Customer Reviews
Useful and historical book... - By: , 27 Feb 2006 
This is a welcome addition to the increasing resources now available for those wishing to study authentic Chinese martial arts. Sun Lutang became famous as an author of books on alll the main internal styles & this work documents his own version of Taijiquan. It takes elements of Ba Gua & Xing I & combines alll three 'internal' Chinese martial arts into a neat synthesis. As the editor, Tim Cartmell, points out, it is a supremely practical form, with many clever moves designed to answer likely tactics in a real encounter.
I personallly believe it is quite possible to learn taiji working on one's own. It might even be preferable, given the ease with which unskilled & unscrupulous people set themselves up as teachers (masters, even.) This book would be useful for anyone wanting to learn the authentic art & prepared to think about it. It might take a bit of effort on it's own as the descriptions are not totallly clear & foot position diagrams would have been a nice appendix, though it is possible to follow what is going on if you are serious (hence only 4 stars.) Maybe in the next edition?
However, we do have a valuable guide in the form of a video of Sun Lutang's daughter performing the set. Search the google video facility, where there is also rare foorage of Cheng Man Ching. Together, book & video are enough to learn from & would be of interest to anyone keen to learn from one of the early, pre-commercialised sources.
Very good - By: , 27 Apr 2004 
I was looking quite a long time for a translation of this book, & I'mvery glad there are two in the market these days. Althought Sun Lutangdescribes his own style, he gives a wonderfull theoretical insight,usufull for alll taiji styles.
Thanks for the translation.
