Taiji Notebook for Martial Artists [Paperback]

Scott M. Rodell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 2005

"Taiji Notebook for Martial Artists" by Scott M. Rodell is a highly readable and informative account of the author's realizations and understandings, internal and martial, acquired over decades of committed study. Rodell eloquently addresses and explains many of the subtle sticking points that he has experienced in practice and that other practitioners frequently encounter in their training. The gems found in this book will prove to be an invaluable resource for any t'ai chi chuan practitioner who wishes to deepen their understanding and experience of the art.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For anyone wanting to learn what Taijiquan is really all about, Scott Rodell’s book is a must-read" --Paul Gallagher, totaltaichi.com, author Drawing Silk a Training Manual for Taichi

"Some have the opportunity to learn at the masters feet, one rarely has the opportunity to get into his mind." --Bede Bidlack, Director of Still Mountain T'ai Chi Center, Author of contributions to Beliver's Notes and Daoist Body Cultivation

"Rodell’s book brings to life the depth and nobility of this ancient martial art." --Wumingzi

About the Author

Scott M. Rodell began studying martial arts at the age of nine & has devoted nearly 3 decades to Taijiquan (Taichi chuan). He is the founder & Director of the Great River Taoist Center, headquartered in Wash., DC with branches in the US and Europe. During the late '80s, he was Push Hands Champion at several Nationally Sanctioned tournaments & placed Second in Push Hands at the International Championship held in the Republic of China in '90. In 2001, Rodell was Awarded 'Honored Judge' rank by the Russia Wushu Federation (their highest rank). Today he is recognized as the leading authority on Taijiquan's sword art and Chinese Historical Swordsmanship. See also "Chinese Swordsmanship - the Yang Family Taiji Jian Tradition" by Rodell.

Product Details

• Paperback: 81 pages
• Publisher: Seven Stars Books and Video (June 19, 2005)
• ISBN-10: 0974399930
• ISBN-13: 978-0974399935
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #572,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern Taiji manual in the spirit of the classics, July 24, 2005

By 

Benjamin Crandall (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taiji Notebook for Martial Artists (Paperback)

Have you ever seen video footage of an old taiji master effortlessly tossing around multiple attackers half her age while maintaining an expression of peace and calm, and wondered where that amazing skill comes from? It's not magic, and it's not just a matter of learning martial techniques. This amazing ability comes from a complete understanding and mastery of the internal aspects of tajiquan. It comes from understanding the mindset of the art's architects and adopting it as your own. "Taiji Notebeook" gives clear instruction for developing the necessary structural, mental, and energetic framework that is the foundation to all of the other amazing benefits taijiquan has to offer.

"Taiji Notebook" will be beneficial for taiji practitioners at any level, but I especially recommend it for the beginner. Many of the concepts discussed in this book are subtle and are only able to be applied effectively by the advanced student. However, this book may save years of frustration in the hands of the novice by giving her the proper mindset with which to train.

Many modern taiji books discuss the movements of taiji forms in broad terms (e.g. step left, bring your hand to dantien level, etc.), but fail to explain the structure on which those movements are based, or neglect the martial context. Others list countless varieties of fajin, but vague, if any, description of the actual process of developing fajin in the first place. "Taiji Notebook" is one of the clearest explanations available of the internal aspects of the art, as transmitted in the Taiji classics, but written by and for the modern native English speaker.

We live in a rough and tumble world, "Taiji Notebook" can be a great first step in learning how not to get thrown.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very useful book for new and advanced students, September 6, 2005

By 

jonathan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taiji Notebook for Martial Artists (Paperback)

There are no shortcuts in taijiquan (tai chi chuan) but there are guideposts along the path and Taiji Notebook provides quite a few. It's broken up into very short, readable chapters that cover a variety of topics like: breathing, fang song, fajin, mistakes, fear, flow, the dui fang, san shou and many other things that beginning, intermediate, and advanced students face as they learn tai chi.

When I first started my practice of tai chi I bought every book I could find. But I quickly noticed that most of the books simply showed you how to do the form, through pictures, but very few attempted to teach you what the form was about, how you should approach it, why you should do it, and what it could do for you (besides health aspects).

Taiji Notebook is just such a book. I wish I had it when I first started tai chi, but at the same time I'm just as happy I have it now after a few years of practice. This is one of those books that you can go back to over and over again and see new things. So as your own practice advances your understanding of some of the things Rodell talks about will also expand.

It is fast becoming one of those well thumbed, dogeared books on my bookshelf. I highly recommend it!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Useful, August 10, 2005

By 

Lauri Niilisk "Taijiquan Practitioner" (Tartu, Estonia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taiji Notebook for Martial Artists (Paperback)

The book is full of explanations and advice, clearly written by a person who has long experience in the art and it makes it alive. All parts of the whole system of
taijiquan, such as basic exercises, form, pushing hands, free hands, weapons form and -fighting are vividly shown in their place and role. With examples from the classics and analysing experience of his own Scott M. Rodell clearly explains that the true essence of taijiquan can only known through its martial aspect.