Traditional Sun Style Taijiquan (Saddleback College-CPS7) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been studying the Sun-style of taijiquan for about a decade and have had a chance to meet one of the co-authors of this book. Tim Cartmell, at a weekend workshop of the solo form covered in this book. Tim is that rarity... a martial practitioner who teaches as well as he performs and who writes as well as he teaches.
You can't learn a form of movement by reading a book, no matter how competent the written and photographic content; but a beginner can certainly get a very good idea of what the Sun-style solo form is about as well as the potential benefit of studying its health aspect. Furthermore, anyone who has experienced that style of taijiquan from a teacher will, without a doubt, get new insights into it.
My one complaint, as a martial artist, is that the combative applications of the various postures are not illustrated in any way; though some interesting two-person postural testing methods are described in detail. But, the book really isn't about the combative side of that style so I shouldn't have been surprised!
An excellent book by an excellent teacher...

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"Traditional Sun Style Taijiquan" is the most complete and comprehensive text to date on the Sun style.The book includes chapters on the history of the style, the benefits of practice, the important principles of the style, basic exercises, a complete breakdown of each movement in the traditional form with thorough explanations of all relevant details, as well as methods of testing the form for accurate execution.All exercises and form movements are illustrated with photos accompanying the text.When practiced as originally designed, Sun style Taijiquan provides a profound study into correct methods of postural alignment, unified body use and coordinated movement, as well as a coherent method of building the health while uniting the mind and body.

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Stalking Yang Lu-chan Review

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(More customer reviews)Dense little book chock full of insights, training aids, kinematic concerns, visualization techniques, push hands insights, and more. Sifu Robin Johnson does a very good job of providing a syllabus of his training methods and insights from decades of study, practice, and teaching.
He breaks it down into 10 steps-- 10 key points that have helped him and his students. It's almost like a system. Each chapter covers a key point, and each chapter goes into considerable detail as to what he means, and different ways to implement the key point into your training. It's a good organizational tool
Pros: Densely packed with the above insights. Moreover, focuses on footwork, legwork, lower body alignment, sinking, placement and structure of legs and pelvis. Gives great visualization techniques to help with finding the right structure, and discusses in detail. In my experience, finding books that so extensively discuss the lower body in Tai Chi are rare to non-existent. And really, sometimes inch-by-inch discussions on placement of feet, weight-shifting, knee and pelvic alignment. Truly a joy.
Cons: Cheng Man-Ching filter. Cheng Man-Ching style was definitely the most popular in the USA early on, but it is being supplanted by traditional Yang style (which I study)-- and there are significant differences in the forms (even ignoring the difference in sequence). Especially a lot of the rear leg/knee alignment discussion needs to take this into consideration if your style is not Cheng Man-Ching. The later, upper body chapters are very form-specific, rather than generalized to Tai Chi collectively, and it takes some concentration to distill out concepts from his very specific examples. Furthermore, Sifu Johnson is not the clearest writer-- more because it seems like he forgets that he is writing through the Cheng Man-Ching filter. Finally, this is not a beginner's book. A working knowledge of Tai Chi, and a moderate amount of practice (at least a few years taking classes a couple times a week from a good teacher?) is, at least to me, mandatory in trying to understand where Sifu Johnson is coming from. Also, no helpful illustrations or pictures, and it definitely needs them.
Summary: Indispensible book. Has its limitations mostly due to the style-specifics and writing style, but it deals in a very frank, detailed way about issues that I believe come up in every Tai Chi practicioner's endeavor to become more skilled, and which are rarely treated with this much sincerity and rigor elsewhere.

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This unique manual of internal methods, inspired by the skills of Yang the Invincible, reveals key elements in finding and training a Tai Chi body. How did Yang do it? From whom did he learn? He watched the Chens but had to train alone in secret. Yang Lu-chan had to learn from himself, through his own body. Beginning in the stillness of Wu Ji standing, the author presents core components of Tai Chi movement. Each chapter identifies, describes, and explains structures and techniques of a moving body. What, in plain language, are the meanings of stillness in motion? How does ground-level attention ensure seamless moves in solo forms and applied technique? Which complementary action principles ensure the correct shape and energy? What is modesty, and how does it optimize energy exchange? Why are form orientations both useful and misleading? How does a Tai Chi boxer employ the fourth dimension? These and other questions about Tai Chi movement are answered in clear and direct language. There are no theories nor confusing aphorisms. And the methods employ sensing and deeds, not thinking and ideas. Whatever your intent--self-care, self-defense, or enhanced understanding--you'll find ways to progress at all levels. The author has distilled thirty years of exploration and deep respect for Yang into this manual. Rather than think and talk, he has tried to put himself in Yang Lu-chan's shoes.

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The Complete Book Of T'ai Chi (DK Living) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have studied three books on Tai Chi. The different forms used by different masters can create confusion. The form in this book is an accepted standard. The layout, details, photographs, tips and text are superb. Pictures of the entire form are reproduced, in sequence, on the fly leaves. Learning Tai Chi requires a teacher. But this book will accelerate your learning process appreciably.

