Tai Chi Chuan Classical Yang Style: The Complete Form Qigong [Paperback]

Dr. Yang Jwing Ming is truly a modern Master. As always, his instructions are suitable for both beginners and serious Tai Chi students, alike. It is intended to accompany the DVD and is not a quick read, but rather intended to be absorbed over time.Taijiquan, Classical Yang Style: The Complete Form and Qigong (Martial arts-internal)

I must preface this review by saying I am not a tai chi practitioner but I do practice Qigong and bought this book to scrub up on the basics of Tai Chi in advance of classes and to complement my qigong study. At the end of reading this book I am fairly confident to being trying the beginner practices without tuition and feel that I would not suffer because of it. Don't get me wrong if you want to learn Tai Chi then you need an instructor but this book can prepare you well for learning the Yang Long Form. Of course I probably think this because I practice qigong so it is easier to pick up the essence of instructions, given I already know them for qigong. If you are a complete novice then there is no substitute for live tuition.

The book can be divided roughly into two halves. The first half is a discussion on the theory and introductory practices. The theory includes a history of martial arts and Tai Chi in China, a discussion on Qi and Qigong, the learning strategy for Tai Chi, core principles of qigong and Tai chi and the categories of stances, steps and movements. The introductory practices include tai Chi qigong, rocking tai chi Qigong and moving tai chi qigong all explained with annotated photographs and written text.

The second half includes Photographic annotated instruction of the yang Tai chi long form as performed by Dr Yang, Jwing-Ming himself, again with supportive text.

This structure to the book is ideal to follow when learning and mirrors how I am currently being taught Dayan qigong in that learning starts with stances, then static qigong, then rocking, then moving, then the full dynamic form.. This means initially you only need to be concerned with posture, then hand movements, the weight shifting and then feet movement.All this prepares you for the full form where you join the exercises in series. This way you learn in small steps and aren't bombarded with something you have no hope of practising. You also have the added benefit of the health effects immediately.

The annotations are particularly good in my opinion, because they show both directions the hands, feet and arms should move as well as the trunk flex. In addition the centre of gravity is shown on the stances which is very handy. If any thing is left unclear the text clarifies it. Even though I did not need it there is a accompanying DVD (not included) which sync's with the book, so if you need to see the movement formed then you can.

The martial and meditative aspects are well stressed and so you get a feel of a genuine nature of Tai chi and not a sanitized new age/communist version that is taught simply for physical exercise. Both the energetic and martial applications are discussed if only in brief, although this is something that will need to be taught.

If I was going to make an negative comments they would have to be Dr Yangs continual pugging of his other books, (although his books are excellent) and his reuse of some of the material that features in some of his other qigong books. Although there is plenty of original content in this book for it not to be a problem.

So should you buy this book? Well if you are completely new to Tai Chi or practice Qigong like me then certainly, you can learn at least the qigong without instruction. If you learn the long form and want a reference book for between classes then certainly get it to because the annotated photo's are good, probably infallible if you get the DVD as well.

If you already are an advanced Tai Chi practitioner then you probably won't get any real benefit from this book and instead probably should head for some of the classic treatises, but of course you will know this.