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Chinese
Language Martial Arts Books |
Traditional Chinese |
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Simplified Chinese |
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There is no doubt regarding Zheng ManQing's (Chen Man Ching) influence on Kung Fu students of the Western world. His "short set" is widely practiced, even among the thousands of people who would never dream they were also "fighting" as they practice forms, especially the sword. |
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This magnificent book is a collection of the writings Sifu Li YaXuan, a student of Yang Chen Fu. According to the publisher, while closely related to Lionbook’s earlier collections on this famous teacher (A416~A422, see below) which included many concepts from his son-in-law and daughter, this one is a compilation of manuscripts by Li YaXuan himself. This extensive volume presents articles, instruction, letters and discussion by Li Sifu. The Table of Contents is extensive, but here is a just a sampling of the major sections: Many large, clear illustrations detailing the routines enhance the text, along with step-by-step descriptions. A real treasure. |
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This contains the famous Short Form set of Yang style Tai Chi. As many had thought appropriate, the Yang style had, in Zheng’s hands, turned into a sub-system known as Zheng. There’s a bit of controversy about this but the book remains a breakthrough for its time. Overall, a somewhat higher presentation. Every step is shown as foot positioning while in a double box to show foot placement. There is also some discussion on angle of entry (attack) and other principles. A basic item for a complete collection. . |
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 Introduction to Chen style Tai Chi TC639Feng Zhi Qiang 182 pages, illustrations, softbound, Simplified Chinese Characters; $14.95 With his usual powerful form and integrity of movement Feng Zhi Qiang demonstrates his 24 move Chen Tai Chi. Feng is an expert in Xing Yi as well, and the "seasoning" of that style is evident in his every move. Introductory sections deal with practice and principles. |
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Wu-Hao
Style Tai Chi Self Defense - TC166 See him move! You can also find Zhai Sifu's VCD collection HERE! |
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 Chen Tai Chi Theory and Practice - TC533by Ma Hong $24.95 Simplified Chinese Characters; 441 pages, Softbound. photographs. Printed 2000. Full of good photographs, this solid text shows the always meticulous Ma Hong demonstration roads One and Two (old style). Though mostly transitional, the pastures are correct and very clear. Even in stationary postures you can see the Chan Zi Jin. Each page has an average of three photos but the decent printing allow fine detail. If you want to know more about Chen Tai Chi you might look up Ma Hong, he is an independent spirit in this practice. NOTE" See below for Ma Hong's respected applications: Chen Style Tai Chi Self Defense - TC223 |
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This book (Internal Practice Mind Method) outlines the 37 posture Tai Chi and exemplifies the Wu Style in Wang's precise posturing. The photography is clear and, always important, is shot with an eye to the best angles for information. These are classic postures demonstrating the Wu flavor and its forward-leaning energy. It is accompanied by a VCD with a performance by Zhang Lin demonstrating the form. There is also a lot of good-natured playing with a couple of partners, to demonstrate many applications and a few tricks. Some of the fighting techniques are uncommon and, happily, the partners do not annoyingly “give in” to insubstantial techniques.Whew. The last part of the book discusses theory on the energies, basics and push hand methods of Wu Style Tai Chi (no pictures here). This is the Chinese edition of Wang’s Wu Tai Chi book, one of the first books ever written in English on this style. We have a good number of students who like to collect editions of the same book in the mother tongue and English. Re-opening this text, I was reminded of the fine illustrations not only of the form postures but the applications, some of the clearest of their kind. Just as a side note, for years I would tell people that this was the best book written on Tai Chi. The reasons are simple. Wang's book actually describes what you should FEEL in each of the poses. The then gives an application for each and every movement. He also often mentions which acupuncture points should be affected by what movements. |
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 Chen
Style Tai Chi Cannon Punch -
TC431 Pao Chui Chen Shi Taijiquan Er Lu. by Gu Liu Xin 顾留馨 $21.95 Traditional Chinese Characters; 394 Pages, Softbound. Photographs, This is a book on the Pao Chui form of the Chen Taijiquan style. The entire form is shown along with occasional parallel applications for self defense. Teacher Gu was born in 1908 and started studying martial arts when he was eleven. His particular expertise is a life long investigation of the Chen style of Tai Chi. This book contains the entire Chen Di Er Lu, Cannon Punch. He gives a lot of supplemental information gleaned from his association with an entire generation of Chen Fa Ke students. A major book on the subject. Read a translated excerpt. |
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This book gives exhaustive techniques against kick attacks. Dozens of foot attacks are dealt with in good photographs and breakdowns of the movements. In addition the book starts with a lot of training methods and devices including weighted spear shaft, hanging double balls, punching bag, and bare-handed partner practice. Many of the actions start with “shelving” a technique where you catch the leg on the retraction or after the assumed moment of impact.
