Customer Reviews

Beginner's Tai Chi Chuan

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An excellent and important book for anyone interested in learning Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. In addition to a concise explanation about Yang Style history, philosopy, etc., students will benefit from an emphasis on correct fundamentals.

The book is 'user-friendly'. Students will appreciate the clear photography, well organized layout and easy to understand description of proper posture as demonstrated by the author. This is a strong point from my experience because proper form is so essential for right development in this art. Many of the books on the subject are often too difficult or confusing to understand!

In addition, there are few students that understand the art of Tai Chi Chuan. Therefore, a clear and easy to understand book written in English (as the source language), by a master, who loves to teach and is geared to the fundamentals of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan is a truly exciting development.

Vincent Chu has written a wonderful book that offers some very practical insights into the mysterious art of tai chi chuan. Mr. Chu has been able to accomplish something which has escaped all other authors in the tai chi community: he has analyzed both the practical and philosophical aspects of tai chi in a manner that will appeal to both the tai chi novice and to the experienced practitioner. The beauty of the book lies in the fact that the novice will not be intimidated by Mr. Chu's accessible description of tai chi's often esoteric nature, while the experienced practitioner will find ample areas of his practice enriched by a reflective reading of the author's analysis. There is truly something for everyone here. In addition, the photographs and narrative are truly superior, and will strengthen any practitioner's understanding of tai chi chuan. I highly recommend this book!

I found this book to be somewhat a waste of my money for now. The book does the usual overview or Tai Chi origins and "benefits of", but the pictures and desriptions are lacking for a beginner. There are two nice aspects of this book, though. One is the Q and A section at the end, which really has some good info. Second is the pictures at the begining of poor posture/form and good posture/form. The good/bad section doesn;t offer much explaination, so some of the pictures are still cryptic. Well organized and compact, but I think I need something a little more basic.

This is a recommended for the serious beginner. It explains difficult concepts clearly and simply.
This book is also an excellent guide and companion for the experienced practitoner. This is written by someone who has direct lineage from Yang chengfu.

those who know sifu Chu will be interested in this very simple explanation for beginners tai chi. Others may wish to keep looking. I feel the book is like how Mr. Chu is described, He doesn't say much