Customer Reviews

Taijiquan: Through the Western Gate

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First and foremost, I want to applaud Sifu Barrett for his effort. We need more books like this one, where experienced internal martial artists do their best to convey what worked for them, what insights helped them attain higher levels of skill. Sometimes, that's all we can do, and the effort sure is appreciated.

Overall I liked Sifu Barrett's insights and approach, and there are some exercises in them that I was unfamiliar with that I will try and hope to gain more insight from. However, from a thesis-critique standpoint, there are serious flaws in Sifu Barrett's arguments.

The good: Sifu Barrett I think tries his honest best to convey his understanding of internal martial arts and associated phenomena. He deals with the principles of structure, softness, qi/energy and tries to give us a paradigm about how to think about it. Barrett does a very nice job of taking real world scientific examples as parallels and using them as analogies for how to better understand the more esoteric concepts associated with Tai Chi. He also references a number of interesting but relatively unknown scientific theories to support his own perception of qi energy etc.. He gives specific exercises, clearly described, with adequate supporting photos, to help cultivate awareness, qi, and softness. Particularly for beginners, this is a superb way to "get a grip" on some of the concepts. A nice way for Western minds to have a starting point when tackling these "mystical" Eastern concepts.

The bad: Sifu Barrett's book begins with the hypothesis that since the scientific method cannot completely explain some of the phenomena associated with Tai Chi, that therefore something else must be going on. He proposes terms such as "energy coherence" and "tensegrity" and effectively explains their foundations to describe these phenomena. So far, so good. Problem is, the linchpin of his hypothesis are examples wherein an untrained partner is able to dramatically improve his/her ability to withstand force by pointing his finger, or reverse scenarios. According to Barrett, these acts cannot be explained by Newtonian physics, and therefore he proposes the utilization of his terms to try and convince us that what is happening is about an energy field and/or conduction of energy along soft tissues rather than nerves. My concern is that I *can* explain his initial examples using a combination of muscle kinesiology and Newtonian physics. There is no mysticism in his initial examples. Most experienced Tai Chi practioners with scientific or engineering backgrounds likely can explain it, as well. It has to do with transmission of force more efficiently through the truncal axis with certain alignments and muscle tensions, and thence into the ground. Moreover, in the examples where Barrett pushes superhard and cannot budge his inexperienced protege-- well, we all know that the *pusher* has much to say about how such force interacts with the "pushee"-- whether it uproots or drives more solidly into the ground. An experienced practitioner like Barrett no doubt has the ability to do either.

Thus, with his leading examples of "energy coherence" reduced in my mind to Newtonian physics and physiology, despite his claims otherwise, the rest of his contentions lacked credibility in my mind. Some of the higher-order stuff that he talked about later in the book (augmenting one's own aura and/or presence, or detecting disturbances in ambient qi) that I cannot explain nor validate at this point, then become, in my mind, once again, about faith. I cannot completely accept his explanation of energy coherence because his initial examples are flawed.

If Barrett had kept this book to one of analogies, as a way of saying-- this is how I think about it, this is what I do, this is how I perceive this-- it would be a much stronger book in my mind. Like I said, he gives some superlative associations with real world scientific parallels. In fact, Barrett may have realized this, because the second half of the book is all about parallels, and he really makes no esoteric claims. But he shouldn't have in the first half, either, because I am still left with the question of-- does Barrett really have "it", or not?

I do believe that his connective tissue theories in the latter part of the book may have some validity to them, and I like his "tensegrity" model a lot (think suspension bridge)-- but they are beyond real scientific validation. Even Barrett's narrative seems to shy away somewhat from alleging that such phenomena are really really real. In some cases he talks about his own inconsistent success in these realms.

I will have to check his scientific references-- but in the meantime, Barrett definitely presents some juicy paradigms to chew on. I have not yet tried his exercises for improving "presence" and such for an extended period of time, however, so who knows? I remain suspicious, however, that such phenomena can appear experientially validated because of the power of suggestion.

Unlike other reviewers, I did not find myself saying "Wow"-- it was more like "Hmm, I don't think so, I can explain (and do) that" in the first part of the book, and "That's an interesting way of looking at it, I'll try it, but I'm still bummed by your claims in the first part of the book" in the second part of the book.