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Sudden Violence: The Art Of San Soo Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this book along with many others shortly after taking san soo classes. And of all the books I've read, this is the best written book on martial arts. It's clear and precise, and the techniques are VERY practical. It's unfortunate that san soo hasn't gotten too much exposure like the other forms of martial arts, because it can be utilize by a beginner effectively. I would recommend this book even if you are learning other forms of art.

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The best way to survive a streetfight is to end it before it starts, and that is the essence of san soo kung fu - to brutally take your opponent out before he gets a chance to attack! When some street thug intends to do you bodily harm, it is not the time to pull punches. So be sudden! Be violent! And win.

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A Tooth from the Tiger's Mouth: How to Treat Your Injuries with Powerful Healing Secrets of the Great Chinese Warrior (Fireside Books (Fireside)) Review

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(More customer reviews)First a disclaimer: I've been a student of Tom's for over 10 years, both as martial artist and a practitioner of Chinese medicine. (In fact, I became an acupuncturist partly as a result of having had my martial arts injuries sucessfully treated with Chinese medicine.) So, I am most definitely a biassed reviewer!
I'll focus on a small portion of the book, one which is of primary interest to martial artists: the use of herbal training formulas (Die Da formulas) to heal and prevent injuries:
A Tooth From the Tiger's Mouth includes in-depth discussion of the following external formulas:
A basic Die Da Jiu (trauma liniment) for acute injuries
A formula for Tendon Lotion for chronic injuries bothered by damp and cold
U-I Oil - a patent remedy
Chinese Massage Oil - a patent remedy
Black Ghost Oil - a patent remedy
San Huang San - a herbal poultice for acute injuries
Sinew-Bone Poultice - a herbal poultice for healing middle or late stage injuries
Wu Yang Pain Relieving Plaster - a patent remedy
Yunnan Paiyao Plaster - a patent remedy
701 Plaster - a patent remedy
Hua Tuo Anticontusion Rheumatism Plaster - a patent remedy
Gou Pi Plaster - a patent remedy
Tendon Relaxing Soak - an herbal soak
Warming Soak - an herbal soak
The following internal formulas are also discussed in detail:
Trauma pills - an herbal pill made with ground herbs and honey
Resinall K - a patent remedy made from an alchohol extract; similar to Qi Li San
Rib Fracture Formula
Bone Knitting Formula
Tonic formulas such as Ge Jie Da Bu Wan, etc.
Individual herbs for healing sinew and bone injuries
Nutritional and dietary supplements
Certainly there are many Die Da formulas available and several excellent books about Die Da formulae are available to the martial artist. However, Tom's book excells insofar as he provides very concise and accurate information about WHY and WHEN to use different Die Da formulas (based on Chinese medicine theory). Having taken many of Tom's "Kung Fu Traumatology" courses over the past ten years, I can definitively state that A Tooth From the Tiger's Mouth provides the very best, fundamental, and practical information available to the athlete and martial artist about treating sports and martial arts injuries with Chinese medicine. I remember hearing Tom talk about these formulas for the first time, making or buying them, and then trying them out on myself or on friends and training partners as we got injured during our training. The bottom line is - they work.
However, Tom's book is much more than a discussion of Die Da formulas. There are detailed chapters that describe the principles of Chinese sports medicine, injury prevention with respect to excercise, diet and health preservation, the various therapies of Chinese sports medicine, (including the management of cuts and lacerations, cupping and bleeding, acupressure, massage, and moxibustion), and the treatment of common sports injuries (over 30 are described). Moreover, the book is well-written, logical, and easy to follow. This is a gem of a book and would be welcome addition to any martial artist's book shelf. The fact that all of the therapies described in the book can be sucessfully applied to the treatment of sports-related injuries, makes it that more especially valuable.

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A renowned expert in Chinese sports medicine and martial arts reveals ancient Eastern secrets for healing common injuries, including sprains, bruises, deep cuts, and much more. For centuries, Chinese martial arts masters have kept their highly prized remedies as carefully guarded secrets, calling such precious and powerful knowledge "a tooth from the tiger's mouth." Now, for the first time, these deeply effective methods are revealed to Westerners who want alternative ways to treat the acute and chronic injuries experienced by any active person. While many books outline the popular teachings of traditional Chinese medicine, only this one offers step-by-step instructions for treating injuries. Expert practitioner and martial artist Tom Bisio explains the complete range of healing strategies and provides a Chinese first-aid kit to help the reader fully recover from every mishap: cuts, sprains, breaks, dislocations, bruises, muscle tears, tendonitis, and much more. He teaches readers how to: Examine and diagnose injuries Prepare and apply herbal formulas Assemble a portable kit for emergencies Fully recuperate with strengthening exercises and healing dietary advice Comprehensive and easy to follow, with drawings to illustrate both the treatment strategies and the strengthening exercises, this unique guidebook will give readers complete access to the powerful healing secrets of the great Chinese warriors.

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