Customer Reviews

Chen Style: The Source of Taijiquan

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

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!

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,

"Chen Style: The Source of Taijiquan" does a really good job of explaining the history and basic principles of taiji, regardless of style. It's well written, well structured, and generally a good read. It is not, like so many books on the market, a learning manual where you learn forms by looking at pictures (which in my opinion is a bad way to learn taiji), but it gives the reader guidelines and pointers to complement your training, leaving the actual teaching to the instructors out there.

It may not be the most advanced manual on taiji, but it is definitely the best overall guide in English I've ever read. Especially for the beginner I think there is a whole lot of valuable information in here. For the advanced student there is maybe not that much new info, but there will probably be something of interest. It nonetheless serves as a good referencework or refresher for more advanced students.

There are better books out there in Chinese, but they are not that easily accesible to most people in the western hemisphere, so until they become, this is the book to read.

~I expected the usual formula Tai Chi-by-numbers book but was pleasantly surprised to receive an inspiring and authoritative book on Chen Tai Chi. Incorporating the insights of past and present masters of the Chen style the book will be a great help to anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of the training methods, theory and philosophy of Chen Tai Chi. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the legends of the Chen family. I would recommend this book to all Tai Chi practitioners,~~ irrespective of style.~

I am a beginner who simply loves to read books about martial arts to learn different perspectives and approaches. This book has a lot of great qualities and it was well worth the time and money investment it took to read it.

For starters, the writing style of the book is fluid and clean. It's beautifully written, a true pleasure to read. The author attempts to give the reader a very good theoretical foundation in TaijiQuan. He provides great background information that draws novice readers into the culture and history of this art form.

I would have to disagree with regard to the sparcity of pictures in the book. Certainly, there is no substitute for a trainer or teacher. I can understand the perspective of reviewers that teach this form and believe that it is best for them to guide each student's progression. But it is unrealistic to think that all readers will have such a resource available to them wherever they may live. Actually, it's also irrelevant. Whether one is availed of expert instruction or not, clear pictures and diagrams showing the postures would help novices to reinforce and retain the information they read in this book. This is why people buy books to begin with!

In short, the content of the book seems to be good. The pictures are ok but there should have been more instructional photographs of the forms, poses and exercises. Overall, a very good introductory text.

I ordered this book in order to have a pictoral reference for my training in Chen Style Taijiquan. Instead, I found the book gives very little in the way of illustrations to outline steps of the routine. It does in a written form discuss the steps and pitfalls common among students but not many photos.

Intead, it discusses the history and theory of this style of Taiji. Actually, very interesting in this way. I think if one is to train and maintain practice in taiji they should know about its history and how to use the 'chi' for their health. This area is rarely discussed in taiji manuals.

I think this book is really excellent in this aspect and worth buying for students and teachers of Chen Style Taiji.

Very few books are available to the public, which are written in English, about Chen style TCC. This is a very good reference book for both beginner and advanced practitioners of this or any style of TCC.
I teach an accredited course in Chen style at a local community college here in San Antonio,Tx. and this is the textbook I use for the course.
One of the main reasons I use it at the college is because it does not contain any how-to photos of the routine. Why is this? The reason is simply that photos and videos alone are not sufficient to learn the art. One needs an experienced guide to show one the way to proficiency in this art. That, and lots of hard work and sweat. There are no shortcuts!!!
As for those of you who long for a book with photos and explanations...my advice to you is,"Get yourself a Teacher". Finding one who is good enough to teach is difficult if you do not know what to look for or what to ask. And remember, just because they may know one form does not mean that they know the system. There is a difference! And do not think that you can attend classes for several months or one year and then go out and profess to "KNOW" TCC. It ain't gonna' happen! It is just like going to school, from Kindergarten all the way through college. Then, there's graduate school....get the picture?
The only conflict I have with the writing is about the 13 postures of TCC. Any experienced Chen teacher/practitioner will tell you that the so called 5 Steps are actually different from those given in the book. Also, it would have been nice to have listed the various "Jings"(energies) of TCC. Some Chen Masters/Grandmasters will tell you there are at least 21.
All in all, I can honestly say that this one's a keeper. And beginners, remember, once you find a good teacher, don't be in a hurry to learn. Remember, first you crawl, then you walk, then you can run.

With regards to some of the other comments: If you want a Chen-style Tai Chi book with lots of pictures of the form try "Old Frame Chen Family Taijiquan" by Mark Chen.

The most concise and well structured source of tai chi boxing history and roots I have read to date. This book makes the direct connection between tai chi and it's martial functions by serving as both a bible for the chen stylist and a source of heritage for any tai chi enthusiast, beginner or master!