The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan: A Comprehensive Guide to the Principles and Practice

Description

A complete guide to the wisdom of Tai Chi Chuan Modern life is stressful but the ancient martial art of Tai Chi Chuan is one of the most effective means to reduce stress available. In China, Tai Chi is also used for the prevention and treatment of illnesses, and its positive effects for health and fitness are now widely recognized in the West. Packed with step-by-step instructions for practicing at home, The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan explains all its important aspects and styles, as well as its practical benefits for emotional, mental, and spiritual development. It includes: * The history and development of various styles * The basic set of movements * The physical and mental benefits of Tai Chi Chuan * The relationship of Tai Chi to Taoism This is the ideal guide for beginners, but it is equally useful to those who have already taken classes. Wong Kiew Kit has practiced and taught Shaolin arts for more than 30 years and has over 2,000 students. He is the fourth generation successor of monk Jiang Nan of the Shaolin Monastery and Grandmaster of Shaolin Wahnam Kung Fu Institute. He is the author of several books on Eastern wisdom including The Art of Chi Kung, The Complete Book of Zen, The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu, and Chi Kung for Health and Vitality. The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan Contents List of Illustrations Preface 1 TAI CHI CHUAN as a MARTIAL ART: The Aims and Benefits of Practising Tai Chi Chuan A Concise and Comprehensive Martial Art The Mechanics and Psychology of Different Arts Internal Force, Not Brute Strength An Art of Convenience and Culture The Richness of Tai Chi Chuan Theory Tai Chi Chuan in Health, Character Development and Philosophy 2 THE CONCEPT of YIN-YANG in TAI CHI CHUAN: What You May Have Missed in Your Tai Chi Class The Philosophy of Yin-yang Yin-yang in Tai Chi Form and Force Training Yin-yang in Tai Chi Chuan Application Yin-yang in Tai Chi Philosophy 3 THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT of the VARIOUS STYLES: Health, Combat and Spiritual Joy in Tai Chi Chuan The Earliest References to Tai Chi Zhang San Feng and the Origin of Tai Chi Chuan Early Tai Chi Chuan Masters Chen Wang Ting and Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan The Old, the New, the Small and the Big Yang Lu Chan and Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan The Wu and the Sun Styles The Three Stages of Tai Chi Chuan 4 ADVICE from the GREAT MASTERS: Achieving Better Results in a Shorter Time The ‘Song of Secrets for Training’ The Five Characters Formula The Ten Important Points of Tai Chi Chuan 5 FUNDAMENTAL HAND MOVEMENTS and FOOTWORK: Acquiring Balance and Gracefulness in Tai Chi Movements The 13 Techniques of Tai Chi The Secret of Tai Chi Internal Force Developing Poise and Balance The Four Primary Hand Techniques The Four Secondary Hand Techniques Does Tai Chi Chuan Cause Knee Injury 6 THE IMPORTANCE of CHI KUNG in TAI CHI CHUAN: The Development of Internal Force Health, Combat and Spirituality The Internal Force of Tai Chi Chuan Training Developing a Pearl of Intrinsic Energy 7 THE POETRY of ENERGY and MIND: Tai Chi Chuan with Breath Control and Visualization The Purposes of Set Practice Simplified Tai Chi Set — Section 1 Simplified Tai Chi Set — Section 2 Simplified Tai Chi Set — Section 3 Simplified Tai Chi Set — Section 4 The 48-Pattern Tai Chi Set 8 TECHNIQUES and SKILLS of PUSHING HANDS: How to Sense Your Opponent’s Weakness The Principles of Pushing Hands Sharpening Your Skills of Perception Throwing Your Partner Off the Ground Seeking the Best Angle and Closing Up Advanced Techniques of Pushing Hands Pushing Hands and Combat Efficiency 9 SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES for COMBAT SITUATIONS: Tai Chi Chuan Patterns for Self-defence Requirements for Combat Proficiency From Lifting Water to Repulse Monkey The Profundity of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail From Cloud Hands to Needle at Sea Bottom The Final Eight Patterns 10 COMBAT SEQUENCES and TACTICS: Techniques, Tactics and Skills for Fighting Martial Arts as Sports The Depth and Scope of Tai Chi Chuan The Why and How of Combat Sequences Sequence 1 Triple Punches — Warding Off Sequence 2 Three-level Attacks — Green Dragon Sequence 3 Whirlwind Kick — Single-whip Low Stance Sequence 4 Hiding Flowers — Playing the Lute 11 MORE COMBAT SEQUENCES and TACTICS: Some Amazing Ways to Overcome an Opponent Factors in Winning a Combat Sequence 5 Felling a Tree — Rolling Back Sequence 6 Pushing Mountains — Thrust Kick Sequence 7 Pull Horse — Thrust Kick Sequence 8 Eagle Claw — Shoulder Strike Sequence 9 Taming Tiger — Flying Diagonally 12 ENRICHING DAILY LIFE WITH TAI CHI CHUAN: How Tai Chi Chuan Enhances Health, Work and Play The Chinese Concept of Health Energy and Chinese Medicine The Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Health More Energy for Work and Play A Healthy Body and a Relaxed Mind 13 WUDANG TAI CHI CHUAN: Attaining Cosmic Reality Through Tai Chi Chuan Tai Chi Chuan and Spiritual Development The Patterns of Wudang Tai Chi Chuan 14 CHEN-STYLE TAI CHI CHUAN: Tai Chi Chuan of the Hard and Fast Transition from Spirituality to Health The Patterns of Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan 15 YANG-STYLE TAI CHI CHUAN: Gentle, Graceful Movements for Health The Most Widely Practised Style of Tai Chi Chuan The Patterns of Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan 16 THE WU STYLE of WU YU XIANG: Small Movement and Body Technique for Combat External Form for Internal Power The Patterns of Wu Yu Xiang-style Tai Chi Chuan 17 THE TAI CHI CHUAN of WU CHUAN YOU: How to Avoid Being Hurt in Combat For Health and for Combat The Patterns of Wu Chuan You-style Tai Chi Chuan 18 SUN-STYLE TAI CHI CHUAN: High Patterns and Agile Movements Some Advice on Tai Chi Chuan Practice The Patterns of Sun-style Tai Chi Chuan 19 TAI CHI CHUAN WEAPONS: Transmitting Energy to Extended Hands Why Weapons Are Not Widely Used Some Functions of Weapon Training Sword, Scimitar and Staff 20 THE PHILOSOPHY of TAI CHI CHUAN: The Evergreen Classic of Wang Zong Yue The Treatise on Tai Chi Chuan Explanation of the Treatise Three Levels of Attainment 21 TAOISM AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT in TAI CHI CHUAN: Attaining Immortality and Returning to the Void Tai Chi Chuan Principles in the Tao Te Ching Attaining the Tao Immortality and the Great Void Notes Further Reading Useful Addresses Index