A complete guide to the wisdom of Tai Chi Chuan Modern life is stressful but the ancient martial art of Tai Chi Chuan is one of the most effective means to reduce stress available. In China, Tai Chi is also used for the prevention and treatment of illnesses, and its positive effects for health and fitness are now widely recognized in the West. Packed with step-by-step instructions for practicing at home, The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan explains all its important aspects and styles, as well as its practical benefits for emotional, mental, and spiritual development. It includes:
* The history and development of various styles
* The basic set of movements
* The physical and mental benefits of Tai Chi Chuan
* The relationship of Tai Chi to Taoism
This is the ideal guide for beginners, but it is equally useful to those who have already taken classes.
Wong Kiew Kit has practiced and taught Shaolin arts for more than 30 years and has over 2,000 students. He is the fourth generation successor of monk Jiang Nan of the Shaolin Monastery and Grandmaster of Shaolin Wahnam Kung Fu Institute. He is the author of several books on Eastern wisdom including The Art of Chi Kung, The Complete Book of Zen, The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu, and Chi Kung for Health and Vitality.
Author(s): Wong Kiew Kit
Series: Tuttle Martial Arts
Edition: 1
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Year: 2002
Language: English
Commentary: scantailor optimized
Pages: 317
City: Tokyo | Rutland, Vermont | Singapore
Tags: tai chi chuan
The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan
Contents
List of Illustrations
Preface
1 TAI CHI CHUAN as a MARTIAL ART: The Aims and Benefits of Practising Tai Chi Chuan
A Concise and Comprehensive Martial Art
The Mechanics and Psychology of Different Arts
Internal Force, Not Brute Strength
An Art of Convenience and Culture
The Richness of Tai Chi Chuan Theory
Tai Chi Chuan in Health, Character Development and Philosophy
2 THE CONCEPT of YIN-YANG in TAI CHI CHUAN: What You May Have Missed in Your Tai Chi Class
The Philosophy of Yin-yang
Yin-yang in Tai Chi Form and Force Training
Yin-yang in Tai Chi Chuan Application
Yin-yang in Tai Chi Philosophy
3 THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT of the VARIOUS STYLES: Health, Combat and Spiritual Joy in Tai Chi Chuan
The Earliest References to Tai Chi
Zhang San Feng and the Origin of Tai Chi Chuan
Early Tai Chi Chuan Masters
Chen Wang Ting and Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan
The Old, the New, the Small and the Big
Yang Lu Chan and Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan
The Wu and the Sun Styles
The Three Stages of Tai Chi Chuan
4 ADVICE from the GREAT MASTERS: Achieving Better Results in a Shorter Time
The ‘Song of Secrets for Training’
The Five Characters Formula
The Ten Important Points of Tai Chi Chuan
5 FUNDAMENTAL HAND MOVEMENTS and FOOTWORK: Acquiring Balance and Gracefulness in Tai Chi Movements
The 13 Techniques of Tai Chi
The Secret of Tai Chi Internal Force
Developing Poise and Balance
The Four Primary Hand Techniques
The Four Secondary Hand Techniques
Does Tai Chi Chuan Cause Knee Injury
6 THE IMPORTANCE of CHI KUNG in TAI CHI CHUAN: The Development of Internal Force
Health, Combat and Spirituality
The Internal Force of Tai Chi Chuan Training
Developing a Pearl of Intrinsic Energy
7 THE POETRY of ENERGY and MIND: Tai Chi Chuan with Breath Control and Visualization
The Purposes of Set Practice
Simplified Tai Chi Set — Section 1
Simplified Tai Chi Set — Section 2
Simplified Tai Chi Set — Section 3
Simplified Tai Chi Set — Section 4
The 48-Pattern Tai Chi Set
8 TECHNIQUES and SKILLS of PUSHING HANDS: How to Sense Your Opponent’s Weakness
The Principles of Pushing Hands
Sharpening Your Skills of Perception
Throwing Your Partner Off the Ground
Seeking the Best Angle and Closing Up
Advanced Techniques of Pushing Hands
Pushing Hands and Combat Efficiency
9 SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES for COMBAT SITUATIONS: Tai Chi Chuan Patterns for Self-defence
Requirements for Combat Proficiency
From Lifting Water to Repulse Monkey
The Profundity of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail
From Cloud Hands to Needle at Sea Bottom
The Final Eight Patterns
10 COMBAT SEQUENCES and TACTICS: Techniques, Tactics and Skills for Fighting
Martial Arts as Sports
The Depth and Scope of Tai Chi Chuan
The Why and How of Combat Sequences
Sequence 1 Triple Punches — Warding Off
Sequence 2 Three-level Attacks — Green Dragon
Sequence 3 Whirlwind Kick — Single-whip Low Stance
Sequence 4 Hiding Flowers — Playing the Lute
11 MORE COMBAT SEQUENCES and TACTICS: Some Amazing Ways to Overcome an Opponent
Factors in Winning a Combat
Sequence 5 Felling a Tree — Rolling Back
Sequence 6 Pushing Mountains — Thrust Kick
Sequence 7 Pull Horse — Thrust Kick
Sequence 8 Eagle Claw — Shoulder Strike
Sequence 9 Taming Tiger — Flying Diagonally
12 ENRICHING DAILY LIFE WITH TAI CHI CHUAN: How Tai Chi Chuan Enhances Health, Work and Play
The Chinese Concept of Health
Energy and Chinese Medicine
The Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Health
More Energy for Work and Play
A Healthy Body and a Relaxed Mind
13 WUDANG TAI CHI CHUAN: Attaining Cosmic Reality Through Tai Chi Chuan
Tai Chi Chuan and Spiritual Development
The Patterns of Wudang Tai Chi Chuan
14 CHEN-STYLE TAI CHI CHUAN: Tai Chi Chuan of the Hard and Fast
Transition from Spirituality to Health
The Patterns of Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan
15 YANG-STYLE TAI CHI CHUAN: Gentle, Graceful Movements for Health
The Most Widely Practised Style of Tai Chi Chuan
The Patterns of Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan
16 THE WU STYLE of WU YU XIANG: Small Movement and Body Technique for Combat
External Form for Internal Power
The Patterns of Wu Yu Xiang-style Tai Chi Chuan
17 THE TAI CHI CHUAN of WU CHUAN YOU: How to Avoid Being Hurt in Combat
For Health and for Combat
The Patterns of Wu Chuan You-style Tai Chi Chuan
18 SUN-STYLE TAI CHI CHUAN: High Patterns and Agile Movements
Some Advice on Tai Chi Chuan Practice
The Patterns of Sun-style Tai Chi Chuan
19 TAI CHI CHUAN WEAPONS: Transmitting Energy to Extended Hands
Why Weapons Are Not Widely Used
Some Functions of Weapon Training
Sword, Scimitar and Staff
20 THE PHILOSOPHY of TAI CHI CHUAN: The Evergreen Classic of Wang Zong Yue
The Treatise on Tai Chi Chuan
Explanation of the Treatise
Three Levels of Attainment
21 TAOISM AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT in TAI CHI CHUAN: Attaining Immortality and Returning to the Void
Tai Chi Chuan Principles in the Tao Te Ching
Attaining the Tao
Immortality and the Great Void
Notes
Further Reading
Useful Addresses
Index
