Tai Chi Theory & Martial Power: Advanced Yang Style (Martial Arts-Internal)

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Yang takes you beyond the basics
Review: Dr. Yang has again written a book in keeping with his usual high standards. For students wishing to go beyond the basic Taijiquan form, and learn more advanced levels and techniques of qi flow, the different types of jin, and how to generate them, this book is indispensable. One caveat : as its title suggests, this book is for more advanced students, and assumes that the reader has a foundation in Taijiquan, at least the basics of the form and some basic qigong.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Yang takes you beyond the basics
Review: Dr. Yang has again written a book in keeping with his usual high standards. For students wishing to go beyond the basic Taijiquan form, and learn more advanced levels and techniques of qi flow, the different types of jin, and how to generate them, this book is indispensable. One caveat : as its title suggests, this book is for more advanced students, and assumes that the reader has a foundation in Taijiquan, at least the basics of the form and some basic qigong.

Rating:
Summary: Very poor book
Review: Even though this book looks like an advanced Tai Chi book in reality it tells you about nothing. Nothing about the back spine management on how to generate energy while you are pushing (or whatever you are doing in tai chi work). There is something on accumulating energy in the position that's absolutely not useful. Even the younger beginner understands the back leg needs to work like a spring without buying this "advanced" book. But the question is not on how the back leg should work, what it is exspected from a book like this is to get tips and training methods on the "back spine and waist /hips work" that's the real point on generating martial power in Tai Chi and Internal Martial Art. The level of this book is so lower that is absolutely not comparable with other Dr Yang's books I've read and reviewed.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent survey for the more advanced student
Review: I disagree with the earlier reviewer who gave the book only one star. While the book is complicated for the beginner, it is a very thorough and systematic presentation of classical taiji theory and application that the advanced student and teacher will find useful. While it doesn't present absolutely everything, the book nonetheless will serve as a useful reference.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic book for those seeking the essence of Yang Taiji
Review: It seems curious that the reviewer who gave this book one star did not offer any specific examples of where Dr. Yang was "incorrect". This book, and the companion volume, are gold mines of theory and application. Anyone who has learned the Yang style long form for health will be amazed at the almost infinite number of techniques, both apparent and hidden, revealed in these volumes. The four aspects of Yang Taiji, and indeed of all Chinese martial arts (punching, kicking, wrestling, and chin-na)are explored in depth, as well as the more fundamental ideas of the nature and generation of chi and the various jings. I have personally attended a number of Dr. Yang's seminars at his YMAA in Boston and have found them to be excellent. Dr. Yang, with a PH.D in engineering, is very well grounded in the Western concept of scientific proof. His writings are not only the result of his research into the ancient classics, which is extensive, but also his own practice, pondering and above all practical discrimination. I would add that Dr. Yang always cheerfully and humbly invites people to disagree with his theories and to offer alternatives. However, you might find it quite difficult to debate a subject with someone who has studied it perserveringly for 35 years. On a final note, it should be stressed that in these books, as well as in others by the author, the concept of personal morality, ethics, and the cultivation of the spirit are not just footnotes, but are central to the art.

Rating:
Summary: This work obfuscates the true essence of taichi.
Review: The author purportedly wanted to explore the martial applications of tai chi chuan; however, his understanding of the subject matter appears to be inadequate. In the most crucial areas, his explanations are often obscure, and worse, incorrect. This is a good book if you want to pick up some rudimentary ideas about the vocabulary of higher levels of tai chi, but it does not get to the true essence of the well guarded secrets of tai chi as a powerful martial art.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent and practical book on Tai Chi, MUST READ!!!
Review: This book is not perfect and it does have shortcomings. I am a beginner in Martial Arts, and some of the criticism which states that this book is not as advanced as it claims to be may have some merit. However, as far as I could tell, this book has excellent content for both novice and advanced students of Tai Chi.

This book has some very clearly written content and outlines a large number of important movements. Most notably, the pictures are clear and contain all the necessary markings and arrows to help a beginner reinforce what he or she learns through instruction. Just for this aspect of the book alone, I believe it is first rate!

Where I feel the book does fall short is in publication quality. The paper stock was clearly very poor, and the binding quality was also poor. This contributed to bunching in the center of the book. However, for small lot publishing of niche products such as this one, such shortcomings are unfortunately the norm.

Overall, the book is comprehensive and covers a lot of ground. Perhaps for the very advanced this book may not help them get to the deeper meanings of some of the movements. Then again, perhaps the very advanced shouldn't be looking for such meaning in a book. Nevertheless, as a practical guide this book is a cut above the rest.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely a good buy
Review: To me, YMAA is one fo the best martial arts publishers around...but don't lure yourself, youwi ll never attain a deep level in internal arts with only a book, even if it is the best one. However this book is definitely a good buy, clear, full of insights, with as usual for YMAA a load of theory (and that's a good point). The pictures are numerous, good, but still you'll need to get involved to catch all he subtleties of the demonstrated points. Dr Yang is definitely a genuine master (I personally experienced what he is worth) and even though he tries to pass down all his knowledge, there are lots of areas you will need to endeavour and discover yourself. To finish, I would like to say that doubting Dr Yang's knowledge about Tai Chi is like disputing with Stephen Hawkings on his last book about quantum physics. This book will definitely be helpful to you and whatever your level is, you'll be able to grab and grow one of the many seeds in this solid work.