6.b.vi.-chen-style-for-life-enhancement-czl Section
Chen Style Taijiquan For Life Enhancement
Author: Chen Zheng Lei
Paperback: 149 pages (English & Mandarin Chinese)
Publisher: Tai Chi Centre (1993 translated in 2002)
Translator: Xu Hialiang
ISBN-10: 7534821819 ISBN-13: 978-7534821813
Reviewer: Nick Gudge (Dec 2011)
This book would make a wonderful introduction to Chen Style taijiquan if it were not translated so abysmally. The translation is so bad in parts it is funny. Despite this it is still a better book overall than the newer translation produced by Liming Yue and published under the title of ‘Taiji for Health.’
It is written in both Chinese and English so this short book is in use shorter still, given the likelihood that most users will only utilise half of the text.
This volume makes the effort to start at the beginning. It describes the basic stages of training in Chen style including loosening exercises and standing exercises (zhang zhaung.)
There is a section on silk reeling exercises, single and double hands as well as stepping silk reeling exercises. The most significant part of the book is a description with pictures of Chen Zheng Lei’s beginner’s / introductory 18 step form.
A student attempting to learn from this book alone would be frustrated. A student learning this form from an experienced teacher would find it useful as a set of course notes. In many respects this book is surpassed by the several DVD’s available on this form. Nevertheless it is a useful record set by the designer of this form.
The volume has plenty of high quality pictures and (translation excepted) some interesting descriptions of what the student is aiming for inside and outside their body initially. It does not set itself out as a definitive work on taijiquan and this is one of its strengths. It aims at the beginners and restricts itself to that information that is pertinent to the beginner.
Ratings: Overall: 6.00 out of 10
Content: 6 out of 10 Language: 2 out of 10 Accuracy: 10 out of 10 Helpfulness: 6 out of 10