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.

A classic book on Tai Chi Chuan

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.

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.

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.