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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chen form application bible!!, May 31, 2001
First this book is by Grandmasters Feng Zhiqiang and Chen Xiaowang. It is English language but printed in China. The five stars is for content and the fact that it is one of very few application books on the market making it practically peerless as these books go. It does have the black and white somewhat grainy photos and it can sometimes be difficult to see how one part of the application leads into the next part.*As far as I know this book is not actually out of print try the publishers web site. This is a step by step walk through the applications of the two main Chen routines as interpreted by Feng. It also contains a section on the 38 forms performed by Chen Xiaowang. With the exception of the 38 form (that they are trying to teach) I believe that it would be rather difficult to learn the main forms from this book. As far as learning how Tai Chi was used in actual combat there is nothing else in English that comes close (at least that is written by a reputable master). Due to the similarities between different forms of Tai Chi this book could still be quite useful for all Styles not just Chen practitioners. For general philosophy, practice suggestions, and general refinement of Tai Chi for all styles I suggest Guttmann's translation of Kuo Lien-Ying's, "The Tai Chi Boxing Chronicle", ISBN# 1556431775. CONTENTS The Origin, Evolution and Development of Shadow Boxing Part 1: Illustrations of the Attack-Defense Art in Series I and II of Chen-Style Taijiquan * The Names of the Forms in Series I of Chen-Style Taijiquan * Diagrams of the Attack-Defense Art in Series I of the Chen- Style Taijiquan * The Names of the Forms in series II of the Chen-Style Taijiquan * Diagrams of the Attack-Defense Art in Series II of the Chen-Style Taijiquan Part II: The Names of the Forms in the Chen-Style Taijiquan of the Thirty-Eight Forms Profiles of Chen Fake, Feng Zhiqiang and Chen Xiaowing
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