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Product Description
Product Description
Now 101 years old, Master T. T. Liang came to the U.S. from Taiwan in the 1960s to introduce t'ai chi to America. His life story is full of the stuff that makes a great martial arts adventure: a career as a high-ranking government official, street fights and shootouts, opium dens and prostitutes, mystical martial arts masters and monks—the story of a life lived to the absolute maximum. Twenty-five photographs add to the captivating life story of this great t'ai chi master.
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"On the twenty-third day of the first moon in the year 1900, Liang Tung Tsai was born in Ningpo, Hopei Province, which is a small town on the shores of the Yellow Sea in eastern China." Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
"On the twenty-third day of the first moon in the year 1900, Liang Tung Tsai was born in Ningpo, Hopei Province, which is a small town on the shores of the Yellow Sea in eastern China." Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I could not put this book down. That gets said all too often, but it was the case. From the very start you are given an insight as to the character of T.T. Liang, a joker with a wicked sense of humour. All too often you are lead to believe that T'ai Chi is very sombre and should be taken with the utmost of seriousness, what a pleasure to read about a Master of a different set of 5 excellences (gambling and drinking among them!) The stories about his life are fascinating. It was a blast of fresh air to hear about his escapades and brushes with the criminal underworld.
All the anecdotes in the book clearly illustrate the type of man he was and I am saddened that I will never get to see him in person, but this book is the next best thing.
All the anecdotes in the book clearly illustrate the type of man he was and I am saddened that I will never get to see him in person, but this book is the next best thing.
This book also gives an insight into Cheng Man Ch’ing. And paints a vary different picture from what is shown in many other books, he is referred to as the foremost teacher that T.T. Liang had, but he was no saint. It helps to provide a more balanced view and realise that after all we are all human with all the faults that arise as a result.
As an assistant teacher of T’ai Chi I will definitely refer to this book, if only to mention some of the stories (a T’ai Chi class is for entertainment/enjoyment as well as learning/work). I know I am going to re-read this book many times, I have a copy of T.T. Liang’s book which I have also read a number of times. These two books will fuel my studies for years to come.
GET THIS BOOK!! It is BRILLIANT!
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is not one of those 'how to' books, just a collection of stories about the Authors relationship with T.T Liang. As i have just started out in Tai Chi, i didn't know who T.T Liang was..but by the end of the book i certainly did ! This book is a little gem, and once you start reading, it's hard to put it down.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Once Cheng Man Ching introduced Tai Chi to the West, it was perhaps inevitable that imitators would shortly follow. When I bought this book, and having read Wolfe Lowenthal's loving biographies of Master Cheng, I was curious to see if this was a book about such an imitator. I was relieved and well pleased that this is definitely not the case. The book does mention the split in the Tai Chi community (one of many) that came as a result of Master Cheng's falling out with T.T. Liang, but this covers no more than maybe a couple of pages.
The book covers two main themes. One concerns Tai Chi, and several interesting points concerning its practice are mentioned here. Some are discussed in an almost academic manner, while others are revealed through Liang's many encounters with Tai Chi teachers and practitioners. The second, is a loving and respectful biography of T.T. Liang by his student, Stuart Olson. Olson's well-written descriptions conjure an image of a man who has a deep appreciation of life and yet does not take it too seriously. Olson has managed to make even the most unpleasant facets of Liang's life and personality somehow feel understandable and steers the reader away from passing too harsh a judgment on a man who is often portrayed in an unflattering manner (I found this to be an interesting change to Lowenthal's descriptions of Master Cheng).
The two themes of the book, Tai Chi art and the T.T. Liang the man, are interwoven in such a way that, upon finishing the book, it is hard to tell where one starts and the other ends. I personally found the chapter about Liang's experiences with his teachers very helpful in my own Tai Chi, but I also came to appreciate a man who has lived his life to the fullest, and came to be a Master not of Tai Chi, but of life itself.
Finally, it is interesting to point out that Olson is now on his way of becoming a Master of his own, and is the author of many well-written and very helpful books on various aspects of Tai Chi, from an excellent trilogy on Push Hands to a diatribe on Chi.
The book covers two main themes. One concerns Tai Chi, and several interesting points concerning its practice are mentioned here. Some are discussed in an almost academic manner, while others are revealed through Liang's many encounters with Tai Chi teachers and practitioners. The second, is a loving and respectful biography of T.T. Liang by his student, Stuart Olson. Olson's well-written descriptions conjure an image of a man who has a deep appreciation of life and yet does not take it too seriously. Olson has managed to make even the most unpleasant facets of Liang's life and personality somehow feel understandable and steers the reader away from passing too harsh a judgment on a man who is often portrayed in an unflattering manner (I found this to be an interesting change to Lowenthal's descriptions of Master Cheng).
The two themes of the book, Tai Chi art and the T.T. Liang the man, are interwoven in such a way that, upon finishing the book, it is hard to tell where one starts and the other ends. I personally found the chapter about Liang's experiences with his teachers very helpful in my own Tai Chi, but I also came to appreciate a man who has lived his life to the fullest, and came to be a Master not of Tai Chi, but of life itself.
Finally, it is interesting to point out that Olson is now on his way of becoming a Master of his own, and is the author of many well-written and very helpful books on various aspects of Tai Chi, from an excellent trilogy on Push Hands to a diatribe on Chi.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent And Evocative Tales
There are few books out there on the subject of Tai Chi in English that are not just a series of instructions or foot diagrams, so to find this book was a real pleasure. Read more
Published 2 months ago by teapotmonk
Must have.
This is an excellent book if you want to read a real view of a Tai Chi life and Master. Funny and with some lovely insights. Read more
Published 9 months ago by racingred
A simply lovely book :-)
After reading this book I can't help but think of T.T. Liang as a favourite old great-uncle; somewhat disreputable yet completely lovable and also deserving of great respect. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Noanie
Steal His Art
Master Liang was a student of Chen Man Ching, whos form is pretty popular in place.
This book though is not how to do tai chi, it is an insight to Mr. Read more
This book though is not how to do tai chi, it is an insight to Mr. Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2009 by Kooner
Funny mad old man
TT Lang was mad as a hatter and more than a little annoying but this is a great book. Very amusing.
Published on 14 Mar 2007 by Madge
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