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Product Description
Product Description
Chen style Taijiquan is the oldest of the five main Taijiquan styles. In this book, Master Jan Silberstorff, a leading Chen practitioner, shares his expertise and insights. He explains the background to Taijiquan, and its key principles, and gives the reader a true insight into the Chen system. Master Silberstorff sets this within the historical context of Taijiquan in China, its country of origin, and explains the martial, health and spiritual aspects of traditional Chen Taijiquan. He discusses the different Chen forms and the importance of each, as well as the place of competition and the effect on participants.The book also contains the complete sequences for both the empty hand and weapon forms. This accessible and comprehensive guide to Chen style Taijiquan is ideal for beginners and will also be useful to advanced practitioners wanting to deepen their practice.
About the Author
Jan Silberstorff became the first Western indoor student and family disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang in 1993 and now teaches in 15 countries around the world as a 20th Generation successor of the Chen family. Jan co-founded the World Chen Xiaowang Taijiquan Association, and is the leader of the German section. He is a champion of many Taijiquan tournaments in both Europe and China, and has published books, articles, DVDs, and produced TV series on Taijiquan. Jan is fluent in Chinese having lived in China for many years. He now lives in Germany.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this to be an insightful, very interesting and helpful book on Chen Taijiquan. At all times it offers practical advice, and never gets carried away with fanciful descriptions or waffley nonsense. The book was originally written in German, however the translation is flawless. A must-own for all Chen students, and frankly for all students of Taijiquan regardless of style.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Bought this with Kinthissa's 'Turning Silk...' and found it just as difficult to categorize. Jan Silberstorff fills the page with so much information I have to read, study and re-read again every paragraph. Not because his rendition is complex or prohibitive, he clearly takes great pains to make each concept and experience accessible to all levels of study, but because there is so much that is new or from an entirely new aspect (for me anyway).
Like Kinthissa, Jan writes from the joy of experience, with an obvious desire to lift the confused Western student from the morass of misunderstood teachings. Both do this with equal care and consideration for the reader who has only a little knowledge of the culture surrounding tai chi and the student who knows enough to be one of the many 'confused'.
Of primary interest to me is Jan's use of the I Ching and TCM principles for analysis and explanation. Yet he uses Western medicine and scientific principles equally well to define tai chi principles and technique.
This book is a library of Chen Tai Chi principles, methods, techniques and concepts, clearly handed down from the Grand master himself, but of equal clarity is the innovative and intuitive viewpoint of Master Silberstorff.
What this book, Kinthissa's 'Turning Silk' and David Gaffney and Davidine Sim's two excellent books have in common is that they have received the highest standard of instruction from their tutor Chen Xiao Wang. For anyone interested Master Chen holds seminars and workshops throughout the UK at least once every year.
Like Kinthissa, Jan writes from the joy of experience, with an obvious desire to lift the confused Western student from the morass of misunderstood teachings. Both do this with equal care and consideration for the reader who has only a little knowledge of the culture surrounding tai chi and the student who knows enough to be one of the many 'confused'.
Of primary interest to me is Jan's use of the I Ching and TCM principles for analysis and explanation. Yet he uses Western medicine and scientific principles equally well to define tai chi principles and technique.
This book is a library of Chen Tai Chi principles, methods, techniques and concepts, clearly handed down from the Grand master himself, but of equal clarity is the innovative and intuitive viewpoint of Master Silberstorff.
What this book, Kinthissa's 'Turning Silk' and David Gaffney and Davidine Sim's two excellent books have in common is that they have received the highest standard of instruction from their tutor Chen Xiao Wang. For anyone interested Master Chen holds seminars and workshops throughout the UK at least once every year.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Fascinating, comprehensive analysis of Taijiquan
3 Sep 2009
Format:Paperback
With books and other material continuing to emerge on Taijiquan, this classic compendium of articles and other writing originally published in German well over a decade ago, 'Chen' offers a unique, comprehensive look into the depths that are Taijiguan.
