The Tai CHI Book: Refining and Enjoying a Lifetime of Practice

This is a great book on taijiquan. Chuckrow communicates what taijiquan is from a variety of approaches, something that is missed in a lot of other works.

This book was recommended by my sensei and it is well worth the price. It talks about the principles of the art and discusses the inter-relationship of Chinese medicine, martial arts and art forms (i.e. poetry, flower arranging, calligraphy). It also intelligently discusses the various styles and forms of tai chi. The description of chi and it's uses was interesting, but I'm not really sure I buy into the author's philosophy, but this is just a small part of a very comprehensive book. The book is intended for people who are studying the art of tai chi, and should not be purchased as a "how to" book. It does discuss various postures and their effect on joints and energy movement, but it does not attempt to actually teach the forms. In my opinion, this is it's greatest strength.

All of Chuckrow's books will become classics in this way. I've read many books on the martial arts. The originating principles of Tai Chi are fundamental to the most effective methods of self-defense. I've talked at length with Waysun Liau, one of the top masters of Tai Chi who teaches a few miles from my house, and read his books, and I'd have to say Robert Chuckrow is on that level of essential instruction. A book to be read and reread. This book will increase your awareness on how you should carry yourself, lighten your spirit and improve your health. The energy of expanding rooted strength and relaxed torque is here waiting to be discovered by you.

This is THE book. It's absolutely fantastic. I have read many books on Tai Chi, and own quite a few, but this is the one I am always coming back to, again and again. When practicing Tai Chi, when reading other books on the subject, and sometimes even in the shower after a day's practice, Robert Chuckrow's words come back into my mind, broadening and deepening my understanding of this great art. Many books claim to present Tai Chi Chuan in a manner "accessible to Westerners", but only this one truly delivers. Dr. Chuckrow's presentation is sober, encompassing, and respectful of the philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan. He is open-minded and fair, despite the fact that some of his experience are beyond his ability to explain. A Doctor of Physics and a Tai Chi instructor, Robert Chuckrow truly finds new ways to elucidate stances, double-weighting, and alignment, and never in all the book does he cease to be a person one can relate to, just another Tai Chi player sharing his (vast) experiences for the reader's benefit. The chapter on being a student is the jewel of the book. It really gives the reader pointers and references for actual, everyday relating to a teacher. It helps the reader understand his/her own practice from a broader, more realistic perspective. I strongly recommend this book to everyone who already practices Tai Chi and to all who are wondering if Tai Chi is for them. It is a rare pleasure to find, among the many books on this subject, one which is so well-balanced, down-to-earth, and complete.

Detailed descriptions of concepts and terms and explanations of difficult concepts are what set this book apart from other T'ai Chi books. The author has researched thoroughly and writes well and clearly. Covers among other subjects, breathing, stances, eating, alignment, ch'i, warm ups, stretching, how to be a good student as well as push hands and the CMC form. This is not an all inclusive list. I would place this near the top of the list of internal martial arts books. This could easily function as a textbook for a college course on T'ai Chi. I don't agree with everything in it, but I could always be wrong. :) Buy it, you won't be sorry.