The Big Book of Tai Chi: Build Health Fast in Slow Motion [Paperback]

B. K. Frantzis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2003

This book is a comprehensive easy-to-read introduction to the Chinese practice of Tai Chi.

Editorial Reviews

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thorsons (September 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007130902
• ISBN-13: 978-0007130900
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,408,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Average book, September 30, 2003

By 

Massimo Maddaloni "Maddmax1" (Bozeman, MT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Big Book of Tai Chi: Build Health Fast in Slow Motion (Paperback)

In my opinion this is a rather plain book about Tai Chi. The author's deep knowledge clearly shows up. The problem I have with this book is that it is tailored to appeal a narrow section of the market: the prospective Tai Chi students. The book explains in great detail all the benefits one can gain from practicing TaiChi. However, it does not tell anything about "how". It is not an instructional book: it's mere Tai Chi propaganda. If you already practice Tai Chi and have just a decent knowledge about the energy in the body, you'll find this book only marginally useful. I am not saying that it's a terribly bad book. What I am trying to say is that from the author of "Opening the energy gates of your body" I expect much, MUCH more than that. I studied the "Gates" probably six times cover to cover, and countless times I consulted it to plan my Chi Gung training. I read "The big book of Tai Chi" once, and I don't think I'll read it again. Any average TaiChi student could write a similar book in 3 months: c'mon, Mr. Franzis, tell us something we don't know!!

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent background reference book, October 29, 2003

By 

J. Lin (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Big Book of Tai Chi: Build Health Fast in Slow Motion (Paperback)

To begin with, I must state my biases - I have taken a number of seminars and retreat weeks from Bruce Frantzis, and he is an incredible teacher. He is one of the few Westerners recognized as a martial arts and meditation master in China, and this book is a product of that knowledge and experience.
That said, the book has both perceived pluses and minuses, depending on where you are coming from. Unlike most other Tai Chi books, this is not a detailed How To book. For example, those interested in learning the form will not find it in this book. As the author correctly points out, Tai Chi, like any movement art, is best learned from a competent teacher. I do not consider this a minus, but some may. Form instruction aside, what is of interest is what IS covered.
The book is encyclopedic in its breadth: among the topics covered are the basics of Chinese medicine as the basis of Tai Chi's health benefits, how Tai Chi can improve health, reduce stress, promote longevity, and help specific groups of people including the young, sedentary workers, physical laborers, athletes, the overweight, and people with disabilities. He covers Tai Chi as a martial art, as spiritual practice, different styles of Tai Chi and how to choose between them, specific learning expectations for beginning, intermediate and advanced students, and choosing a teacher. Esoteric concepts such as chi, dissolving energy, and opening and closing joints are discussed in some detail. And those are just some of the topics covered. The beginning student, or someone who is just curious about Tai Chi, may well be overwhelmed by the number and variety of concepts that are introduced and discussed, especially if they try to read it from cover to cover. Instead, it is best read a section or a chapter at a time. Even the advanced practitioner will likely find new concepts and ideas that he or she has not encountered before. Much of this information is either scattered through various texts, or just plain not available anywhere else. As such, it can serve as an invaluable reference, and is a bargain at the price. As with any encyclopedia, enough information is imparted to give a taste, but detailed How To information is not provided. This is no doubt deliberate. Here again, let me emphasize, practice requires the assistance of a competent teacher, as incorrect practice could potentially lead to injury. Tai Chi is, after all, a physical, a mental, and for some, a spiritual exercise, and there is only so much that can be gotten from the intellectual exercise of reading a book. Highly recommended!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tai Chi Info You May Not Find In Other Books, July 6, 2009

By 

Judy Steinkraus (Cupertino, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Big Book of Tai Chi: Build Health Fast in Slow Motion (Paperback)

If someone could sit down with a master and ask them as many questions as they'd like about tai chi, this book may very possibly be the product of such a dialogue. Readers who invest the time to read this book receive the benefit of a very rare person's experience and advice. I especially appreciate the photos that are incorporated throughout the book.