A pioneering Western adherent of the orginal Chen style of Taijiquan, Jan Silberstorff's terrific analysis, interpretation, and personal testament of this martial art is hinged to the classics, yet rife with an openness and cohesiveness that is both inspiring and educational. The book documents his Taiji journey with a clarity and deepness that should speak well to all serious Taijiquan practitioners.
While the book is noteworthy for its focused, lucid explanations of the concepts, technical character and requirements, and history of Taijiquan - Silberstorff's commentary on the contributions of Western approaches to Taiji practice, the relationship to sexual alchemy, fascinating results of a quantitative study on Taiji's health benefits (conducted and reported by health-related researcher in Europe), and other unique chapters give 'Chen' quite a different feel among Taiji books.
Also, 'Chen' appears to be the first English language book to offer a focused compendium of select quotes from Chen family patriarchs in one chapter, followed by substantive commentary from Chen Taiji's leading grandmaster, Chen Xiaowang, which concludes the book.
It is this over-arching focus - drawing disparate information into a true Taiji textbook that is the hallmark of the work. Readers should understand, however, that although an excellent guide book, it does not provide the usual over-abundance of sequence photos that typify such works. Instead, 'Chen' requires a thorough read. About half the book is comprised of magazine articles the author (and a few other members of his group) published in Europe since the mid-nineties. So the book offers a powerful mix of information that is deeply informative and illustrative of the power of Taijiquan and Chen Taijiquan's ascent in the West.
'Chen' is required reading for any Taijiquan practitioner seeking more from their art and practice.
A pioneering Western adherent of the orginal Chen style of Taijiquan, Jan Silberstorff's terrific analysis, interpretation, and personal testament of this martial art is hinged to the classics, yet rife with an openness and cohesiveness that is both inspiring and educational. The book documents his Taiji journey with a clarity and deepness that should speak well to all serious Taijiquan practitioners.
While the book is noteworthy for its focused, lucid explanations of the concepts, technical character and requirements, and history of Taijiquan - Silberstorff's commentary on the contributions of Western approaches to Taiji practice, the relationship to sexual alchemy, fascinating results of a quantitative study on Taiji's health benefits (conducted and reported by health-related researcher in Europe), and other unique chapters give 'Chen' quite a different feel among Taiji books.
Also, 'Chen' appears to be the first English language book to offer a focused compendium of select quotes from Chen family patriarchs in one chapter, followed by substantive commentary from Chen Taiji's leading grandmaster, Chen Xiaowang, which concludes the book.
It is this over-arching focus - drawing disparate information into a true Taiji textbook that is the hallmark of the work. Readers should understand, however, that although an excellent guide book, it does not provide the usual over-abundance of sequence photos that typify such works. Instead, 'Chen' requires a thorough read. About half the book is comprised of magazine articles the author (and a few other members of his group) published in Europe since the mid-nineties. So the book offers a powerful mix of information that is deeply informative and illustrative of the power of Taijiquan and Chen Taijiquan's ascent in the West.
'Chen' is required reading for any Taijiquan practitioner seeking more from their art and practice.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Well balanced
19 Sep 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Being a martial artist for 10+ years i understand the basics of body mechanics
what i really enjoyed about this book was its objectivity about taiji and its graceful education about chen
jan incorporates chen theory against personal examples through a very easy to understand anecdote that i can digest and
feel that he wants you to understand. Many masters are esoteric and explain just enough to confuse you or purposely trick or leave things out. Jan was very "all on the table"
my approach to this book was to jump around chapters
for some reason it works well and seems more fun
i would recommend it to someone looking to learn more about chen, tai chi, energy flow etc
my only criticism is that this book should have a hard cover option
again, thumbs up as this is an excellent read!
what i really enjoyed about this book was its objectivity about taiji and its graceful education about chen
jan incorporates chen theory against personal examples through a very easy to understand anecdote that i can digest and
feel that he wants you to understand. Many masters are esoteric and explain just enough to confuse you or purposely trick or leave things out. Jan was very "all on the table"
my approach to this book was to jump around chapters
for some reason it works well and seems more fun
i would recommend it to someone looking to learn more about chen, tai chi, energy flow etc
my only criticism is that this book should have a hard cover option
again, thumbs up as this is an excellent read!
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