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There
Are No Secrets: Professor Cheng Man-Ch'Ing and His Tai Chi Chuan
- By Wolfe Lowenthal. Pearls of wisdom from Professor Cheng Man-ching.
Every time you read it, you will always find something new, something
that you didn't see before. You will want to read some chapters
over and over again. It's simplicity and informal style makes
it easy to follow. The author recants his experiences as a student
of Cheng Man-Ching. Overflowing with information and guidance
on Tai Chi Chuan, Push hands and internal energy. Many short self-contained
and brief chapters.
Steal
My Art: The Life and Times of T'ai Chi Master, T.T. Liang
- by Stuart Alve Olson Part 1 is about his personal and martial
life (a career as a high-ranking government official, street fights
and shootouts, opium dens and prostitutes, mystical martial arts
masters and monks). Part 2 is about his insights and contributions
to Tai Chi forms (the 150 posture form, and the 78 posture two-person
form). Part 3 is devoted to his well known humorous side. Also
includes Liang's personal insights on other masters with whom
he met or studied with, including Chen Man-ch'ing and Yang Cheng
Fu.
Chen
Style Taijiquan - By Grandmasters Feng Zhiqiang and Chen Xiaowang
two luminaries of the Chen style community. It is one of the few
books on Chen Style application (how Tai Chi is used in actual
combat). Provides a step by step review of the martial applications
of the two main Chen routines. Content includes: (a) The Origin,
Evolution and Development of Shadow Boxing, (b) Illustrations
of the Attack-Defense Art in Series I and II of Chen-Style Taijiquan,
(c) Diagrams of the Attack-Defense Art in Series I of the Chen-
Style Taijiquan, (d) Diagrams of the Attack-Defense Art in Series
II of the Chen-Style Taijiquan, (e) Profiles of Chen Fake, Feng
Zhiqiang and Chen Xiaowing
Chen
Style: The Source of Taijiquan - by Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim
and David Gaffney. The history and philosophy of Chen Style Taijiquan
which is commonly believed to have remained truer to the original
Tai Chi developed hundreds of years ago than have other styles.
Includes exercises that illustrate spiral energy, the combining
of hard and soft movements, and the joining of intent, breathing,
and movement. More of a reference book than an instruction book.
An inspiring book written with the help and support of Chen Style
masters Chen Xiaowang (his picture is on the cover), Zhu Tiancai
and Chen Zhenglei.... incorporating insights of past and present
masters of the Chen style. Includes translated quotes from: Chen
Wangting (Chen style's founder), Chen Changxing (compiler of the
"Lao Jia" Old Frame and teacher of Yang Luchan), Chen Zhaopei
(who led a revival of Taiji in Chen village),Chen Zhaokui (son
of Chen Fake), and current standard bearer Chen Xiaowang.
Chen
Pan-ling's Original Tai Chi Chuan Textbook (Tai Chi Chuan Chiao
Tsai) by Chen Pen-Ling - Chen Pan-ling was a not only a Tai
Chi Master (Yang & Wu Styles) but also practiced Hsingi and Bagua.
Robert W. Smith (who was a leader in bringing the internal martial
arts to the West) referred to Chen Pan-ling as one of the best
Tai Chi masters of his time.
The
Tai Chi Book: Refining and Enjoying a Lifetime of Practice (Ymaa
Book Series, 32.) By Robert Chuckrow and James C. O'Leary
(Editor) - Perceptive insight to wide ranging aspects of Tai Chi.
Robert Chuckrow is a physics Ph.D. as well as a Cheng Man Ching
Tai Chi instructor and is able to present Tai Chi Chuan in a manner
accessible to Westerners. He comes across as just just another
Tai Chi player sharing his experiences. "Well-balanced, down-to-earth,
and complete." What's most worthwhile in the book are the
detailed descriptions of difficult and not always intuitive terms
and concepts, including alignment, breathing, eating, chi, learning
Tai Chi, push hands, stances, stretching, the Cheng Man Ching
form, and warming up. Has answers to the questions you always
wanted to ask... but never did.
The
T'Ai Chi Boxing Chronicle - by Lien-Ying Kuo. Best suited
for experienced players who want to expand their knowledge of
Tai Chi. Not he best of translations.
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