CompleteMartialArts.com - Inside Tai Chi: Hints, Tips, Training & Process for Students and Teachers
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List Price: $20.95
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Manufacturer: YMAA Publication Center
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 613.7148
EAN: 9781886969100
ISBN: 1886969108
Label: YMAA Publication Center
Manufacturer: YMAA Publication Center
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 220
Publication Date: 2002-05-25
Publisher: YMAA Publication Center
Studio: YMAA Publication Center
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Editorial Reviews:
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Preparing you for what to expect in your Tai Chi journey, this book offers practical advice, observations, and training exercises for anyone on the path.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not quite T'ai Chi
Comment: Mr. Loupos uses a lot of good words, and imparts some useful information, but in my opinion this book doesn't really represent T'ai Chi -- at least not as I've been taught it. My suspicions were aroused as early as page 6 of the book which shows him demonstrating the posture Snake Creeps Down (aka Squatting Single Whip). In this posture all of your weight is supposed to be borne by the right foot, and Mr. Loupos certainly talks in the book about keeping the Bubbling Well point in the center of the foot in good contact with the earth, but he doesn't actually do it. The photo shows his right foot up on edge rather than flat, and his right knee nowhere near positioned over his right foot. It's hard to imagine all of his weight is being borne by that right foot. (In contrast, look at pages 197 and 297 of Robert W. Smith's book "Martial Musings" to see the posture performed correctly by two different practitioners -- foot is flat, knee is over the foot in both cases.)
The focus in T'ai Chi is on being relaxed and using ch'i rather than muscular force to move an opponent. Mr. Loupos gives lip service to the idea of relaxation and softness, but his recurring references to force and power -- e.g., transfer of force, flow of force, issuing outgoing power, efficient release of power, etc. -- raise the suspicion that his idea of T'ai Chi is one of superior body mechanics rather than the cultivation and use of ch'i. Oh, and the principles of T'ai Chi, those ideas on which the entire discipline is based, are relegated to an appendix.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the best!
Comment: Great book and info on tai chi, very clear and easy to understand, tackling alot of important issues that I have not found covered in other books.
This is one of the better books out there on Tai Chi and I'll tell you why.
1) Theres no esoteric jargon; it's easy to understand.
2) Theres not pages upon pages of pictures and descriptions, like some books out there.
3) It tackles the *important* issues of Tai chi, such as rooting and body mechanics, as well as stress relief and philosophy.
Overall, this book covers, in great detail, a major part of Tai chi. It's also 'geared' towards westerners. It's easy to understand, and relates alot of the benefits of Tai chi to counteract the ailments of today's culture, such as the fast paced and stressful environments of the work place and other things.
The author, who is an expert sifu (teacher) of Tai chi, kung fu, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, writes in a clear, concise, whitty and detailed manner. Each chapter has various aspects of the subject on hand, with illustrations as well. This book covers ALOT of aspects of tai chi. I found this book answered alot of my questions of tai chi that other books did not.
So much of todays information on martial arts / tai chi is hard to understand, or hard to obtain. A lot of sources are hesitant to devulge the "secrets" of the art (and by secrets I mean proper way of practicing). It's books like this one, and John Loupos' other titles, that make your practice so much easier to understand and enjoyable to practice. It seems like he tackles every question you have, no matter how small or insignifigant.
One thing about this book is that you cannot breeze through it. It is a resource of information that you will be referring back to as your tai chi progresses. I could go on and on praising this book, but you really must check it out for yourself to see how detailed it is.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Well written and extremely informative.
Comment: I got involved in T'ai Chi because I read that it can be useful for reducing stress and improving both physical and mental health. I wanted to learn more about how T'ai Chi accomplishes this. Mr. Loupos gives an in-depth explanation of how and why T'ai Chi provides these benefits. He does an excellent job of explaining the Eastern philosophical underpinnings of T'ai Chi from a Western psychological perspective.This book does not provide step-by-step instructions for completing any of the T'ai Chi forms. If that's what you're looking for, you'll need to look elsewhere. I don't think it's possible to properly learn T'ai Chi from a book anyway. You're going to need someone to teach you. And once you start learning, this book provides a wealth of background information, advice, and tips that you'll find to be an invaluable addition to your practice. While there are no step-by-step instructions, Mr. Loupos does provide a ton of information about the subtle but extremely important basics that underlie all of the movements. Mr. Loupos doesn't guarantee that everyone will experience all of the many benefits of T'ai Chi, but he convincingly demonstrates that the possibility is there. The end result is that every time I open the book I end up putting it down so I can start practicing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Mastering the basics of the Tai Chi martial art
Comment: Inside Tai Chi: Hints, Tips, Training, & Process For Students And Teachers by seasoned marital arts expert John Loupos is 194 page, step-by-step book dedicated to understanding and mastering the basics of the Tai Chi martial art. Black-and-white photographs illustrate the practical and straightforward text, which addresses everything from body positioning to breathing to working with a partner. Inside Tai Chi is very highly recommended reading for martial arts enthusiasts with a serious interest in Tai Chi, as well as the non-specialist general reader considering a Tai Chi exercise regimen for their general health and well-being.
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