Tai Chi Dynamics: Principles of Natural Movement, Health & Self-Development
by Robert Chuckrow
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Book Summary Information
Author: Robert ChuckrowEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-07-25
ISBN: 1594391165
Number of pages: 180
Publisher: YMAA Publication Center
Book Reviews of Tai Chi Dynamics: Principles of Natural Movement, Health & Self-Development
Book Review: A Non-Tai Chi Practitioners View of a Very Well Done Book
Summary: 5 Stars
Before I start the review of this book, I should probably qualify my review with a little background information on myself and my expertise in the martial arts, and perhaps more importantly my lack thereof when it comes to Tai Chi. However, as any well informed martial artist knows, a lot of the principles are the same regardless of the particular martial art practiced. Therefore, this is how my review of this book will be based, not on any sense of expertise in the art of Tai Chi, but more so on the underlying principles and the benefits that I can obtain from reading and then adapting the principles and techniques in this book to suit my own personal needs.
To begin with, I found the writing style to be very well done and I especially liked all of the technical information and the accompanying examples to explain the various aspects of Tai Chi. A lot of what is taught is, or really should be, standard information that one should know, but more than likely does not. Simple principles are the cornerstone for truly learning in depth all that a particular martial art, in this case Tai Chi, has to offer.
As the late Bruce Lee is often quoted as saying, "Before I started learning the martial arts, a punch was just a punch a kick was just a kick. After I started learning the martial arts, a punch was no longer just a punch a kick was no longer just a kick. After I had learned the martial arts, a punch was just a punch a kick was just a kick."
It is always amazing to me how there are so many similarities between martial arts styles that on the surface seem to have little or no similarities other than perhaps the gi and belt that the practitioners wear, and even then there are a lot of dissimilarities. A lot of what is taught in this book I have also learned over the years although usually in a slightly different manner or explained in a different, yet similar way. However, just as often I am left wondering why I hadn't learned something else before, even though it seems like I should have.
I was particularly interested in the breathing and fasting portions of this book, in which I learned a quite a bit that I truly wasn't aware of. I have tried fasting before, and only made it three days before I got on the phone and called Pizza Hut for a large supreme pizza with extra sauce, and order of breadsticks and a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi. So anyone that can fast for 10 to 30 days successfully truly has my admiration and respect. Okay, if you make it longer than three days you have my respect and admiration.
Now I did read some of the other reviews before starting mine and I do agree to an extent that there is a little information on a lot of things, but the information provided is solid and well worth the price of the book. There are very few martial arts books out there today that take a single topic or technique and then spend the entire book explaining all there is to know about that topic or technique. If you are looking for that here, you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you are looking for a solid information packed book encompassing a wide variety of topics on Tai Chi, then you have definitely made the right choice.
I did find that some of the sections were a bit lacking, although even those did have some very good information in them. A couple in particular were the sections on stretching and self-defense. However, with those in mind, one must remember that these sections along with the others were merely designed to provide the reader with a brief overview and were not intended to be fully detailed and all encompassing.
In closing I would like to add that I found this book to be very informative and it will definitely find a permanent place in my martial arts library. As I sit here finishing this review, I am left wondering just how beneficial this book will be to someone who is studying Tai Chi compared to someone like me who merely acquires and adapts that which he finds useful in order to add to his own repertoire of techniques.
I'd be willing to bet that as a Tai Chi practitioner you will find this book infinitely more beneficial than I do, and I find it very beneficial!
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
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