'In Chinese internal martial arts it's always said that heaven and the human being must become one, so that everything comes together.'-Luo De Xiu

Collectively known as the Nei Jia Quan, the internal martial artsof China are practiced by enthusiasts the world over. Thirteen teachers of tai ji quan, xing yi quan, and ba gua zhang all present their perspectives on the philosophy, history, training methods, and fighting techniques that make up these unique martial arts systems.

Interviews with Tim Cartmell, Gabriel Chin, Gail Derin-Kellog, Bruce Kumar Frantzis, Paul Gale,Fong Ha, William Lewis, Luo De Xiu, Allen Pittman, James Wing Woo, Tony Yang, Zhao Da Yuan, and an essay by Albert Liu address such issues as the place of traditional martial arts in modern society, the historical roots of these systems, central training methods, favorite fighting techniques, the role of meditation and qi in the martial arts, as well as advice for getting the most out of one's practice. Hundreds of photographs and illustrations give the reader additional insights into the practice of tai ji, xing yi, and ba gua.

Editor and compiler of this anthology, Jess O'Brien, is an internal martial art enthusiast based in Oakland, California. He ithe Martial Arts Editor at North Atlantic Books.

Contents

Introduction
1 Tim Cartmell
2 Gabriel Chin
3 Gail Derin-Kellog
4 Bruce Kumar Frantzis
5 Paul Gale
6 Fong Ha
7 William Lewis
8 Luo De Xiu
9 Allen Pittman
10 James Wing Woo
11 Tony Yang
12 Zhao Da Yuan
Appendix: A brief survey on the origin and development of the water set by Albert Liu