many martial teachers would suggest specialized, one might even say custom-fitted exercises for people who were not their student necessarily…
May
17
2013
17
2013
Mar
25
2013
25
2013
Taiji, Xingyi, and Baguaquan Throwing
He compares many movements and their execution, seeking principles and general concepts which can be used by any practitioner …
Nov
17
2012
17
2012
ZhaoBao, Push Hands Years Later.
…of as much interest—he discusses ZhaoBao’s lineage and the different bends on the circuituous route of the ZhaoBao Tai Chi heritage.
Nov
9
2012
9
2012
The Ruler is Back
Well, it’s been a few years but we now can offer probably the first description and video of the Tai Chi Ruler ever done in English.
Sep
15
2012
15
2012
Chen ZhengLei’s Taijiquan Manuals–In English!
Grandmaster Chen ZhengLei, of course, is one of the tigers of Chen Style Taijiquan…
Jul
24
2012
24
2012
Two Books by a Master of Yang style
To some people Wei Shu Ren shas proven himself a top teacher of Yang style Tai Chi.
Jun
27
2012
27
2012
Chen Xiao Wang book, back among its friends
Just a quick note to say that we received a few more copies of Chen Xiao Wang’s Chen style 38 Moves Taijiquan book. It’s a small manual but a nice reference with over 250 illustrations, along with some remarks on Taijiquan styles, and even some usage for the moves. Only a few copies…
Dec
24
2011
24
2011
Yang Ban Hou style Tai Chi
The second son of Yang Lu Chan was named Ban Hou. He developed the Yang style to a high degree of fighting skill, so much so that not many people actually wanted to study from him. This is possibly a reason that it is only in the last few years that his style has started [...]
Nov
25
2011
25
2011
Small 9 Heaven Form from Yang style
As people in the Tai Chi world know, there are many legends and opinions about where the essence of the world-famous Yang style lays.
Oct
17
2011
17
2011
One of our Favorites: Dao of Taijiquan
Just a quick note: we think this is a GREAT book but it sells out quickly and we are often out of stock… But look! We have gotten in a few more copies at our SPECIAL price of $8.95 instead of $19.95. Sure, the books may not look pristine (who among us, does?) But they [...]
Sep
1
2011
1
2011
Wu Dang Tai Chi Chuan Complete
Here is one of the first books that boldly attributed Tai Chi Chuan to its Wu Dang heritage…
Aug
29
2011
29
2011
Training: Tai Chi Everywhere
There is a treasure house of practice methods hidden in Kung Fu styles and many of them use the slow, focused and reflective approach of Tai Chi. Tai Chi takes slow training as an overall basic approach, and this has fooled people into thinking of it as a major theme of that particular art. Yet, [...]
Mar
28
2011
28
2011
Push Hands Improves
Why are we Pushing? How important is rooting? What are we doing here, anyway?
Mar
1
2011
1
2011
A New Book on Zheng Manqing
For those interested in at least one version—and a widely accepted one—of Zheng’s achievements, this will be a thorough and interesting read…
Feb
21
2011
21
2011
“Tai Chi” is a Chinese Way of Thinking
Through natural processes this way of thinking became so profound and penetrating that it spread throughout the Chinese culture, influencing and appearing throughout martial culture…
Jan
6
2011
6
2011
Discovery: Make Your Tai Chi
Martial artists who don’t do Tai Chi often say that, “Hey, I can do my form slow, too.” Martial artists who only do Tai Chi are generally unaware that the Tai Chi practice method is not exclusive to Tai Chi.
Dec
5
2010
5
2010
The Tai Chi of Hong Jun Sheng
…a fateful event occurred which was personally important for Hong and at the same time of major import for Tai Chi…
Dec
1
2010
1
2010
Tai Chi Really Fencing?
Gathered from Chinese and many historical sources in the West, we are shown ancient manuscript descriptions and illustrations which make this theme come alive with questions.
Aug
29
2010
29
2010
And Taiji too? And Taiji too…
YES! we have restocked two very important and hard to find Taijiquan texts too…just look!
Aug
10
2010
10
2010
My Tai Chi Stinks
A couple of years ago I had a dream (really) where a Chinese martial arts sifu was walking towards me…
Aug
3
2010
3
2010
Sifu Ma Hong LIVE at Plum!
Last week we announced our excitement over the SIX Ma Hong DVDs that we had reviewed, and were expecting. Well, the wait is over! They are ALL here and ready for sale. We are not big ‘gushers’ here at Plum, but this series is pretty exciting. There is a certain intimacy in these DVDs, that [...]
Jul
10
2010
10
2010
Why is Push Hands so bad?
To explore this topic we’ll have to assume the basic premise that Push Hands is bad…
Jun
29
2010
29
2010
Jun
11
2010
11
2010
9 Songs, 81 Postures and a Book
Just a quick note to announce we have gotten this great book back in stock: “Annotations on Taijiquan’s Nine Songs and Eighty One Postures and other selections” by Wu Meng Hsia (Wu Meng Xia) & Wu Bei Feng. This english language book translates an important title in the Tai Chi canon…not always available, but we [...]
May
11
2010
11
2010
Reader Asks: Can Kung Fu be Solely a Personal Journey?
What Gives ? am I being too selfish by not doing demonstrations? Is competing nessesary?
Apr
20
2010
20
2010
More Tai Chi Classical Training
After the last article Classic Training I realized that people would—as they always do—ask
Mar
24
2010
24
2010
All Things Chen Pan Ling
For those of you possibly researching or just interested in Chen Pan Ling
Mar
17
2010
17
2010
A Useful Analogy
As a traditional martial artist who insists on everything I study passing the test of combat, I spend a lot of time around full-contact fighters who don’t understand the point of the traditional arts.
Feb
10
2010
10
2010
Comparison of the two Wisdom Fists
This is a comparison of the two versions of the Wisdom Fist/Wise Hammers form–the one in my book, and the one in the Imperial Yang VCD.
Feb
2
2010
2
2010
Outside Looking In: How to choose an application
This is one of the most common questions I am asked: When you are doing Taiji, how do you decide which application to do?
The simple answer is…
