21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An inimitable personality and master, November 6, 2005
This review is from: Steal My Art: The Life and Times of T'ai Chi Master, T.T. Liang (Paperback)
First I wanted to make a brief comment on the one very negative review, which said Olson's book wasn't even well written. Come on, it's perfectly competent writing and well edited. I know because I spent 7 years working as an editor and writer in the publishing field, and the book is just fine as far as the quality of the writing and editing goes. Olson isn't a professional journalist as far as I know, and the book could have been written by a professional. The book is also from a reputable publisher, and they know how to bring the writing up to a professional standard if the original writer himself isn't capable of that. (I know, because I did that kind of writing and editing myself, too).
In fact, I found sifu Olson's bio of Liang quite well written and immensely entertaining, for master Liang often has a wit and sense of humor that is as subtle but irrepressible as his tai chi. The life and times of master Liang, his personality, and his philosophy emerge through numerous anecdotes, personal observations, stories, and notes that Olson took in his many discussions with Liang over the years. There is also a good deal of important tai chi history and lineage here that is worth knowing, discussing the contributions of various other masters, such as Yang Cheng Fu and Chang San Feng, and many others.
If you are already a knowledgeable or senior practitioner there might not be much here in the way of new information on how to do tai chi, but if you're a beginner to intermediate student, there is much good information and material here to further your knowledge. But Liang's life story and his amazing adventures and his inimitable personality are the main attractions of this book. Also, his personal philosophy is worth considering too. If the world followed his principles we would be better off and the world would be a far less violent and more peaceful place. But humans are humans, and so they would rather hate and kill each other than follow tai chi's taoist principles and live in peace.
There was one extremely interesting thing about tai chi in the book that I have to mention, though, about when Liang went to visit a reclusive master on a mountain, who was reluctant to discuss his tai chi. He said that all the aphorisms of the great masters about how to do tai chi are merely tricks to get you to do it correctly. For example, the statement that one must allow all one's weight and energy to sink into the "bubbling well" or kidney point on the bottom of the foot. The master said that it just isn't the upper body that is yin and the lower body yang, but that all power must come from the foot. In other words, it isn't that half of the body is yin and half of the body is yang, it's more like 95% is yin and only 5% is yang. Then he showed Liang the difference between doing "wood" tai chi and "cotton" tai chi. This was a fascinating encounter and perhaps the most telling in the whole book.
One other thing I found intriguing was when Liang had to go into the hospital at age 85 for some tests. The doctor said that his internal organs, unlike most 80 year-olds, had not shrunk or atrophied somewhat as is typical of the elderly. The doctor attributed that to the increased blood flow to the internal organs from his lifelong practice of tai chi. If true, then this is yet one more reason to practice tai chi.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
IF YOU KNEW THE REAL MAN, April 22, 2004
This review is from: Steal My Art: The Life and Times of T'ai Chi Master, T.T. Liang (Paperback)
This book seems to have started a few fires.
For those who believe a T'ai Chi teacher is a God or Icon and not a man at heart (yo' Smith) think again.
It's Great to read about Master T. T. Liang, a man who lived beyond what most could dream. A Great work, for those of us who loved T.T. first as a wonderful man then a great teacher here's the real deal, like it or not!
The author Stuart Olson lived with Master Liang for many years and was his closed door student. Thank You Stuart !
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is an incredible bargain!, May 19, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Steal My Art: The Life and Times of T'ai Chi Master, T.T. Liang (Paperback)
This is a fascinating book about the diverse life of T'ai Chi Chu'an Master T.T. Liang. Full of humor, a zest for life, and a deep devotion to this martial art, Master Liang epitomizes the term "Master." Very well written by Stuart Olson, who may well have been closer than anyone to his legendary teacher/father. Details of Master Liang's Tai Chi lineage are very interesting to students, as are his insights into the principles of Tai Chi.
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