Chen Taijiquan Illustrated is an exploration of just about every little thing that makes up Chen Taijiquan, from ideas, and physique strategies to sensible utilization and philosophy. However essentially the most notable factor about this Taijiquan e book, and the place the place we must always in all probability begin, are the illustrations, as a result of they’re what actually separates this e book from others of its ilk.

Nearly each web page right here (and there are over 200) has some form of detailed drawing on it that provides context to the textual content surrounding it. In actual fact, the entire e book takes the type of a visible pocket book, as if you’re discovering a secret copy of the best-looking coaching notes you’ve ever seen. Surrounding the drawings are quotes from essentially the most iconic practitioners within the Chen lineage, previous and current, in addition to explanations of ideas, ideas and necessities of Taijiquan. Have a look and also you’ll get the thought:

As you’ll be able to see, the drawings are primarily executed in a stylised cartoon manner, which is definitely very efficient, and it’s fairly clear that these are pictures which were traced over digitally, to supply the illustration, fairly than drawn from scratch. The general impact is very nice, and refreshingly fashionable and accessible. 

As a result of a Taiji grasp’s posture takes years to develop and is a mirrored image of their ability, you’ll be able to be taught quite a bit from simply taking a look at it. So, having a drawing primarily based on an actual picture provides you one of the best of each worlds – you get to see the real ability of the practitioner on present combined with the accessibility and visible enchantment of an illustration. 

In actual fact, in numerous circumstances you’ll be able to guess the well-known grasp that the drawing is predicated on. For instance, the e book cowl reveals, I imagine, a digital tracing of a photograph of Chen Xiaoxing, brother of Chen Xiaowang.

It ought to be identified that not all of the illustrations within the e book are executed to the identical excessive normal, however there are just a few the place the standard dips considerably.

Chen Taijiquan Illustrated is cut up into three sections – Part 1, Physique Guidelines (Form and vitality), Part 2, Sensible use/Software and Part 3, Philosophical Roots. Part 3 on philosophy is tiny in comparison with the huge part two, which consists of a listing of just about all the sensible strategies present in Taijiquan – peng, lu, ji, an, listening, sticking, neutralising, push arms, hand strategies, leg strategies, stepping, chin na, and so forth. Just about every little thing to do with the Chen model is right here!

The preliminary part on physique necessities is excellent, and one thing you’ll be able to preserve coming again to and the e book goes into far more element than you’d anticipate finding in a fundamental newbie’s e book, which makes me pleased. The reasons of the ideas and strategies within the second part can generally err in direction of being extra of a listing of strategies than an in-depth ‘methods to’ of every one, however there’s at all times going to be a restrict on how a lot may be achieved in print, and the illustration of varied masters doing the tactic being mentioned speaks volumes in itself, and provides numerous depth. It’s additionally good to see the martial strategies of Taijiquan being mentioned intimately, one thing that can also be uncommon to seek out in a Taijiquan e book.

Let’s discuss for a second about what the e book doesn‘t embrace. For a begin, there is no such thing as a try to show a type on this e book, which might be a superb factor, as Chen model particularly can be arduous to show in a printed e book attributable to its intricate nature and complicated, spiraling actions. Additionally, there is no such thing as a historical past part – personally I’m glad about that, because it’s a large topic and would require an excessive amount of house to do it justice, and albeit, it’s been executed to loss of life elsewhere, and issues not a jot to your precise apply of the artwork. If you wish to uncover the important thing to “inside motion” then you definitely’ll discover good pointers right here, however for those who actually need to delve deeply into topics like peng, groundpath and inside physique mechanics then I’d say you need to take a look at Ken Gullette’s e book on the topic. Lastly, there’s no point out of weapons right here, that are clearly an enormous a part of the Chen artwork. The emphasis right here is on physique strategies and naked hand strategies solely.

Taijiquan is a sensible, doing artwork, not the form of apply that advantages from an excessive amount of intellectualism, and the visible nature of the e book is nice at reminding you of that reality, grounding the ideas and ideas in sensible actuality.

Total, I believe this needs to be certainly one of my favorite books on Taijiquan ever produced. That is actually one of the vital complete assortment of coaching notes you’ll ever come throughout. And since every little thing is fitted round photos, there aren’t any lengthy, boring, passages of textual content, that means you’ll be able to dip out and in at any level. In actual fact, simply selecting it up, flicking to a random web page and beginning to learn for a couple of minutes can simply provide you with inspiration to your apply that day.

Extremely really useful, and whereas clearly finest suited to Chen model practitioners (there’s numerous dialogue of silk reeling), I believe a Taijiquan practitioner of any model would get lots out of it. I actually did.