Step-By-Step Tai Chi (Paperback)

~ Master Lam Kam-Chuen (Author) "This set of basic exercises is designed to relax and tone all the major joints in your body..." (more)
Key Phrases: rear diagonal, center your weight, relaxed standing position, Tai Chi, Small Circle Form (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

TONE YOUR BODY, RELAX YOUR MIND

Whatever your level of fitness, Step-by-Step Tai Chi offers a simple but effective program of exercise and stress reduction, based on the ancient Chinese art of Tai Chi. In addition to learning the fundamentals of Tai Chi through his carefully designed four-level program, Master Lam Kam Chuen will introduce you to Small Circle Form Tai Chi, an original method he has developed -- based on classical Tai Chi styles -- requiring a minimum of time and space.

Step-by-Step Tai Chi features:

* Detailed and easy-to-follow instruction for the basic movements of Tai Chi, plus Small Circle Form, complete with color illustrations that will guide you through every movement
* Specially selected exercises to help you build up strength, flexibility, and stamina in the muscles and joints of your upper and lower body
* Simple routines that you can perform in half an hour or less, with no previous experience, special clothing, or equipment required
* An ideal foundation if you wish to study advanced forms of Tai Chi

Whether you are looking for a way to reduce stress or a new way to exercise, Step-by-Step Tai Chi will keep you fit -- inside and out.

About the Author

Master Lam Kam Chuen is a recognized master of the arts of Tai Chi and Chi Kung, and a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. He was born in Hong Kong shortly after World War II and at a very early age began training in Chinese martial arts.

Studying under masters such as Lung Tse Chung and Yim Sheung Mo (both of whom were disciples of Ku Yue Chang, known throughout China as "The King of Iron Palm"), he was trained in Choy Lee Fut, Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and Iron Palm, as well as Tai Chi.

He then studied Chinese medicine, becoming a qualified bonesetter and herbalist, and opened a school and clinic in Hong Kong. He also undertook the study of Chi Kung, a system for the cultivation of internal energy in the body. Using his medical skills and his knowledge of Chi Kung he began to develop a new form of Tai Chi, now known as Lam Style Tai Chi.

Master Lam came to the West in 1976 when he became the first Tai Chi instructor appointed to teach in the Inner London Education Authority. In 1987 he gave the first European demonstration of the art of Zhan Zhuang Chi Kung, which he studied in Beijing under Professor Yu Yong Nian, the world's leading authority. He now teaches and practices medicine at The Lam Clinic in London's Chinatown.

Following the widely acclaimed BBC series, "The Way of the Warrior", Master Lam was invited to act as consultant to the sequel publication, The Way of Harmony. This was followed by his ground-breaking work published by Gaia Books, The Way of Energy, introducing the Zhan Zhuang system of "Standing Like a Tree".

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (October 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671892479
• ISBN-13: 978-0671892470
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #67,400 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #22 in	Books > Sports > Individual Sports > Martial Arts > Taichi
  #35 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Exercise & Fitness > Tai Chi & Qi Gong

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I got lucky buying this as my first Tai Chi book!, March 5, 2002

By	carl smith (council bluffs, ia USA) - See all my reviews

I'll be brief. This is a great introductory book for us Westerners. This is 99% physical, and 1% metaphysical. It contains nothing about Chi/Qi or Qi Gong, and the motions are not from any of the major styles. Rather, the book presents a sort of "beginer's" form called Small Circle form. The book is a methodical and organized introduction to Tai Chi movements. The things you will learn in this book through its fantastic illustrations and explinations will give you the foundation you will need to tackle a class/style. The best part of this book is the way it focuses on posture, breathing, and warming up. Its self paced, but is designed to be done slowly and practiced daily, but thats up to your goals. Worth every dime. Start here before you get too crazy on spending.

121 of 129 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not So Good, June 12, 2004

By	J. Barr (Westerville, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been practicing various forms of martial skills for 20 years and I'm really not sure why everyone seems to give this book such high praise. Even for beginners its just not that good. Let's face it, alot of martial arts books have been written using a poor writing style accompanied by gritty black and white pictures the size of a postage stamp. Step-By-Step has nice large color drawings but unfortunately they don't begin to cover all the dimensions of a move. Its writing style is lucid unlike many such books whose original Chinese was translated into Japanese and then English. It's a fine book in these two areas but that is not enough to be helpful to the beginner.I would not recommend it to the beginner who is trying to figure out Tai Chi Chuan on their own, with minimum instruction. You might be able to figure out a move but I doubt if your interpretation would be correct.

A far better recommendation for beginners to intermediate is "Tai Chi Chuan" by Liang Sho-Yu offered at Amazon. It has the 24 move and 48 move postures as well as martial applications. I know, you're not interested in martial applications, but you should be because once you understand the real purpose of a move you can better understand how your body should be moving when you are practicing forms. Master Liang's explanations are clear and move by move along with good photo's of each move.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best introductory book I've seen!, February 8, 1999

By A Customer

Easy to understand illustrations and clear writing make this a good book for beginners and the curious. It includes (but doesn't emphasize) the spiritual/ somatopsychic aspects, so it's good for those exploring the totality of the art, and for the merely curious looking for a low impact exercise. I think Tai Chi could be a great exercise for those with chronic illness or pain, because it targets the postural muscles (which are often lacking in those with prolonged illness or back injury/ surgery).