Tai Chi Chuan: 24 & 48 Postures with Martial Applications by Liang Shou-Yu Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Tai Chi Chuan: 24 & 48 Postures with Martial Applications
Book Review: Excellent Source for Students of 24 & 48 forms
Summary: 4 Stars
There is a lot of stuff out there on tai chi these days. It is hard to find anything that is helpful, in a practical sense, to students of specific forms. This book (as do all of the YMAA books) has easy to follow pictures accompanied by arrows showing where movement originates and completes. For the student of the 24 and 48 forms who needs a reference between classes, this is an excellent source.Book Review: A near perfect reference guide.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a superb book for practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan who have been taught the basics and need a reference guide. (In fact, although I would discourage anyone from learning any martial art from a book, this book is one of the few that might be able to do just that!) The pictures are clear, abundant, and pertinent. The descriptions of each move (or part of a move) are concise and detailed. Also, the various applications shown for each move truly demonstrate the ENERGY of the move, not just an obvious attack and/or defence. The level of Master Liang's skill is evident throughout the book.Book Review: Probably the most useful Taiji book widely available.
Summary: 5 Stars
Any Taiji book begs the question "why does this book exist?" You can't learn from a book after all, so a book must either enhance what you get from your current teacher, or help you find a new one.The typical Taiji book doesn't stand up to this question. It shows a form (usually poorly executed) sandwiched in a big wad of esoterica that is at best useless to a typical student and at worst misleading.
Master Liang's book, on the other hand, is among the best that I've seen that are available to the public.
First, of all, the examples are shown correctly. My pet peeve in Taiji books is bad posture and poor habits that should be purged after a few years of studying under a competent teacher, if not in the process of editing the photos. In contrast, master Liang's execution is, of course, impeccable. Second, this book contains guidelines for correct execution, which in most Taiji books is completely missing.
These two factors alone make it stand above any of the widely distributed titles. I would prefer a little more emphasis on readily observable criteria of correct performance. Armed with this knowledge, a student could readily critique himself, or a potential teacher. I've seen only one or two better books in this regard, and those were privately published.
Third, the book contains many demonstrations of applications for the 24 movement form which will be of interest to serious students and martial artists. Many people are unaware of Taiji martial applications because the abundance of grappling, throwing and other close quarters techniques makes Taiji fors difficult to interpret.
Finally, while even students of traditional forms will find much of value here, this book covers two of the most widely studied standardized forms. Students of the 24 or 48 forms will find this a valuable reference.
The main drawbacks of this book are that (1) the uniform that Master Liang wears is very loose, while this good for practice, it obscures the posture of the hips and lower back; many students would benefit from a clearer view. (2) This book continues a few bits of obscure nomenclature that has prevailed in the US since early, bad translations of Taiji books. For example Yema Fenzong ("Wild Horse Parts its Mane") is translated as Part the Wild Horse's Mane. Generations of American students have been waving their hands around like they were stroking "My Little Pony's" mane, which is not the right idea at all.
Aside from these minor faults, this book sets a new, higher standard for mainstream Taiji books in English.
Book Review: No good
Summary: 1 Stars
Government approved Taiji from someone who's mainart is not Taiji. Simplistic applications tooBook Review: Easily the best introductory text on simplified Tai Chi
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is probably the only book a beginning student of the Beijing simplified tai chi 24 movement form will need for for the first couple of years of their tai chi journey. As well as the 24 movement form and its martial applications and the more advanced 48 movement form, it contains sections on the theory and history of tai chi, guidelines for good practice, a good sequence of warm up exercises and the fundamentals of chi kung. It is by far the best introductory text on any style of tai chi that I've seen. It is far more useful than the "coffee table" style books on tai chi that show lots of pictures of nature and people sitting in upright postures at desks. All of the space available is used for well-presented and relevant information from teachers whose credentials are impeccable.