Taiji Sword, Classical Yang Style: The Complete Form, Qigong & Applications (Martial Arts-Internal) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Many martial artists who have studied Chinese martial arts for quite a few years still have a number of questions about the structure, use, history,..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Beyond the Barehand Form, beyond the Qigong, lies the elegant and effective Sword of Taijiquan! Learn to extend your Qi, enhance your art and refine your self. This comprehensive guide contains not only the complete Taiji Sword Form and Taiji Sword Qigong Set, but also seldom taught sword fighting applications and matching exercises.

More than just a "how-to," this book also contains theory, history and a complete guide to fundamentals--all essential to building a deep, understanding of this art, long considered to be the highest achievement in Taijiquan, as well as the most popular of the Taiji weapons.

* Strengthen and relax your body.

* Calm and focus your mind.

* Improve your balance.

* Develop proper Taiji breathing.

* Learn the complete Sword Form and Taiji Sword Qigong.

* Over 400 photos with detailed instruction.

About the Author

Yang, Jwing-Ming Ph.D., is a renowned author and teacher of Chinese martial arts and Qigong. Born in Taiwan, he has trained and taught Taijiquan, Qigong and Chinese martial arts for over forty-five years. He is the author of over thirty books, and was elected by Inside Kung Fu magazine as one of the 10 people who has "made the greatest impact on martial arts in the past 100 years." Dr. Yang lives in Northern California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: YMAA Publication Center (September 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886969744
• ISBN-13: 978-1886969742
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #694,047 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reference, not instructional, May 7, 2003

By	Don Roley (Japan) - See all my reviews

If you are getting ready to learn the Yang style Taiji sword, then this book should be on your shelf. If you are trying to learn on your own- go out and get a real teacher.

There are several things in this book that help suplement the instruction you can find in many Taiji schools that teach the sword. But this book is a supplement, not a replacement for that instruction.

Many schools only teach the form, not the reality behind it. They will give you a sword and say, "do it like this." Going through the motions does not mean that you understand what is going on. This book can help fill in the gaps.

A typical experience of someone learning the taiji sword is to come home after a long session and then find he/she can not even remember the sequence that the form is supposed to be in. This book can help jog your memory and help you in the sessions between training. But, again, if there are no training session with a teacher, you should just leave this book aside for now.

I should point out that this book is for the traditional form and not the 32 sequence form that seems so common now.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good applications primer, August 8, 2009

By	A. GOLDBERG "greatandpowerfulhamster" (Pleasant Hill, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book won't help you learn the forms. Pictures fragment the form into unlinked pieces and it seems the only way to understand what's going on is to know the form already. Descriptions are also extremely cryptic. Practically, I found the book useful for two things only: looking up applications of the movements I knew and well described beginners Qigong exercises. My teacher for some reason favors completely different Qigong set, so it was nice to learn some extras.

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear instructions, quality pictures, March 26, 2008

By	Szendile "szendile" (Hungary) - See all my reviews

This book completes very well the taiji studies, but I accept other people's opinion: the book is not enough. You will need a DVD or following a master's instructions in a real cours, because without it you cannot imagine how it works. But if you have a bit of experience about taiji sword, this book completes very well the studies. For exemple during a cours if I am far from the master I cannot see well how he holds his hand, so at home I can search the position from the book and check myshelf. It is also important that this book shows the martial use of movements. At the cours we study the official competition form of taiji sword and I have to admit, sometimes I do not see the reason of a movement, but this book explains it and after that it is easier to follow the master's instructions.