Nigel Sutton

The new edition of this authoritative bookk not only presents the art of tai chi chuan in its holistic entirety, but also addresses the controversy over the historical development of what is arguably the most practiced style in the West, Chan Man Ching's tai chi chuan.

Due to Nigel Sutton's understanding of the cultural context in whch the art is practiced and through his connections with many leading exponents, he is able to clarify the unique nature of Master Cheng's legacy. He also show more describes the common threads running through all stylistc approaches, thus clearly portraying the essence of the art.

Applied Tai Chi Chuan establishes the art as martial in origin and in practice. It strikes an excellent balance between describing basic concepts and translating them into training skills and combat applications.

Nigel Sutton began training in the martial arts at the age of thirteen. He has learned, researched and taught tai chi chuan all over the world and is a frequent contributor to such martial arts magazines as Journal of Asian Martial Arts and Fighting Arts International. He is also the author of Tai Chi Chuan: Roots and Branches (Tuttle).

Contents

Introduction
1 Defining the art
2 Cheng Man Ching tai chi chuan
3 Tai chi chuan for health
4 The tai chi chuan learning process
5 Lessons of the form
6 The practice of pushing hands
7 More on pushing hands
8 The patterns of pushing hands
9 The application game
10 San Shou
11 Tai chi chuan fighting training
12 The weapons of tai chi chuan
13 From empty hands to weapons and back
14 The tai chi chuan root
15 Tai chi chuan and Jing
16 The mind in tai chi chuan (1)
17 The mind in tai chi chuan (2)
18 More on the mind
19 Tai chi chuan and time
20 Discipline
21 Spirituality
22 The tai chi chuan family
23 Tai chi chuan and softness
24 Teh sectets of tai chi chuan
25 The internal power of tai chi chuan
26 Tai chi chuan as a warrior way
27 The tai chi symbol
28 The thirteen aspects of tai chi chuan
29 The 'classics'
30 The five animals of tai chi chuan
31 The teaching of tai chi chuan
32 Teachers
Index show less

'Historical, auto-biographical, and inspirational, Nigel Sutton has written one of the most insightful books ever on the Chinese martial arts...A must read!'-Mark V. Riley author, Martial Arts Talk: An Oral History

Nigel Sutton has traveled througout Asia in order to study with famous martial arts masters and to gain special knowledge of martial arts methods and secrets. He has spent decades in the company of masters, listening to their stories, learning their arts and documenting their show more lives. In this engaging work one can learn about the everyday lives of some of the world's leading martial arts masters and the secrets of their fighting arts.

Nigel Sutton has spent 20 years in Malaysia studiying various forms of Chinese martial arts, including tai chi, wu chu chuan and chi kung. He has previously published three books on tai chi.

He has included in these pages many of the 'secrets' that his teachers have so generously taught him. With careful reading the sincere student of the martial ways will be able to pick them out.

Contents

Chapter 1 First steps
Chapter 2 Form: The heart of Chinese martial arts
Chapter 3 Of internal and external
Chapter 4 Pushing hands
Chapter 5 Applying the arts
Chapter 6 Baguazhang in China
Chapter 7 A sense of place
Chapter 8 Weapons training
Chapter 9 Competitions and demonstrations
Chapter 10 On qigong
Chapter 11 Challenges
Chapter 12 The journey thus far show less

Tai Chi Chuan is a philosophical and martial discipline practiced daily by millions of people worldwide. Though its benefits as a means of enhancing health and relaxation are well known, it is a viable and effective martial art.

Nigel Sutton has devoted many years of his life to the study of Tai Chi's roots (its history, traditions, and basic movements) and its branches (the meaning and applications of the movements). The product of his endeavors is this introductory guide to the movements show more and application of Master Chang Man Ching's Tai Chi Chuan, a style noted for its combative effectivness. Sutton has masterfully captured the essence of this popular tradition in both its holistic and martial appraoches. His simple but clear instructions and over 190 illustratons make learning Tai Chi easy.

Nigel Sutton began training in the martial arts at age thirteen and is an instructor of Tai chi Chuan. He has learned, reserched, and taught Tai Chi in a number of counties around the world including the United Kingdom and Malaysia, the birthplace of his style's founder, Cheng Man Ching. A frequent contributor to martial arts magazines around the world, he is well known for his articles in the prestigious Journal of Asian Martial Arts and Fighting Arts International. He is also author of the book Applied Tai Chi Chuan.

Contents

Introduction
Roots
Part One: Form
Chishi-Beginning
Zuo peng-Left ward off
You lan jue wei (Peng, lku, ji, an)-Grasp the sparrow's tail (Ward off, rollback, press, and push)
Zhuan shen diao shou-Turn body and drop the hands
Dan bian-Single whip
Ti shou shang shi-Lift hands
Kao-Shoulder strike
Bai he liang chi-White creane spread its wings
Lou chi ao bu-Brush knee twist step
Shou hui pipa-Strum the llute
Lou xi ao bu
Jing bu ban lan chui-Step forward, move, parry, punch
Rufeng sibi-As if closing a door
Shizi shou-cross hands
Bao hu gui shan-embrace tiger, return to mokuntain
Xie dan gian-Diagonal single whip
Zhou di kan chui-Fist under elbow
Dao nian hou-Step back repulse monkey
Xie fei shi-Diagonal flying
Yun shou-Cloud hands
Dan bian xia she-Single whip, low form
Jing ji du li-Golden rooster stands on one leg
Zuo you fen jiao-Left and right toe kick
Zhuan shen deng jiao-Turn body heel kick
Jing bu zai chiu-Step forward and plant a punch
Jing bu lan jue wei-Step forward grasp the sparrow's tail
Dan bian-Single whip
Yu nu chuan suo-Fai lady plays shuttles
You lan jue wei-Right grasp the sparrow's tail
Shang bu qi xing-Step up to seven stars
Tui bu kau hu-Step back to ride teh tiger
Zhuan shen bai lian tui-Turn body white lotus kick
Wang gong she hu-Draw a bow to shoot the tiger
Jing bu ban lan chui-Step forward, move, parry, and puknch
Part Two: Branches
From form to function
Starting points: Applying the form
Chi shi-Beginning
Peng, ti shou shang shi, yu nu chuan suo-Ward-off, lift hands, fair lady grasps shuttles
Jing bu ban lan chui-Step forward, move, parry, punch
Lu, shouk hui pipa-Rollback, strum the lute
Xie fei shi, dan bian-Diagonal flying, single whip
Lou xi ao bu-Bruksh knee twist step
Tai chi kicking technique
Yun shou-Cloud hands
Bai he liang chi-White crane spreads its wings
Bao hu gui shan-Embrace tiger return to mountain
Jing bu zai chui-Step forward and plant a punch
Dao nian hou-Step back repulse mnkey
Zhou di kan chui-fist under elbow
Shang bu chi xing, tui bu gua hu-Step up to seven stars, step back to ride a tiger
Rufeng sibi-Apparant close up
Shi zi shou-Cross hands
Ji-Press
An-Push
Part Three: Gaining from the experience of the past
The Classes
Part Four: Signposts for the path
Ng kiong hin
Tan ching ngee
Lau kim hokng
Koh ah tee show less