese medicine. As a lineage master in the Taoist arts in general, he can give an overview that few of us would be aware of were it not for this book. He considers how Tai Chi works for healing, physical and emotional self-defence, stress reduction, promoting longevity and developing spirituality. One chapter looks at how tai chi can benefit different groups of people. For example, tai chi can mitigate the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome in computer users. Another chapter helps students choose the most appropriate tai chi form for their particular needs. The five main styles, large, medium and small frame tai chi, and long, medium and short forms are discussed in detail.

An excellent primer, the book could have done with some more illustrations, but as it does not champion a particular style, the interminable form photos aren't missed at all. A must for beginners, this huge work would also benefit any serious player who is modest enough to admit to not knowing it all and open enough to look deeper.

Brian Cookman

Very good but...
I found this book to start a little too much like a sales pitch... eg "tai chi can do this if you are a business man, older person, etc..." a bit like reading a leaflet on tai chi and in the beginning it tended to be quite repetitive... but in the back half of the book... boy oh boy, information abounds... excellent source of information on tai chi and the different styles and also on how to perform tai chi in the best way... this is not an instructional book but more a theory book, this is also very much geared towards those who are playing taiji for health or relaxation purposes not so much for the person interested in martial applications... but still a very good read...

Tells you nothing
This man talks a lot and has some really nice pictures but the book fails to really tell you anything practical. I found myself wondering what the point of the book was. Finally, I realised that it is promotional in nature.