The Tai Chi Bible: The Definitive Guide to Decoding the Tai Chi Form (Subject Bible) - Softcover

Docherty, Dan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 177085410X ISBN 13: 9781770854109

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2014

Synopsis

A practical guide to Tai Chi Chuan, the most common of Tai Chi techniques.

In The Tai Chi Bible, Dan Docherty explains the form of Tai Chi Chuan with reference to the Ming dynasty book, The Tai-Chi Boxing Chronicle, the text left behind by the Orthodox Masters who developed the Tai Chi system.

Suitable for people of all ages, Tai Chi requires little or no special equipment and can be practiced indoors or out, earning it an enthusiastic reception worldwide. It can help people improve their physical health, equip them with skills in personal defense, and sharpen their powers of meditation.

The Tai Chi Bible gives down-to-earth advice and provides enough detail that beginners can try Tai Chi for themselves and benefit from practicing the postures. Experienced students and teachers will gain greater insight into their regular practice.

For the greatest benefit for all students, the book includes information not readily available elsewhere, such as the Traditional Tai Chi Chuan Syllabus and the five Tai Chi Chuan Classics, which govern the practice of all styles of Tai Chi. He also references Chinese myth and legend.

Features include:

• All forms and techniques demonstrated in color sequence photographs
• Pushing hands, hand forms and major form techniques
• Inner form techniques ("every movement has its function")
• Weapons
• Expert practice tips
• Romanized Chinese names and terminology
• Tai Chi's development as a Chinese martial art
• Tales of Tai Chi masters from the past.

The Tai Chi Bible's down-to-earth advice will be of use to the novice and adept alike. Its compact size makes it an excellent portable guide.

About this title

About the Author

Dan Docherty trained in Tai Chi Chuan under Cheng Tin-hung. Representing Hong Kong, he won the open weight division at the 5th South East Asian Pugilistic Championships in Malaysia. He has a postgraduate diploma in Chinese from Ealing College, London.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Foreword

Tai Chi is a paradox. Its image with the media and the general public is that it is some kind of moving meditation, a bit like yoga. It's done slowly. It's easy to learn. It's effortless. It's about breathing. All of these images are partially accurate.

Tai Chi can involve the Chinese internal alchemy practices that influenced Kundalini yoga. Learning to do Tai Chi really well is neither easy nor effortless for most people. It's about correct posture and smooth movement, which are the prerequisites for correct breathing.

Tai Chi is a highly effective system of self defense as it relies on skill and evasion, as demonstrated on pages 36-227. Concepts, drills and techniques used in Tai Chi self defense can be easily adopted by practitioners of other arts such as karate and judo and help improve their understanding and effectiveness. Sports people from soccer, golf, tennis and other sports have told me how Tai Chi practice has raised their mental and physical game and improved their technique.

Tai Chi practice relaxes the body and improves the balance and coordination. This helps to prevent falls -- the most common reason for the elderly to attend the Accident and Emergency Department in hospitals. Tai Chi practice also leads to better respiration and circulation. I have taught many asthmatics who are able to give up their inhalers after some weeks of daily practice. Regular Tai Chi practice helps with Type 2 Diabetes: my Tai Chi master had type 1, and it helped him too. Those who suffer from heart problems, arthritis and conditions such as Parkinson's (I was diagnosed in 2011) can also benefit greatly from the daily practice of Tai Chi.

Tai Chi is for all and it has a lot to offer as this book shows. The equation is simple. Firstly find a suitable teacher and method; secondly, practice everyday.

I wish you every success with Tai Chi

-- Dan Docherty, author of The Tai Chi Bible

Edition details

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 177085410X
• ISBN 13: 9781770854109
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400