I have learned the Yang style form and can only comment on that form
and derivations of it. In addition to the short and long form developed
by the Yang family, there are several short forms that are based on the
Yang style. Zheng Man-Qing (Cheng
Man-ch'ing) , William C. C. Chen and Da Lu developed forms based on
the original Yang family style. Additionally, the Chinese government
has developed a form that is now called the Beijing form. It is 24
steps in length, and is simple to learn and straightforward in nature.
Zheng Man-Qing developed a "37" step form that is quite simple.
It is simple with many of the best moves of the Yang long form. This
form is becoming the fastest growing form in the world. It is longer than
the 24 step form developed by the Chinese government and is not as complex
as the other forms listed here. The second form was developed by
William C. C. Chen. This form is based on Zheng Man-Qing's form.
His form is "60" movements. In the Yang style long form, the movement
Grasp
the Sparrow's Tail consists of 4 movements. William C. C. Chen
counts each move as a separate movement. The third form is that of Da Liu.
Da Liu has been on the American Tai Ji scene since the 1950's and has published
some great books. I have used a lot of material that he has published
in my studies of Tai Ji Quan, Daoism and the Yi Jing. His short form
is the most complex and has approximately 50 movements. This form
has the greatest number of moves from the original Yang style long form
and is quite fun as the lack of repetition in the Yang long form is missing.
All three of these forms as well as the Beijing form are useful for
studying how the movements combine in different patterns. Da Liu
does the most with creating new linkages between movements by moving some
and using others in a slightly and sometimes greatly different way.
There
are No Secrets
by
Wolfe Lowenthal
|
|
An excellent book about Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing.
The professor and Master Liang below are two people whose approach to Tai
Ji Quan is balanced and very open to all. Hence the title of the
book. |
T'ai
Chi Ch'uan
by
Master T. T. Liang
|
|
This short simple book combines Master Liang's philosophies with many
of the Tai Ji Classics. It is very worth while to read and re-read. |
How
to Grasp the Bird's Tail
by
Jane Schorre
|
|
A fun book that looks at the Tai Ji form names as they are in Chinese.
Simple, yet profound in terms of insight gained from the name of the form. |
Imagination
Becomes Reality
by
Stuart Alve Olson
|
Out of Print
|
The Yang Style form of Master T. T. Liang. The photographs were
a great help when I learned the form. |
Yang
Style Tai Chi Chuan
by
Yang Jwing-Ming
|
|
Dr. Yang's book on Yang style Tai Ji. His books are great and
highly recommended. I have too many to list all and would refer you
to one of his Qi Gong books listed on the Qi
Gong page. This is the other book that helped me learn the Yang
form. It provided the martial aspects. My teacher taught them
as well and this book gave me a different approach and explanation. |
Tai
Chi Chuan
by
Master Liang, Shou-Yu and Wu, Wen-Ching
|
|
This book is about the 24 form Tai Ji Quan that the Chinese government
created. It is simple, good and fun. Master Liang is awesome
in the photographs. A teacher, judge and title holder in many martial
arts. He conveys a great deal just in the photos alone. The
text is excellent and Dr. Yang's publishing company has improved greatly.
As a beginner's form, it is excellent. |
Tai
Chi Ch'uan & Qigong
by
Wolfgang Metzger & Peifang Zhou
|
|
Another text on the 24 form style. This book has interesting
things on Qi Gong and Tai Ji. The instructions on the form are very
good with the text tied to the illustrations. |
The
Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & Qi Gong
by
Bill Douglas
|
|
While I think that learning a form from this book would not be simple,
it is very good in terms of the various different things that Tai Ji and
Qi Gong practice entails. Bill Douglas is very active in Tai Ji and
its promotion and use. A fun book just for the little box items. |
Embrace
Tiger, Return to Mountain
by
Al Huang
|
|
A great book! Al Huang shows the play of Tai Ji. He has
a chapter on the Zen Ox pictures. These describe man struggle with
his own nature. |
The
Tao of Tai-Chi Chuan
by
Tsung Hwa Jou
|
|
A classic book from a master teacher. This is a book that on
will spend time digesting as there is so much to read. He was one
of the greatest champions of Tai Ji Quan's teaching. |
T'ai
Chi Ch'uan
by
Cheng Man-ch'ing
|
|
Considered a true master of many arts, Cheng Man-ch'ing will be remembered
for his gentle, light approach to Tai Ji and other Asian arts. Cheng Man-ch'ing's
style is a short form of the Yang Style and is one of the fastest growing
styles of Tai Ji Quan. Simple, fun and complex enough to be challenging.
Very highly recommended. |
Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan
by
William C. C. Chen
|
|
Hard to find book that is worth the effort. William C. C. Chen's
philosophy is different from many others. This book has a list of
his "60 Movements" form. Based on Cheng Man-ch'ing's form, this is
another short form worth learning. |
The
Tao of Health and Longevity
by
Da Liu
|
|
I have always learned something from Da Liu's books and highly recommend
them all. This book has his short form. This form is the most
complex of the four short forms listed above and includes a large
number of moves from the long form. |
T'ai
Chi Ch'uan and I Ching
by
Da Liu
|
Out of Print |
If you can find this book, keep it. The information on Yi
Jing (I Ching)
hexagrams related to Tai Ji movements is priceless. |
Cheng
Tzu's Thirteen Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan
by
Cheng Man-ch'ing
|
|
Professor Cheng's book on Tai Ji "secrets." Originally written
in 1947 in Chinese, it was translated in 1985. Professor Cheng was
one of the most innovative people in Tai Ji in the 20th century.
This book is a must to exxamine his philosophy. |
The
Essence of T'ai Chi Ch'uan
by
Lo/Inn/Amacker/Foe
|
|
The Tai Ji Classics. It simple, learn a form, read this book
and practice, practice, practice. Everyone quotes the classics and
this book is the simplest. |
