Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan [Paperback]

Fu Zhongwen (Author), Louis Swaim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 1999

Fu Zhongwen's classic guide offers the best documentation available of the Yang style of taijiquan. The superbly detailed form instructions and historic line art drawings are based on Fu’s many years as a disciple of Yang Chengfu, taijiquan’s legendary founder. Also included are concise descriptions of fixed-step, moving-step, and da lu push hands practices. Additional commentary by translator Louis Swaim provides key insight into the text’s philosophical language and imagery, further elucidating the art’s cultural and historical foundations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Louis Swaim lives and practices in Oakland, California. He has also translated an earlier taijiquan manual, Yang Chengfu: The Essence and Applications of Taijiquan (North Atlantic Books, 2005). He received his master’s degree in Chinese history, Mandarin, and Classical Chinese at U.C. Berkeley, and did additional language study at the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies. He has been a taijiquan practitioner for over thirty years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; First Printing edition (September 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556433182
• ISBN-13: 978-1556433184
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #838,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A handbook for the advanced student or teacher, April 11, 2000

By 

Al Simon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan (Paperback)

Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan is the first complete English translation of Fu Zhongwen's book. As the translator states in the introduction, this is a handbook for the more advanced student or teacher who has already learned the Yang Style Taiji form and who wishes to investigate the finer levels of detail. The book includes an excellent translator's introduction, as well as translation notes to the Taiji Classics that reveal the grounding of Taiji theory in the larger context of Chinese philosophy.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure !!!, July 7, 2004

By 

Tatsat (Bangalore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan (Paperback)

This is the only book writing whose review, I feel humbled; because it is not just written by someone who is a good Teacher, or one who KNOWS a lot about Tai Chi Chuan but a Tai Chi MASTER.

Important Points:

1. One must understand Yang Cheng Fu's and Fu Zhongwen's approach to learning Tai Chi, which is different from our conventional approach. Their emphasis has been to discover and understand the principles through the movement. So doing the movements correctly is of primary importance, because only then one will be able to master the secrets of Tai Chi. So Don't go looking for tonnes of Theory since this book is from a legendary master. It is completely practical, giving you the guidelines as to how to do Tai Chi Chuan practice thereby providing you the necessary tool to discover all the theory by yourself instead of just believing what the master says.

2. I don't like to write praises about this book because it is well beyond words. Don't believe me, do the practices as told, keeping the internal aspects in focus as well (like, an insubstantial energy in the head, the qi sinking to the Dantian, use intent rather than strength, etc.) and you will for and by yourself know what this book is worth.

3. Many Tai Chi books focus on the theory and explain so well that we "agree" and say "yes" to all of it without making it a part of our lives. Those theories operate in our lives only as long as we keep thinking about them. In this respect, I find the approach of this book different - it focuses on the practice and on doing the practice you get to understand something - not necessarily a theory - and that understanding expresses itself by itself, with or without your thinking of it.

4. Fu Zhongwen was one rare treasure of China and of the Tai Chi world. His understanding is evident not in the words he speaks but in his actions. He had accepted challenges on behalf of Yang Cheng Fu during their trip to southern China, fighting martial artists from different form of martial arts all fighting for their honour - and Fu Zhongwen was never defeated. This shows his understanding of Tai Chi. Why do I mention this? Many people say they know Tai Chi and are unable to fight, but Tai Chi brings about a unification of Jing, Qi and Shen. If so, then you can easily express it in a martial way. If you cannot, then it shows that your jing, qi and shen are not unified - i.e., your Tai chi doesn't have Kung Fu, or it is no Good.

Please keep the above points in mind before purchasing this book.

I would once again pay respects to the great master Fu Zhongwen for his great gift to me.

Ps: I am no disciple or student of Fu Zhongwen or his son Fu Shengyuan, nor am I in any way related to his Tai Chi institutions. I respect him for what I have read of him on the internet and the depth of his words in this book.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate tai chi book, July 6, 2001

By 

Marco Morena "Mormarc" (Italy) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan (Paperback)

This books is really a worth to buy. It's much more deeper than any other Tai Chi book I've ever read. I've never find so deep descriptions of the movement covering any aspect of the movement itself. For a beginner a so big amount of information could make confusion but anyway this is the book where you will find tips and knowledge every time you read it again.