Man-ch'ing Cheng (1902–1975)

'T'ai-chi ch'uan as an art of self-defense must completely spurn both physical bravery and muscular force. One is told that 'in any action, the whole body must be made as light and free-moving as possible;' so light that 'the addition of a feather will be felt for its weight, and so free-moving that a fly cannot alight on it without setting it in motion.''

Contents

Introductory notes
Part I
Chapter 1 T'ai chi ch'uan as physical exercise
Chapter 2 The body of t'ai chi ch'uan: Its principles
Chapter show more 3 The function of t'ai chi ch'uan: Its principles
Chapter 4 My personal view
Chapter 5 My hope
Chapter 6 My own experience
Part II
The kung chia of t'ai chi ch'uan
Pushing hand practice with fixed steps
The essentials of pushing hand practice
How to uproot your opponent
Some events in the lives of the Yang family show less

This book covers the 37 posture form, and is an essential book for the serious student's library . Excellent photographs for each posture, along with diagrams for orientation of the feet and weight distribution. A fold out appendix has a key to the foot-weighting diagrams, and a sequence diagram of the solo exercise.

The practical book prof. Cheng presents taijiquan as a martial art, a medicine and a means of exercise and self-development. It includes: - Thirten essays on his insights into taijiquan - oral secrets from his teacher Yang Cheng'fu - Questions and answers giving his commentaries on the classics - postures and applications on the 37 posture form illustrated by photographes - describtion and mechanics of Tui Shou, San Shou and Tau Lu.

Discourses by Prof. Cheng covering Tai Chi as a martial art, pathway to health, manifestation of the Tao. Required for every practitioner. Now that he is deceased, it is a repository of his wisdom