Worth reading. But think of this more as philosophy and friendly suggestions rather than a thesis.

How can the insubstantial possibly overcome the substantial? This book does a great job of clearly explaining many of the principles of tai chi and manages to avoid the mystical without losing the mystery. The author's explanation of "tensegrity" alone is worth the price of admission. I've been seriously studying this eastern art for over 35 years, and this book is a real contribution to the field.

Barrett keeps mystic from turning into mistake.

Rick Barrett offers a guidebook toward Understanding. Be you a cubicle dweller, a race car driver, or simply a student of humanity, this volume carefully, leads us along a Path to the promise held out by all internal martial arts. Indeed, a promise held out (perhaps out of reach?) by nearly every philosophy and all religions.

Barrett's intriguing, guiding insight is that there is a wall built between the underpinnings of Western thought and Asian promise. After decades researching & teaching, listening & learning, treating & competing with/through/for Taijiquan, Barrett has found the Gate through the Wall. His painstaking, joy-filled journey - hands feeling for a breach in the wall - has resulted in this profound work which finally illuminates the point of connection which has, however heralded remained in shadow.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, stagnation and blockages within a system cause energy flow to become impeded or even halt. Barrett's book is the acupuncture needle applied at the intersection of two cultures to (at long last) induce a healthy flow of energy/information between East and West.

While this book will surely take its just place upon the shelves of every serious Taiji player, what is most rewarding is that the author has similarly found a Gate between the mythic, devoted Taiji player and the rest of us. This tome will be equally at home, and of great value on the desk of a CEO, in the gym bag of a Special Teams coach, amidst the jumbled paintbrushes of a portraitist, beneath the diploma of your doctor, and as Sunday's second reading.

An indispensable guidebook for every martial artist, this groundbreaking work captures the joy of discovery, the depth of meaning and the wonder of Qi. Readers will return time and again to its pages for guidance, insight, and review. Destined to be passed among students and down from teacher to student in training halls and lecture halls for years to come, this instant-classic deconstructs the prior `understandings' that have come both from imperfect translations and the inherent imperfection of words.

This excursion along the very leading edge (and beyond) of today's science, ancient inscrutabilities, and the deepest profundities within each of us is written with an ease of phrase which makes the path seem well worn. The accomplishment in weaving such vast and disparate ideas together in a remarkably coherent manner bespeaks the truth which is at the root of his thesis.




The first physics book for artists, the first martial arts book for healthcare professionals, the first Taijiquan book for Aikido students.

I have many Tai Chi and Qigong books in my personal library.
Many are put in boxes never to be seen again. I have a handful that I keep to refer back to. This book fits in my hand nicely.
A great book written extremely well. There have been other attempts at bridging the inner workings of Tai Chi and Qigong
between the two cultures. This book is the Golden Gate.
I recommend it to all practioners beginner to master.
I found myself saying "WOW" just a few hundred times.
Great job Mr Barrett.
Joe Petrosi
Hudson Valley T'ai Chi

Let me mention that I am a student of Rick's.
This book is great! It's clear. It's useful! When people ask me what this whole tai chi thing is about it can be hard to explain to people. Feed them the same old "chi flow, meditation, opening joints etc...." and they will walk away having the assumptions they had about the art reasserted. And they will not be any more inclined to study it.
Let's face it, a great deal of the taiji practitioners in america are those who would not really be doing anything physical except taiji<or perhaps yoga>. If someone is going to choose to spend their time playing taiji instead of something else, they need to know why it is worth it. However beneficial relaxation and health are, they are not usually high on people's lists of priority. Tell people they can become stronger instantly? Tell them they can better ways to respond to anything? Tell them that many of the patterns they have been using their entire lives are inefficient and that there is a better way? That is how to interest people (me included) and that is the promise of this book.
Whenever I've quoted from this book (or told people to read it) it's always challenged people's assumptions.
This book outlines an approach that is essential to westerners. We live in a fast paced society. Pretending that we have the patience to sit around doing a form for 15 years before we learn the inner workings is not realistic. We need to have an intellectual model for what we are working towards, even if we are far from it. That doesn't replace the hard work that is needed to get there, but it allows you to stay interested/engaged enough to carry it out.

