Chen Style: The Source of Taijiquan [Paperback]

Davidine Sim (Author), David Gaffney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2001

As Taijiquan has become increasingly popular, many people have inquired into its origins and development. Answers can be found in the Chen Style, the original method from Chen Village, Henan Province in the People's Republic of China. This book guides the reader through the historical development of the system, its philosophical roots, and through the intricacies of the various training methods of this unique form of Chiinese boxing. Legendary exploits of the Chen family are included to inspire today's practitioners.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Authors Davidine Sim and David Gaffney have made numerous visits to the People's Republic of China and the Far East to train with the leading figures of Chen style Taijiquan, including Chen Xiaowang, Chen Zhenglei and Zhu Tiancai.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Blue Snake Books (November 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556433778
• ISBN-13: 978-1556433771
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #329,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book, April 11, 2002

By 

Matthew Malone (Lexinton, Ma USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chen Style: The Source of Taijiquan (Paperback)

This book outlines the Chen Tai Chi system as well as providing a great source for this history and general tai chi principles. The authors are practitioners who went many times over the 2 year course of this project to study with grandmasters Chen Xiaowang (whos picture is on the cover), Zhu Tiancai, Chen Zhenglei, and other notable but less well known master from Chenjiagou village. Most of this information is available on the internet or in other books but one must be willing to spend the time searching for it. Trust me I've spent the time looking for it and read most all of the English language books (style independent) that I thought had merit (by merit it mean that within the first chapter of the book I could tell that they knew something and that there pictures didn't look like they were about to fall over just standing their). Their is also a small amount of material that I found to be new (a few of the more detailed points in body posture section). This book doesn't teach specific forms and thus people practicing different styles of tai chi can greatly benefit from the discussions of body requirements and history from an undiluted source. If you are looking for Chen forms videos purchase only those produced and performed by lineage masters. Some of the most note worthy of these Grandmasters are chen xiaowang, zhu tien cai, chen zhenglei, and wang xian. As of this revision of the review, amazon does not carry anything performed by a lineage master. ...

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great summary of the available literature on Chen Taijiquan, December 30, 2001

By 

Stephan Berwick (East Coast, U.S.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chen Style: The Source of Taijiquan (Paperback)

This work is for me, a long-awaited compendium of some of the best literature in both English and Chinese on Chen Taijiquan. Although this is not an "instructional" book per se - the book has no photos breaking down technique - this work is a must for the serious Taiji boxer. Understanding Taiji principles and theory is crucial to finding success in the art. And for Chen Taiji practitioners, it's absolutely essential.

To that end, this book manages to capture the plethora of thought ever published on the science of Chen Taijiquan, including a very nice historical summary. Standout chapters include clear explanations of Chen Taiji's "Ba Fa" or eight powers, Chen style push hands, and a decent explanation of the proper execution of "fa jing" (power issuing) ever to appear in English for the laymen.

As a longtime Chen Taiji boxer and writer on the subject, I particularly appreciated the authors' use of many quotes from famous Chen Taiji masters. Translated passages include quotes from: Chen Wangting, the style's founder; Chen Changxing, the compiler of the "Lao Jia" (Old Frame) and teacher of Yang Luchan; Chen Zhaopei, the beloved master that singlehandedly revived boxing practice in Chen village during one of China's most tumultous periods; Chen Zhaokui, the highly skilled son of the famed grandmaster, Chen Fake; and Chen Xiaowang, the current standard bearer. Also, the work contains a few diagrams with translations from the respected Taiji master and author Gu Liuxin and the noted Chen family boxing scholar, Chen Xin.

So needless to say, I highly recommend this book. I would have given it five stars if, for all of it's comprehensiveness, the work contained more photos of the masters without as many pictures of the authors. Regardless, I congratulate them on producing a landmark book on Chen Taijiquan, while raising the bar on martial arts literature in English. Great job!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chen Style Taiji, February 24, 2004

By 

Mark Blimling "Marktao" (Stockholm, sweden) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chen Style: The Source of Taijiquan (Paperback)

Finally a comprehensive book on Chen taiji. This has been a rather deficient topic to Chen stylist in the English speaking world. The knowledge is presented in a well ordered manner. The knowledge base that they present comes from a broad knowledge of teachers which is very refreshing considering that most books tend to follow one teacher's knowledge. The information is not necessarily for all practioners, considering the extensive knowledge it cannot be taken in by any beginner. Although the explanations of origin and explaining the Taoist roots are clearly a plus to someone who is beginning Taiji. The authors repeatedly give explanations from the most comprehensive book on Chen taiji, Chen Xin's "Explanation of Chen Family Taijiquan"
Which to this day has not been translated to English. There is a excellent chapter on training methods used in taiji and extensive coverage of push hands and the metods used in them. The book has less pictures and more explanations which should be useful for teachers and long time practioners.
A long time chen taiji student,