T'ai Chi Ch'uan: A Simplified Method of Calisthenics for Health & Self Defense [Paperback]

Cheng Man-Ch'ing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 1993

This is the original classic about Short Form, the most popular and widespread form of T'ai Chi in the West. T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a must-read for every serious T'ai Chi student. This book is not meant to "teach" T'ai Chi Ch'uan, but meant to expound upon its meaning to the earnest practitioner; to offer the layperson a glimpse into this ancient art; and to communicate the author's unique perceptions and experiences that only a lifetime of practice can cultivate. Taken in this context, this is a most valuable book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"T'ai Chi Ch'uan as an art form of self-defense must completely spurn both physical bravery and muscular force. One is told that 'in any action, the whole body must be made as light and free-moving as possible;' so light that 'the addition of a feather will be felt for its weight, and so free-moving that a fly cannot alight on it without setting it in motion.'"
-Cheng Man-Ch'ing

Product Details

• Paperback: 159 pages
• Publisher: Blue Snake Books; First Edition edition (January 11, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0913028851
• ISBN-13: 978-0913028858
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Tai Chi & Qi Gong

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why as Opposed to How, September 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: T'ai Chi Ch'uan: A Simplified Method of Calisthenics for Health & Self Defense (Paperback)

This book is not meant to "teach" Tai Chi Chuan, but meant to expound upon its meaning to the earnest practitioner; to offer the layperson a glimpse into this ancient art; and to communicate the author's unique perceptions and experiences that only a lifetime of practice can cultivate.

Taken in this context, this is a most valuable book.

21 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Remote work., November 4, 2000

By 

"nafisp" (here) - See all my reviews

This review is from: T'ai Chi Ch'uan: A Simplified Method of Calisthenics for Health & Self Defense (Paperback)

I know I might be offending a sacred cow here but I actually find this work to be the most useless and inaccessable of all the books I have on Taijiquan. It may well be a classic but I found it crude, obvious, rather rudimentary, hard to use in any practicle way and it only serves as a mild curiosity in terms of it's intrinsic value

The pictures don't do nearly enough to guide a person learning the form and I already know the form! The written text is by far the most interesting thing about this book and the philosophy of CMC is as always a pleasure to read. This work does in no real way reflect my views of the man himself but rather I feel it was a poorly planned work which requires far more detail in order to bring alive as a living work to students the complexity and subtleties of Taijiquan.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone in good conscience unless they are a CMC fanatic and have to have everything by him. The pictures could go as pin ups on a locker or something but apart from that I'm sorry to say CMC needed to have his thinking cap on well before this book went to press.

4.0 out of 5 stars A good supplement to taking Tai Chi classes., February 11, 2012

By 

ludwigvonaspen - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: T'ai Chi Ch'uan: A Simplified Method of Calisthenics for Health & Self Defense (Paperback)

Perhaps one of the best, most straight forward supplements to taking a class. The photos and descriptions of this sequence of basic Tai Chi moves are clear and helpful to learning. This book does not replace working with a teacher.