Yang Family Tai Chi Discussion Board

David Gaffney & Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim
"The Essence of Taijiquan"

This book is a highly valuable resource for those seeking to understand what Taijiquan is.

Could you give some details about the book, the authors, or your experience with either to explain the basis of your recommendation?

Audi wrote:Could you give some details about the book, the authors, or your experience with either to explain the basis of your recommendation?

The authors are Chen style practitioners (met them in 2005) but the topics in the book about historical background, philosophical roots, taijiquan as combat art are universal. For me especially interesting is topic about three stages of progression that all practitioners must go through: opening the joints, understanding internal energy, executing continuous movements in one breath.

Another book on tai chi of the same authors:

David Gaffney, Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim
"Chen Style Taijiquan - The Source of Taiji Boxing"
ISBN: 1556433778 / ISBN-13: 9781556433771

From the cover:

This book guides the reader through the historical development of the system, its philosophical roots, and through the intricacies of the various training methods of this unique form of Chinese boxing.