This is a manual on how to apply in practice the principles of Taijiquan (Tai Chi) as enunciated by the Masters of the Chen family. When we start learning Taijiquan (Tai Chi), we face a new universe of knowledge. We begin to be re-introduced to our own body and its nature, seen from the perspective of a culture and a way of thinking that are very different from ours. Therefore, the learning curve of Taijiquan (Tai Chi) is steep at the beginning. A lot of time, and a lot of sweat, is wasted struggling to overcome our difficulty in communicating with someone who belongs to another culture โ even if they speak a common language โ and who has a completely different and very unique body history. This book in an attempt in smoothing the learning curve for the beginner, and save unnecessary efforts in the wrong direction, so one’s energy can be invested in the most rewarding way.
FAQ
- How can I buy a copy?
Itโs available on Amazon.
Thatโs the link to the Canadian marketplace, but itโs available everywhere. - What do you talk about in this book?
This book is based on teachings I received in my first ten years of practice, and on how I was teaching in my classes during my first 7 years as a teacher, by observing the most common questions and the most prevalent mistakes among my students. It is a practice-oriented book for the student’s first two to five years in learning. The book doesn’t teach forms, it teaches you how to think about the principles of Taijiquan (Tai Chi) in order to apply them on your day to day training. - Is your book only about Chen style, or does it cover all styles?
My personal experience is only on Chen family Taijiquan (Tai Chi), because I only practice this style of Taijiquan (Tai Chi). However, as I noted above, the book doesn’t teach forms, it talks about the basic technique and applying the fundamental principles of Taijiquan (Tai Chi). Therefore, it is useful for students of all Taijiquan (Tai Chi) styles. - I’ve been practicing for many years, will your book be useful for me?
Although I say my book aims to help with the first two to five years of practice, it can be very useful even for students with many years in learning. It can help you reflect on your understanding, organize your more intuitive knowledge in a more structured way, and if you teach classes, it can serve as a didactic guide. If you are a teacher, it can serve as support material for your students. - Why would I want to buy your book, when we have the Masters’ books available?
When a Master writes something, their words are timeless. This means what a Master says applies to the students at any time in their lives: the meanings of the Masters’ words change according to the student’s improvements.
In a book written by a teacher like myself, the words are applicable to one phase of your training, and then must be left behind. This is why I emphasize the period for which my book is useful. On the other hand, such a book is easier for a beginner to interpret than a Master’s book.