108 Insights Into Tai Chi Chuan: A String of Pearls

This book is great supplement for someone who is currently studying tai chi, and for the accomplished tai chi player as a both a review and an aid if they in-turn teach. For me, it is like having my teacher in my back pocket. The book collects all the kinds of observations my teacher makes in class about form, performance, or chi while we're doing it. Gillman takes these little gems of advice and compiles them into wonderful and articulate collection. The subtitle "A string of pearls" is in that spirit and an appropriate subtitle.

When I was teaching college English, I had my copy of Strunk and White at arm's length, at all times. I feel the same way about Gilman's book. It is simple, straightforward, and profound. I have practiced Uechi-ryu karate for 25 years, and written a book about trying to learn an eastern art with a western mind. Two years ago, I hit one of the plateaus, familiar to every student of martial arts, in which progress seems to stop. My teacher said that tai chi was related to our circular style and might offer me some insights. It took about six months of daily practice for my body to approximate the 108 positions- the level Gilman calls "advanced beginner's mind. . . . a place, where we don't have to think about what movement comes next or how to do it." After that, both my karate and tai chi took off! I found Gilman's book about a year ago. It is just what the title claims. I have probably read a few hundred books and articles on martial arts, and I am content if I find one or two insights that can improve my practice. Gilman's book is full of insights: "If you have a thought in your head: you cannot see, you cannot hear, you cannot taste, you cannot feel, you cannot think. In order to do any of these things completely, the mind needs to be quiet and still, open and receptive. Thoughts block reality because they are of the past. . . . We can, of course, do many things at one time, yet we are not fully present if thoughts are also present. Practice Tai Chi until the thinking mind disappears into the movement." Sure, I know that. But I forget it everytime I practice karate or tai chi. Instead of living in each movement, I drift to the movement that is about to occur, or, worse, to thoughts and feelings that float through any meditative experience. And every bit of drift robs movements of their martial arts integrity. Gilman reminds me to keep my balance, to move, to breath, to stay centered. He gives me images to help: "Imagine you are enclosed in a large bubble that extends about one-and-a-half feet beyond your body. When you do your form or do Push Hands, work at the edge of this bubble. Don't let your opponent inside. Think of it as your castle. Once outside your castle you are quite vulnerable. When playing Push Hands, make sure you have good reason to move your troops outside the castle. Also, be very careful when letting your opponent inside. . . ."ÿ