T'Ai Chi Workbook

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't provide a useful description of the movements
Review: I've been taking T'ai Chi classes for several months and I bought this book hoping that it would supplement my instruction. I have an excellent teacher but there are so many elements to each movement that I thought it would help to have static images that I could examine at my leisure. I haven't found this book useful in that respect. The main problem is that it's not clear how the pictures relate to the written descriptions of the movements. Even for sections of the form that I know very well I am often unable to figure out which movement the pictures are trying to convey.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't provide a useful description of the movements
Review: I've been taking T'ai Chi classes for several months and I bought this book hoping that it would supplement my instruction. I have an excellent teacher but there are so many elements to each movement that I thought it would help to have static images that I could examine at my leisure. I haven't found this book useful in that respect. The main problem is that it's not clear how the pictures relate to the written descriptions of the movements. Even for sections of the form that I know very well I am often unable to figure out which movement the pictures are trying to convey.

Rating:
Summary: Good general information, poor form instruction.
Review: It is not possible for me to study Tai Chi with a master so I must relay on books and video tapes to learn the forms. The Tai Chi Workbook lacks sufficient graphic information about the postures and transitions to enable me to do this. McFarlan's book, while lacking the general information, does a much clearer job of demonstrating the form.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent, thoughtful introduction
Review: Paul Crompton's treatment of Master Cheng Man-Ch'ing's Tai Chi form is incredible, good illustrations and explanations, plus a realistic view of the art in self defense and philosophy. Crompton's work is to be commended.