Product Description

This unique manual of internal methods, inspired by the skills of Yang the Invincible, reveals key elements in finding and training a Tai Chi body. How did Yang do it? From whom did he learn? He watched the Chens but had to train alone in secret. Yang Lu-chan had to learn from himself, through his own body. Beginning in the stillness of Wu Ji standing, the author presents core components of Tai Chi movement. Each chapter identifies, describes, and explains structures and techniques of a moving body. What, in plain language, are the meanings of stillness in motion? How does ground-level attention ensure seamless moves in solo forms and applied technique? Which complementary action principles ensure the correct shape and energy? What is modesty, and how does it optimize energy exchange? Why are form orientations both useful and misleading? How does a Tai Chi boxer employ the fourth dimension? These and other questions about Tai Chi movement are answered in clear and direct language. There are no theories nor confusing aphorisms. And the methods employ sensing and deeds, not thinking and ideas. Whatever your intent--self-care, self-defense, or enhanced understanding--you'll find ways to progress at all levels. The author has distilled thirty years of exploration and deep respect for Yang into this manual. Rather than think and talk, he has tried to put himself in Yang Lu-chan's shoes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #301420 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 132 pages

About the Author
ROBIN JOHNSON has engaged in martial arts and natural sciences since childhood. Early steps in Western boxing, jujutsu, then judo, led him in 1972 to Tai Chi Chuan. He has been deeply immersed ever since. The skill and clarity in methods that work have led and guided his studies. And professional practice in science, music, medicine, and martial arts molds the content of this manual. In it he offers simple steps toward Tai Chi Chuan's grace and competence. Sifu Johnson offers classic Tai Chi Chuan six days/week in sunny Santa Fe, New Mexico. He conducts seminars in Tai Chi body, applied form, sword dueling, and Nanjing cane, when and where needed. Leisure may find him playing mountain music, fencing, cooking, and trying to best his daughter Rhiannon at 3D tic tac toe.

Excerpted from Stalking Yang Lu-Chan by Robin Johnson. Copyright © 2005. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
PREFACE

There are many books on Tai Chi Chuan, or at least Tai Chi, to be read, scanned, sampled, or placed back on the shelf. Most are interesting, in line with the Chinese suggestion that one may live in interesting times. Few address Tai Chi Chuan simply as a human generality, as Common Sense, which is what beginners and long-term students alike need to progress. They need practical guides. Scholars may prefer literature from high places. Poetry and calligraphy, though admirable and complex art forms, may not be the best mediums for everyday feet-on-the-ground learners And the old practice of secrecy in martial arts is just not tenable these days. Anyway, Tai Chi practice is in general very good for humans. It is also a dangerous art, as is archery, while being a peerless system of health-care. And Tai Chi Chuan is an absorbing sport and a richly intricate game.

Common ground for Tai Chi Chuan's uses is usually a solo form. This comprises relaxed flowing postures in a dance-like serial. Most practicers are learning or enacting a solo form, and most instruction is directed to this end. And by far the most common applications of Tai Chi form are general health and low-impact sport among two or more people. External practice is the best testing ground for Tai Chi skills. There are many competitions world-wide. Few of these can address Tai Chi Chuan's efficacy as a martial art in unstructured engagement. There are, however, many champions in specialized sporting forms, such as push-hands. More puzzling is competition in solo form, rather like a golf game without a ball.

Meanwhile, there seems to be a concern that standards are declining. With a huge and growing student body, the prospects are seated on a shaky foundation. Teachers will always appear to lead the throng, wherever it's headed. But no matter the standard, most of the work will be done solo. Well, isn't this where most is to be learned? From others maybe, but through you. Perhaps a decline makes less headway in a student remaining a student, than in one being led. What, after all, would the first Tai Chi student have done, in the absence of a teacher?

The methods proposed here address the principle underlying this question. Principles and secrets obscured by the smoke screen of classical literature are approached through own-body scrutiny. These methods aim also to enhance body-centered study of any form of extrinsic learning. And they have succeeded in effecting multiplied ability rather than fractional improvement. Self-learning and self-teaching can provide keys to doors revealing your body, your senses, your understanding; and, of course, your ignorance.

Propositions can be true or false. Your own body is the testing ground for these methods. Later, they may be applied and tested in partner-practice, eventually to any level of game. Once you have learned from yourself what these methods mean, they will have fulfilled their purpose, become redundant. Useful methods do take effort, as do useless ones, but the effort of hours or even minutes can yield dividends throughout your Tai Chi practice. In any event there is no bull in Tai Chi Chuan, your ability is soundly grounded in what you have done to acquire it.

Customer Reviews

Moderately Good T'ai Chi Book
There is only one real problem with this book which caused me to rate it three stars: The information written within the book is fine and very useful with many insights which make the book worth buying. However, there are no pictures nor diagrams to show examples of the information that is written. This causes some difficulty while reading. Although I do acknowledge that the author probably did this on purpose to make the reader get up and do the exercises. So, that being said, this book would be most beneficial for someone who already knows a form of Yang style T'ai Chi. All in all, three stars for difficult and sometimes confusing display of written material, but still a good book.

Essential read for the experienced taii chi practitioner
If I could give 4.5 stars that might be more accurate. The only real deficiency I can find in the book is that the explanations could be clarified by illustrations. However, for the experienced tai chi practitioner, of whatever form, this brief book will provide many insights to mull over and to incorporate in your practice. A word of caution, though -- you do need to be comfortable with whatever form you practice before you can benefit from this book. It is not intended for the beginner to tai chi.

The author certainly bases much of what he advocates on the insights of Cheng Man-Ching, but the application of these is not specific to the form that Cheng taught. Cheng Man-Ching was instrumental in providing the written description of the Yang style, and although he simplified it in his teaching I don't believe he ever saw himself as working outside the Yang tradition. I practice a different variant of the Yang style, as taught by the Australian Academy of Tai Chi, and the advice in this book fits very comfortably with that.

If I had to pick one insight that has profoundly affected my own practice, it would be this one: "Don't be greedy." However, there are many such insights in the book, and I suspect it will repay careful re-reading. If you want to improve the quality of your tai chi, read and study this book.

Stalking Yang
Excellent book deals more with concepts than the physical art. Language can be very abstract and difficult to immediately apply, but like most experiences of this nature has is most definetely worthwhile.