Tai Chi Classics & Treaties.

[red_fists]

Just out of curiosity.

How many people here have read the:

Tai Chi Treaties

Tai Chi Classics.

Personally, I like to read them often as I gain more skill in TCC, some aspects of the Classics and Treaties become more clear.

I also think that every TCC practicioner should have their own copies. I got 4 diff. translations but no interpretation of them.

:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[Repulsive Monkey]

... more or less I find that I dip into the such for clarification/meditation or just browse through to absorb information. But then I call upon these tecxts just as much as I call upon the Tao Te Chng and I-Ching for guidance too.

[shaolinboxer]

I have read them. Excellent material.

[Kaitain(UK)]

I tend to read them when I have a breakthrough - suddenly something really makes sense to me

I also read interpretations as anothers' perspective can be valuable - equally someone else's persepective can be perplexing :)

I go through periods when I reread my main four books (Tai Chi Boxing Chronicle, Secret Yang Family Transmissions, Mastering Yang Style and Principles and techniques of Taijiuan - a new book by Ip Tai Tak) - some things make more sense as you improve - keeping the spine straight in Cloud Hands for instance or being truly full and empty in a posture. To me the beauty of the classics is the same as that of the form - the more you learn and understand, the more you realise there is to learn and understand.

Whoever created Taiji was a frickin' genius

[bamboo_ leaf]

Kinda funny how it dose that, just when you think you understand or you got it. your understanding changes as your level deepens.

I think approaching it in this way means your practice is very alive and growing.

i would also recommend "the dao of taijiquan" by jou, tsung hwa.
very good read, if you haven't read it already i think you might find it interesting. :)

[Kaitain(UK)]

got that one :) - I liked it as it provided some theoretical information that I haven't seen anywhere else - discussing how the Taiji relates to the system directly, expanding on the trigrams and so on...

I'm a bit of a TJQ book freak but I've run out recently - the last good one I got was Ip Tai Taks which is particular relevant as he's my top lliving ineage holder. It's kind of like the boxing chronicle with a pure Yang perspective... not a cheap book though - I got a signed limited hardback for 50 quid (ulp)

My main problem book wise is that so many are written by people who want to talk in generic terms about high-minded principles but have no hard and fast knowledge/ideas to impart - it's regurgitated translations rather than a masters persepctive.

e.g Ip opens his book with the line 'don't get hit; don't learn' - i.e. you have to feel what's being imparted to understand.

Any other recommendations?

[chen zhen]

Jang jwing-ming has also made some excellent books recently, one of them is called "Taiji qin na" and another is called "Taiji martial applications" and i can't remember what the third one is called. Try to look out for them, they are really good.