This is the Chinese edition of a book which, to our mind, should have been much more popular. Many people have created T'ai Chi short sets but, to our mind, no one did a better than Li proposed in this book. What did he do so well? Keep these things in mind if you should want to make your own... First he lost no movements, every one of the different postures in the Long Set (Yang version) are retained. Next he practiced each of these on BOTH SIDES but, thirdly, following the Chinese esthetic of dynamic balance, the set is completely asymmetric and flows in an organic and non repetitious manner. A nice job of design and also available occasionally in English editions .

Some of the older books on Taiji were labors of love. Here is a nice book, with too small photographs, but well done with much information, the Taiji Solo exercise, Push Hands and the Taiji sword. Shi Diao Mei was, among others, the teacher of the Vancouver Shifu Tchoung Ta Tchen. Shi was also head of a police academy. He learned "old Taiji" from Tian Zhao Lin who in turn studied from Yang Shou Hou AND his father , Yang Chien Hou. Originally published in 1959, this is the 2006 edition.

Sections include:
Mr. Yu Youren ( a famous leader in the civil war and a KMT leader) photos of his practice, forward by Qian Da Jun, forward by Zhao Lung Wen, forward by Wang Taosheng, forward by Mrs. Xu Ji Hua , forward by Shen Zong Han, inscription by Du Dian Ying, poem by Xu Che Xiu, author's preface
Origins of Chinese boxing including Xu clan notes
Chang San Feng's posthumous writings
Wang Zong Yue's Taiji Classics
Understanding the 13 Powers
13 Powers poem explained
Poem of Striking explained
Taiji diagram
Applications
Experiences
The Taiji Sword pictured and explained

This book is really one of the better ones for Chen Tai Chi applications. The reason is simple: all the illustrations are taken from photographs of Ma Hong himself demonstrating the usage of the different moves of Lao Jia. Besides the excellence of Ma Hong's applications the illustrations are good enough to show Reeling Silk energy and correct body angles. Chock full of information with over 515 illustrations!

This book also available in SIMPLIFIED characters .

This manual contains sections on theory such as relaxation, Wu Wei, an illustrated section on "Tai Chi Xing Gong", breakdown of the Tai Chi ZhaoBao form, applications and then back pages concerning principles and teachers. A very complete guide to this art.

131 pages with photographs. Li Ya Hsuan, one of Yang Chen Fu's top students, was a profound authority on Yang Style Tai Chi. This book is based on the few known photographs of Master Li taken at three points during his lifetime. His form, in all cases, is elegant, erect and firm. Sections discussed include Single Push Hands, Double Push Hands, Fixed Step Tui Shou and Mobile Tui Shou. The actions of Ta Lu are also surveyed. There are many textural notes and interpretations to aid in the study. Excellent photos. WALL CHART included.

This is the Yang Family Spear, a subject for which there is entirely too little information. This book shows many basics and combinations with a partner. There is also a form we assume to be developed by Li himself. The pictures are excellent. Probably one of the most extensive explications of Yang Family Spear by one of Yang Chen Fu's best, that is available now. If you have been researching this topic you know how difficult it is to find proper information on this style of spear usage.

One of Yang Chen Fu's top students was Li Ya Hsuan. The photographs and notes he left behind are considered treasures of martial information. His poses show vigor, elegance, health and dignity. Here is the entire set of the Yang style Tai Chi sword with textural notes and applications relating to just about every movement in the form. Also included is a wall chart of the set showing his exceptional form. Photography - much of it showing Li himself - is of top quality.

Li Ya Hsuan was one of Yang Chen Fu's top students and a profound authority on Yang Style Tai Chi. He studied with master Yang for many years and learned the 115 posture Long Set. This is a well done book in traditional characters. It has many plates of Li's student and son-in-law, the author, doing the Long Set and numerous Push Hands drills. It also has extensive explanations on the Tai Chi Classics and a very extensive and informative section on Li Ya Hsuan's own observations of Tai Chi.

Li Ya Hsuan, one of Yang Chen Fu's top students, studied with master Yang for many years. During that time he learned the 115 posture Long Set. This large sized book shows Li himself performing the set . There are also notes on practice methods, some nice old photographs and some holographs of Li's own calligraphy. Li's insights into Tai Chi are deep and thorough and he prided himself on learning in direct descent from the Yang family. His posture is full and firm and the pictures in this text show his generally excellent form.

Here is a double VCD (Video Compact Disk) of author and student, Chen, performing the Yang 115 Long Form as shown to him by his father-in-law Li Ya Hsuan, one of Yang Chen Fu's top students. Also enclosed is an excellent posture of the set with Li himself showing all the poses. A very nice addition, well done, for anyone interested in learning more about Yang Style Tai Chi.

An interesting book with discussion on the exact meaning of much Tai Chi theory. A number of exercises for stimulation of Ch'i. Also a rather complete series of Fa Chin (power issuing) examples. Much welcome discussion on the application of Silk Reeling Energy to the practice of the art. Many illustrations and photos in color. 195 pages.

This volume has excellent and essential photographs taken from major books describing Wu, Sun, Li and Hao styles of Tai Chi. Featuring pictures of such luminaries as Sun Lu Tang this volume collects many aspects of Tai Chi. There are sections also on Push Hands and Tai Chi Spear work. Also there are reproductions from original manuscripts.