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Rating: 
Summary: Paul Walton
Review: As a relative newcomer to the world of Hsing I and Bagua I found the information in The Way of the Spiritual Warrior not only practical but very insights. Unlike the vast number of internal art materials, this book offers a wide range of topics, very comprehensive. The information offered is clearly written, easy to undertand, straightforward, and offers clear insights as to how the practice of Tai Chi, Hsing I, Ba Gua. I especially enjoyed the great photos and illustrations.
Rating: 
Summary: A colorful Overview of Soft Style Martial Arts
Review: In this book briefly looks at 5 soft or internal martial arts: Taijiquan, Baguazhang (Pa Kwa Chang), Xingyiquan, Akido, Xiao Jiu Tian, and Wudang Shan. Enough information is given to help you start to look in the right direction. But do not expect this book to teach you anything. I feel he leaves all opinions out of his discussions on these martial arts. Only going over the facts, traditional claims and myths of what each system offers...and leaving it up to the reader to find the truth. This book would probably be best suited to the person trying to decide which internal martial art to take up, or on whether to learn an internal martial art at all. My hardback edition has a great presentation of format and color. I do like the photo's in the book, even though they are all not relevant.
Rating: 
Summary: A Decent, If Somewhat Naive, Overview. Lacks Depth
Review: In this book, Brecher looks at 5 soft or internal martial arts: Taijiquan, Baguazhang (Pa Kwa Chang), Xingyiquan, Akido, Xiao Jiu Tian, and Wudang Shan. There is a reasonable amount of information on the background and philosophy of the first 3 martial arts listed above. His treatment of Xiao Jiu Tian and Wudang Shan, however, is very brief. I have a number of general criticisms of his book. 1) He seems extraordinarily uncritical in his treatment of these martial arts. (For example, he matter of factly states that one practitioner of Baguazhang lived to 250 years old as part of an argument on the healthfulness of the internal martial arts. He also uncritically excepts all traditional claims as to the effects of these martial arts - i.e. this set of exercises strengthens the liver, that set of movements strengthens the spleen, etc... 2) There are more typographical errors than one might normally expect. These errors aren't particularly distracting, but you just don't expect them in a finished work. 3) There is almost no concrete information on the actual forms or techniques used in these martial arts. One cannot practice even the most basic forms of any of these martial arts based on this book. Due to this lack of detail, this book would probably be best suited to the person trying to decide which internal martial art to take up, or on whether to learn an internal martial art at all.
Rating:
Summary: A Decent, If Somewhat Naive, Overview. Lacks Depth
Review: In this book, Brecher looks at 5 soft or internal martial arts: Taijiquan, Baguazhang (Pa Kwa Chang), Xingyiquan, Akido, Xiao Jiu Tian, and Wudang Shan. There is a reasonable amount of information on the background and philosophy of the first 3 martial arts listed above. His treatment of Xiao Jiu Tian and Wudang Shan, however, is very brief. I have a number of general criticisms of his book. 1) He seems extraordinarily uncritical in his treatment of these martial arts. (For example, he matter of factly states that one practitioner of Baguazhang lived to 250 years old as part of an argument on the healthfulness of the internal martial arts. He also uncritically excepts all traditional claims as to the effects of these martial arts - i.e. this set of exercises strengthens the liver, that set of movements strengthens the spleen, etc... 2) There are more typographical errors than one might normally expect. These errors aren't particularly distracting, but you just don't expect them in a finished work. 3) There is almost no concrete information on the actual forms or techniques used in these martial arts. One cannot practice even the most basic forms of any of these martial arts based on this book. Due to this lack of detail, this book would probably be best suited to the person trying to decide which internal martial art to take up, or on whether to learn an internal martial art at all.
Rating: 
Summary: The Way of the Spiritual Warrior
Review: The book is a methodical and organized introduction to Tai Chi, Hsing I, Ba Gua, Aikido movements. The things you will learn in this book through its fantastic color photographs and explanations will give you the foundation you will need to learn each style. The best part of this book is the way it focuses on posture, breathing, and warming up. The book is written simply, and very easy to understand. Some of the hand and feet illustrations break the movements down in a way that it makes easier to understand. Step-By-Step" has clear descriptions and excellent illustrations that is very easy to follow. This book is an ideal foundation if you wish to study advanced forms of Tai Chi, Hsing I, Ba Gua, Aikido
Rating: 
Summary: This book is full of bad information.
Review: This book is pretty much worthless. There are so many errors
and misconception in this book that I wonder if Brecher really
believes what he writes. Here is the first that I noticed, and it shows how shallow
Brecher's understanding is: He says that Tai Chi Chuan means Yin Yang Fist. Wrong! Yes,
the Taiji symbol is the Yin Yang that we are all familiar with.
However, everyone knows that the Tai Chi in Tai Chi Chuan means
Grand Ultimate, or Grand Extremes. No authoritative book on Tai Chi Chuan would ever call the art Yin Yang Fist. His explanation that Tai Chi fighting should be all Fa Jin
is wrong. If you don't know what Fa Jin is, you certainly don't
want to learn from Brecher. In addition, he says that you should be striking accupoints. As if. Try to hit a spot on
someone the size of a dime while they are trying to kill you.
Good luck. The sections on Bagua and Xingyi are weak, also. I'm not saying
that everything in the book is wrong, but there are some major,
major errors. His discussion of the Wu Dang Shan Qi disruption forms is
practically non-existant. He does put in a nice plug for his
teacher, Erle Montague, who has lots of things to sell. Save your money, B.K. Frantzis "The Power of Internal Arts" has
much more useful information if you are serious about trying to
understand what the internal martial arts are about. The sections on Bagua and Xingyi are weak, also. I'm not saying
that everything in the book is wrong, but there are some major,
major errors. His discussion of the Wu Dang Shan Qi disruption forms is
practically non-existant. He does put in a nice plug for his
teacher, Erle Montague, who has lots of things to sell.
Rating:
Summary: This book is full of bad information.
Review: This book is pretty much worthless. There are so many errors
and misconception in this book that I wonder if Brecher really
believes what he writes. Here is the first that I noticed, and it shows how shallow
Brecher's understanding is: He says that Tai Chi Chuan means Yin Yang Fist. Wrong! Yes,
the Taiji symbol is the Yin Yang that we are all familiar with.
However, everyone knows that the Tai Chi in Tai Chi Chuan means
Grand Ultimate, or Grand Extremes. No authoritative book on Tai Chi Chuan would ever call the art Yin Yang Fist. His explanation that Tai Chi fighting should be all Fa Jin
is wrong. If you don't know what Fa Jin is, you certainly don't
want to learn from Brecher. In addition, he says that you should be striking accupoints. As if. Try to hit a spot on
someone the size of a dime while they are trying to kill you.
Good luck. The sections on Bagua and Xingyi are weak, also. I'm not saying
that everything in the book is wrong, but there are some major,
major errors. His discussion of the Wu Dang Shan Qi disruption forms is
practically non-existant. He does put in a nice plug for his
teacher, Erle Montague, who has lots of things to sell. Save your money, B.K. Frantzis "The Power of Internal Arts" has
much more useful information if you are serious about trying to
understand what the internal martial arts are about. The sections on Bagua and Xingyi are weak, also. I'm not saying
that everything in the book is wrong, but there are some major,
major errors. His discussion of the Wu Dang Shan Qi disruption forms is
practically non-existant. He does put in a nice plug for his
teacher, Erle Montague, who has lots of things to sell.
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