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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Tai Chi Chuan: Body and Mind in Harmony Review

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(More customer reviews)In this first popular explanation in English of T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Wu Style), Sophia Delza, the only Western woman master of the system [circa 1961], discusses its underlying philosophy and describes every step of each movement in picture and lucid text. Of it she says:
T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a system of activating the body for the development of physical, emotional and mental well-being that produces a feeling of satisfaction and a sense of tranquility that Western exercises do not give. This in itself may not sound unusual since many exercises so promise, but what is unique in this case is the technical method, with its form and spirit, which promotes the desirable state.
We in the West are apt to overdo in exercises and sports, believing that a hard, tense movement indicates strength and control and that power comes from the ability to expend strength violently. The technique of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is contrary to such a method. It is in the philosophy of T'ai Chi Ch'uan that energy can be controlled, strength balanced, vitality stabalized by using the body in such a way as not to strain the muscles, not to overactivate the heart, not to exert oneself excessively. The technique of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is based not only on a physical method, but also on an emotional and mental attitude, from which a state of awareness, calmness nd concentration evolves. This consideration of man's total health is intrinsic in the forms and techniques of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.
--- from book's dustjacket

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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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Long Life, Good Health Through T'ai Chi Ch'uan Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is a wonderful guide to Tai-Chi Chuan. I have read this book, along with her husband's book, for both of her Tai-Chi courses at SFSU. This is a great book to carry with you, even if you are not enrolled in any of her courses or her outside classes at her studio. You really do develop long life and good health through this beautiful exercise. Simmone is a great teacher through words and action.

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Long Life, Good Health traces the historical and philosophical development of Tai-Chi Chuan within the context of the sister martial arts from which it was created. This book includes precisely sequenced photographs, and step-by-step instructions. Though intended for beginners, Long Life, Good Health should fascinate more advanced students who want to research and compare ancient forms and lineages of Tai-Chi Chuan.

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