This is a mind-blasting journey that goes straight to the heart and soul of Taijiquan. It offers numerous insights for anyone searching to optimize the life changing spiritual energy that dwells in everyman.

The revered and seemingly mysterious martial art of Taijiquan is explained in colorful and evocative language that is accessible to both practitioner and non-practitioner of martial arts.

Rick Barrett is a highly capable guide whose love and passion of the art infuses his book with an honesty and clarity of voice seldom found in writing today. He takes you by the hand as you navigate such heady topics as Energy Coherence and Transegrity. He deftly decomposes these concepts to a level that is coherent and accessible to the layman while opening new portals of understanding and insight that will keep the expert stimulated and engaged.

Taijiquan: Through the Western Gate is wonderfully "layered" so you obtain the level of instruction and insight that is appropriate for you. As you learn and grow, additional layers will be peeled off and the learning begins anew!

I've read a lot of books about tai chi and other martial arts in my quest for more information. Usually, I am looking to be entertained, perhaps inspired and at best pick up a few valuable tips to ponder and perhaps put into practice.

Therefore, it is a truly extraordinary book that completely changes one's viewpoint. This is such a book.

Right off the bat, Mr. Barrett tackles some of the most subtle and important concepts in the internal martial arts pantheon, the substantial and the insubstantial, the paradoxes of such arts, and the nature of qi, among many others.

Along the way, he introduces ideas and terms to lucidly describe his method of thinking and instruction.

The concept of being relaxed, centered, focused (mentally and energetically), aware and present, is summed up in a particularly apt phrase, "energetic coherence," which should certainly begin to make its way into tai chi classes and other martial arts dojo in the English speaking world.

The ideas of "tensegrity," (being strong by the unison of tensioned and compressed ligaments, tissues, etc.) and the "living matrix" (inter-communication of the body/mind in networks other than the neural pathways) are also candidates for popularization, I think.

Throughout the ages, brilliant minds have had to come up with new words, or at least popularize obscure terms, to better express what our ordinary language can only hint at. Mr. Barrett makes his own very fine effort at this with these three very useful terms, deep and pregnant with meaning.

But this book in not merely a theoretical examination. It is a very practical book, filled with exercises and examples that one can put to use in his own practice.

For anyone who practices tai chi or any other martial art, I highly recommend this book. It is one of the best of it's kind.

I have been studying Martial arts for 5 years and energy work has always been a part of this. This book has helped to reinforce some of the concepts already taught by my instuctors and it also helped clarify some of these ideas. In my opinon the greatest strength of this book is the clear simple language used.Mr Barrett's exercises where so simple to do and explain to others that I used them in my own class to help teach our younger students.I also really enjoyed the fact that Mr Barrett has found a way through to science to help support what energy practitioners have known for decades that Chi is real and can be used.Through this book I think he dispells some of the myth surrounding CHi and the meridians. BUY THIS BOOK.

As a 20 + year practitioner of T'aijiquan and Internal related arts, I grew so tired from all the carbon copy "TAI CHI" books filled with fortune cookie philosophy and too many bad photos of bad tai chi, that I gave up on reading literature on the subject altogether, but no more...Mr. Barrett takes the reader on an enlightened path, allowing the Western trained mind to wrap the psyche, intellect and energy around an art that is growing worldwide in leaps and bounds. Sadly though, there are so few qualifed and insightful teachers that many miss the mark of this arts potential.

Sifu Barrett, a long time Taiji Champion, judge, referee and masterful teacher, is like an oasis in a vast desert of mediocre teachers and phony self procalimed Masters.

Witty, intelligent with easy to follow experiments to test his information, this book allows us to feel the very substance of Taijiquan.

Read it and you will know exactly what I mean, novice or long time enthusiasts will gain insight.

Thank you Rick !

Sifu Ray Abeyta/Texas School of Taiji and Healing

if you want to make a connection with the energy , that is already your own.
read this book and give it a go. this is powerful, when you are ready.