When I was a young student first studying Tai Chi, I wanted a book that would be complete in its directions and explanations, a book that would show me proper breathing and the martial applications of all the Tai Chi postures, and a book that would also discuss the spiritual aspects of Tai Chi. Then, when I started teaching Tai Chi, I was faced with the dilemma of assigning a book to my students to assist them with their practice at home. I tried using all the available books, but was never really satisfied with any. I finally decided to write a book myself, one which would include all those elements that I had searched for as a young student and which would make the study of Tai Chi easier than it had been for me.
Three years in the making, the result is a book that has received superlative reviews by my peers, Tai Chi students the world over, university Tai Chi programs, and magazine and book reviewers. I am proud to say that this book has had over 16 printings and is now also available in Spanish and Hebrew.
This book is divided into two parts and contains a valuable foreword by Master T.T. Liang, first disciple of Grand Master Cheng Man-ch'ing and a famous Tai Chi instructor and author.
Part 1 contains chapters on Tai Chi history, philosophy, principles and Tai Chi's relationship to health, psychology, spirituality and to other Eastern studies such as Zen and Yoga. It also contains valuable excerpts from scientific research that I carried out at Long Island University and Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital in New York City.
Part 2 teaches the 37 move Yang form as taught to me by Grand Master Cheng Man-ch'ing. Over 400 photos and diagrams illustrate postures, weight distribution, breathing, transition movements and self-defense applications for each posture. This book is a must for serious students of Tai Chi Chuan, and still at a price that can't be beat.