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This is the Chinese edition of Wang’s Wu Tai Chi book, one of the first books ever written in English on this style. We have a good number of students who like to collect editions of the same book in the mother tongue and English. Re-opening this text, I was reminded of the fine illustrations not only of the form postures but the applications, some of the clearest of their kind. Just as a side note, for years I would tell people that this was the best book written on Tai Chi. The reasons are simple. Wang's book actually describes what you should FEEL in each of the poses. The then gives an application for each and every movement. He also often mentions which acupuncture points should be affected by what movements. |
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TThis is the work of Li ShouJian who studied with the Yang family under Yang Shao Hou. This method was not Yang Chen Fu’s Large frame style but a small frame style with emphasis on tight movements, explosive power, and firm, deep execution. After this Li ShouJian studied under a Wu Dang monk named Miao Lian (mysterious lotus) for eight years incorporating the Wu Dang secrets into his Yang style form. Years later this book was written and has been republished a few times in the last half century. Besides great old photographs, of a form some “like” the Yang Chen Fu version but much tighter and with some definitely different postures, this book includes material on key points of TCC, unusual yin/yang diagrams, complete breakdown in old photos (this set looks like what one might get by crossing Wu and Yang styles), Push Hands training, 18 Wu Dang boxing moves and cavity striking. |
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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:
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Wu Style Tai Chi - TC222 This is the BIG book of Wu style by the world famous practitioner, Wang Pei Sheng. Basically it has everything. Tai Chi 37 set (developed by Wang himself), Wu Tai Chi sword, saber, Push Hands, applications and a very interesting set with 16 postures and ten methods for controlling the mind. Wang, essentially a Tong Bei stylist, was the developer of the shortened Wu style and the author of a fine book on the subject. He considered himself a theoretician as well as a fighter and the book has copious notes on the underlying principles of the art. Limited supply. |
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The photos in this book show Feng himself performing the set. It's not unusual in martial books to draw in arrows to indicate the next motion. However, some clever Art Director got the great idea of graying in the curve inside each arrow adding a strange schematic quality to the otherwise good book. After introductory comments Feng shows some standing forms with active opening and closing Qigong as preparations for Taiji. As always his style encourages the reader toward large, expressive movement when the outside and inside must cooperate—one of Feng's real contributions to Taijiquan. Next are basic warm ups but, once again, with his distinctive emphasis. There are particularly geared toward Reeling Silk Energy. After showing fundamental hand forms the rest of the text explains a 48 movement form based on the Lao Jia of Chen style. |
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This is a beautifully photographed color representation of the Chen Taiji Lao Jia set as it is practiced in Taiwan. These teachings from one of Taiwan’s best Chen instructors, Du Yi Ze, or Du Gong, continue the instruction from Chen Yan Xi the father of Chen Fa Ke. This is actually the version of the Chen we practice and, though it has little of the extended postures and more expressive movements of much modern Chen Taiji, it does contain a solid and smaller frame version which harkens back to such pre twentieth century forms as the Chen Small Circle and the Thunder Style. This is because Du was said to have studied from Chen Yan Xi, the father of the famous Chen Fa Ke. A nice presentation. |
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This big volume discusses many aspects of the ZhaoBao inheritance. It talks about the internal training, the origins, the Five Hands, special "traveling" methods, striking arts, ten important points, special characteristics, and ZhaoBao, Footwork, the form, and more esoteric specialties of the style. 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. |
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Tai
Chi Essential Skills C017X Yang Jia Tai Chi Chuan Ke Yi Yao Yi. 122 pages with photographs. this is a reprint of a book on the Yang style that was first published in June, 1936. Besides some very old photographs of teacher it contains a tipped in plate of the footwork for the Tai Chi set. Many topics are covered in this early series of writings: Tai Chi Classics, proper practice methods, many notes on the Tai Chi Sword, the Da Lu, the Primordial (Hun Yuan) Chi, Push Hands and others. |
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131
pages with photographs. Li YaXuan, 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. |
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This is another fine production of Li YaXuan's work. In this case we have the Yang Family Saber. The book contains introductory notes, a really nice photograph breakdown of the postures which are interspersed with applications. At the end if a round up of all the photographs pertaining only to the set. Well laid out and presented, excellent photography. Li's pictures are filled out with Li Min Di and other students inserting applications and the occasional under represented sequence. Well done. |
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Yang Style Tai Chi Spear of Li YaXuan A422X 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.
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Yang Style Tai Chi Sword of Li YaXuan A420X One of Yang Chen Fu's top students was Li YaXuan. 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.
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Yang Style Tai Chi style of Li YaXuan Li YaXuan 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 YaXuan's own observations of Tai Chi.
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Yang Style Tai Chi of Li YaXuan A417X Li YaXuan, 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.
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Yang
Style Tai Chi VCDs A420V 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 YaXuan, 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.
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A very interesting over view book. Here we have excerpts from a number of classic book collected. The resource texts include two by Yang Chen Fu (Tai Chi Usage 1931 and Tai Chi Complete 1934) also "Tai Chi Illustrated" by Hou Jian Tsuan and "Tai Chi Explanations" by Wang Jin Wu. Photos from the original texts are included. A nice cross sectional survey of salient aspects of Yang Tai Chi. |
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A reprint of a great old book on Chen Style Tai Chi with some beautiful classic photos on posture, some push hands notes and then general explanations of Tai Chi from the Chen Style perspective. Definitely an essential reference text just for the postures and a good additon to anyone's TC library. |
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A Portrait of Zheng Zi's (Cheng Man Ching's) Tai Chi 
The Legacy of Grandmaster Li YaXuan 
Introduction to Chen style Tai Chi
LionBooks