The Tai Chi Two-Person Dance: Tai Chi with a Partner

Rating:
Summary: incredibly useful
Review: As a tai chi student of Mr. Russell, I find this book to not only be insightful with relevant history into the form, but a practical, useful guide I can refer to while learning this two person form.

And it was when I started learning this 2 person form that I really began to grasp some of the foundation principles underlying tai chi. Mr. Russell's book is inimitably readable and do-able, thorough, fabulously well done.

Rating:
Summary: Long overdue!
Review: I'm glad to see a book on this subject reach the market. Mr Russell has done an excellent job presenting material that is often surrounded with obscure language in a concise and presentable fashion. The photo's of the Tai Chi teacher T.T. Liang are excellent and the chapters on "Sung" and his delineation of the "the subtle skills" was especially useful. Looking forward to seeing more on Tai Chi from this author!

Rating:
Summary: Refuse this Dance
Review: T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a progressive art, whatever style is practiced the student benefits most from a system of teaching and an attentive teacher that can navigate one through all of the nonsense surrounding this art. A simple overview of developing skill in T'ai Chi Ch'uan is that first one learns a single form to improve ones health, correct posture, increase balance and mobility along with a basic understanding of the unique martial qualities that in the past gave T'ai Chi Ch'uan the reputation of being one of the most dificult to master and one of the most effective of all the martial arts. The next progression from single forms leads one into the domain of two person application forms which the most fundamental and productive is Tui Shou(or push hands). One of the fundamental skills that fixed step handpushing paradoxically develops is the ability to take correct steps if the circumstance demands it. This ability can then be tested and refined in the moving two person forms of Da Lu, 3 step, circular handpushing and the subject of this book the 92 movement San Shou form developed by the Yang family. My problems with this book are many but the most dominant one is that it over simplifies a complex brilliantly concieved masterpiece of martial interplay and turns it into another fast food easy to do fun to learn exercise in mediocrity.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book from a worthy lineage
Review: This book documents an original sequence developed by the excellent Tai Chi (Tai Ji Quan) teacher T. T. Liang, and conveyed by his senior student Jonathan Russell, a distinguished teacher in his own right.

This form was devised by Master Liang to convey many reciprocal and practical aspects of Tai Chi principles which are more implicit in the various solo forms.

In addition to a precise outlining of the two person dance form, there are valuable passages about aspects of Tai Chi cultivation and practice gleaned from the experience of the teachers Russell, Liang, and their tradition.

This is a fine book both for general Tai Chi Study and for those wishing to view a unique form related to Yang style (and Chen Man Ching) Tai Chi lineage.