This is the book Ken Gullette wishes he had been able to read when he first began studying Tai Chi, Bagua and Xingyi in 1987. It gets to the point, stripping the mystical mumbo jumbo away, leaving detailed, real-world explanations of the six fundamental body mechanics that everyone should know when they study Tai Chi (Taiji), Bagua and Xingyi. For the first time, these body mechanics are organized and discussed clearly, with more than 250 images and highly-detailed but simple language. If you are a student or even a teacher of these arts, you should be able to learn something here that will deepen your own insight into the arts. Ken has studied with some top internal arts masters, and during the first ten years he was teaching, he boiled down the body mechanics he learned into six key concepts. In this book, he explains them in the same step-by-step detail that he uses in teaching his students, building on each of the concepts until you have a clear roadmap of what you need to practice for high-quality internal structure and movement. As Ken explains it, "The true intent of the internal arts is self-defense. The body mechanics in this book are the starting point you need to develop the structure and internal strength that is required for the relaxed power, the iron wrapped in cotton, that the internal arts are known for. This is the starting point upon which all other skill is built." Ken has studied these arts since 1987, is a tournament champion, winning in empty-hand and weapons forms, no-contact, light-contact and full-contact matches, and he has students worldwide who have studied his DVDs and his website, www.internalfightingarts.com. Concepts covered in these pages include: the ground path, peng jin, whole-body movement, silk-reeling energy, Dantien rotation, and opening/closing the kua. From the explosiveness of Xingyi to the relaxed power of Tai Chi and Bagua, the road to internal skill is long and difficult, but very satisfying. There is nothing "soft" about these arts. They are powerful arts of self-defense. And it all starts here.

Master the ancient Chinese art of Tai Chi Chuan with this informative guide. One of the most popular Chinese martial arts, Tai Chi Chuan is also one of the most effective stress relievers available. In China it is also used extensively for the prevention and treatment of illnesses, and its beneficial effects for health and fitness are now widely recognized in the West. The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan is a comprehensive and fascinating guide to the practical application and potential benefits of Tai Chi Chuan. Packed with step-by-step illustrations for practice at home, this tai chi guide covers everything you would want to know about this ancient art, including its benefits for mental, spiritual and emotional development. This tai chi book is both an ideal introductory guide and an invaluable reminder for those who have already taken classes. Topics in The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan include: Tai Chi Chuan as a Martial ArtThe Concept of Yin-Yang and Tai Chi ChuanThe Historical Development of the Various StylesAdvice from the Great MastersTechniques and Skills of Pushing HandsSpecific Techniques for Combat SituationsTaoism and Spiritual Development in Tai Chi ChuanAnd many more

Cheng Man-ch'ing, the famed master of t'ai chi, is regarded as an enormously influential figure in codifying the most widely practiced form of the ancient martial art. This volume, developed by the martial arts master and scholar, details the way that students arrive at a posture -- from beginning movements to the end pose. Master Cheng provides practitioners with a complete and concise guide to the Short Form, enabling them to make rapid progress.

Clear, step-by-step, carefully illustrated instructions present the basic body movement skills that are at the root of all qi gong and t'ai chi forms. Weight distribution, concentration, and visualization are extensively considered, providing an extraordinary level of detail. The forms depicted include Holding the Ball, Bending from the Waist, Riding a T'ai Chi Horse, the Springy Step, Carry Tiger Back to Mountain, the Rooting Exercise, and the Ascending Dragon. The author includes evocative stories of his encounters with tai chi masters and a synopsis of the nine secret messages. Kotsias's style is deft and concise, his message sincere and gut-level. As a preparation for study with a teacher, a guide to practice, or simply as a system of exercise to practice by oneself, this text admirably serves the student's needs.

An essential guide for T’ai Chi practitioners of all skill levels—with an overview of basic principles and commentary on three classic internal martial arts texts According to Master Liao, the great power of T’ai Chi cannot be realized without knowing its inner meaning. T’ai Chi Classics presents the inner meaning and techniques of T’ai Chi movements through translations of three core classics of T’ai Chi, often considered the “T’ai Chi Bible”. Divided into three chapters, the guide explains how to increase inner energy (ch’i), transform it into inner power (jing), and project this inner power outward to repel an opponent without physical contact. Master Liao also provides a description of the entire sequence of T’ai Chi movements, illustrated by his own line drawings.