This is the most frequently heard questions we get. Some of
us need or want a book as a reference; others think they can get ahead by using
a book. I ask which reason the student has because I believe using the book to
get ahead is probably a bad idea.
When I say get ahead I mean to use the book instead of the
teacher to learn the next lesson. Often the book is incomplete as most don’t
show transition moves. And they are one-dimensional. The written does not lend
itself to primary instruction of motion very well. Therefore I recommend that
student get the appropriate book and use it the correct way. I think that way
is as a reference or reminder. Trying to learn from a book often imprints
incorrect movement. And we know that first impressions are the strongest, so
learning it incorrectly makes the job harder because we have to undo those
impressions.
If you select the print option versus video I like to have
students buy a basic book, one with some background (origins, fundamental
philosophy, etc) and enough description and pictures to get by. For our lineage
I suggest T’ai Chi Ch’uan by Cheng
Man-Ching as a good choice. The subtitle is, A Simplified Method of Calisthenics and Self Defense. It’s a
paperback book of about 135 pages. There is a more in-depth version of it
entitled T’ai Chi that is a hardcover
and even has a fold-out section showing the form footwork. Robert Smith was his
co-author. It has more meat to it. Cheng Man-Ching taught Robert Smith and my
teacher, Tom Baeli. So you’ll find the books to be in line with what you’re
learning. It’s a lot easier today to find books on tai chi and many beginners
rush out and buy what they find at the booksellers only to find it doesn’t look
like what they’re learning. Being that there are different systems and schools
out there, that’s to be expected. So let your teacher recommend a book based on
your style.
Another book for the hungry student is Robert Chuckrow’s The Tai Chi Book. This is a large soft
cover book and I like it a lot for the repetition of the form from the other
books but he adds more information and explanation that’s easy to grasp.
As you progress you’ll find some books on Cheng that get a
bit more esoteric, such as Douglas Wile’s Cheng
Man Ching’s Advanced T’ai Chi Form Instructions and Wolfe Lowenthal’s There Are No Secrets. If you’re
interested in combative thought, pick up William Chen’s works. T.T. Liang’s Steal My Art is also worth looking at.
There is more out there that is worth getting but I think
these are a good start for most students. I hope this helps.
Until next time,
Lee
