Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 610
EAN num: 9780007130900
ISBN number: 0007130902
Label: Thorsons
Manufacturer: Thorsons
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 320
Printing Date: September 25, 2003
Publishing house: Thorsons
Sale Popularity Level: 428209
Studio: Thorsons
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
This book is a comprehensive easy-to-read introduction to the Chinese practice of Tai Chi.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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A treasure chest of knowledge looking at various health aspects and history of tai chi chuan. A valuable book for beginners outlining many of the basic principles of the art which are hard to come by. This will also help prospective students identify the right teacher for them. Advanced students will endulge in the very first hand experience of someone who has thoroughly studied and mastered the taoist internal arts. It is obvious that Mr. Frantzis was not trying to "teach" tai chi movements through the book, because this can often result in injury and misunderstanding. It is much safer and effective to learn from a qualified instructor. An "encyclopedia" which should not be over looked.
Rated by buyers -
the best book about tai chi i have ever read. the author has an incredible profound knowledge of tai chi and isn`t too good for trying to pass it on in the most clearly written language. he wisley doesnt want to teach this living taoist art of moving through a book, which a lot of writers tried to and failed. instead he provides a down to earth guide of why to start, how it works and criterias to find a suitable teacher. which is the most important and difficult very first step in learning tai chi.
i found very good material on his web site : www.energyarts.com .
enjoy!
Rated by buyers 
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I wanted to buy this book as a gift for Christmas, but I declined. So far, it is the only Tai Chi book to say it can boost your sexual performance on the cover. Too bad it does not really tell you how, that's just on the cover to draw you in. There are no real forms, no techniques. It's not a how-to. It's thick and looks nice, but has one big theme: The author is saying how good is his supposed skill. Maybe he can con Westerners into buying this book, but I think most average masters in China can beat the crap out of Bruce Frantzis. I am a novice player in Tai Chi, but even I can see that this book is a thick pile of pulp. If his skill is as good as the quality of this book, I can(and should) beat him up for spoiling the reputation of Tai Chi. There are better books out there, go buy them.
Rated by buyers -
The Big Book of Tai Chi
By Bruce Frantzis. Published by Thorsons (add UK price here?)
For a man who confesses to hating writing, Bruce Frantzis does a damn fine job of it. He has produced some of the best, most down-to-earth, books on the internal arts and his new mammoth volume - The Big Book of Tai Chi - is literally just that. He has decided to look at Tai Chi from an unbiased viewpoint, not favouring any particular style or school. Rather, he has looked at the foundation for all Tai Chi styles using his encyclopaedic knowledge and written a primer to them all.
Mr Frantzis begins with the history, always contentious, and progresses to explaining how and why the internal arts work in relation to health, both physical and mental. He has long been a voice crying in the wilderness, warning of the inevitable collapse of the health systems in the West. While working as a Chi Kung doctor in China, Mr. Frantzis saw how vital Tai Chi and Chi Kung were in a country with a shortage of western-style doctors. Consequently, he has worked hard to bring his knowledge to the West, in the hope that it will be used to improve the health of the masses as it has in China. His ground-breaking Chi Kung book, Opening the Energy Gates, was just the beginning. The Big Book has a wider scope, discussing what the differing styles of Tai Chi can do for health and what to look for in a good teacher. Mr. Frantzis also considers the Taoist approach to health and how we in the West could benefit from it. Some of this has been covered in other books, but this one is a real blockbuster both in size and approach. The publishers are pushing its launch worldwide and seem to be of the opinion that this book will bring Tai Chi and Chi Kung to the attention of a much wider audience. It is an easy read but does not 'dumb down' the arts. It is intended for both beginners and seasoned players. One very detailed chapter is geared specifically to intermediate and advanced practitioners, another describes what beginners can expect from Tai Chi.
Most Chinese masters have difficulty with our language and we certainly have trouble in understanding their often flowery and ambiguous descriptions of the form. With his fluent Chinese, Mr Frantzis gained insights into the Chinese culture and arts that is reflected in both his teaching and writing. The author also has the great advantage of being not only a top martial artist but also an accomplished practitioner in medical Chi Kung and Tui Na bodywork, both of which are branches of traditional Chinese medicine. As a lineage master in the Taoist arts in general, he can give an overview that few of us would be aware of were it not for this book. He considers how Tai Chi works for healing, physical and emotional self-defence, stress reduction, promoting longevity and developing spirituality. One chapter looks at how tai chi can benefit different groups of people. For example, tai chi can mitigate the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome in computer users. Another chapter helps students choose the most appropriate tai chi form for their particular needs. The five main styles, large, medium and small frame tai chi, and long, medium and short forms are discussed in detail.
An excellent primer, the book could have done with some more illustrations, but as it does not champion a particular style, the interminable form photos aren't missed at all. A must for beginners, this huge work would also benefit any serious player who is modest enough to admit to not knowing it all and open enough to look deeper.
Brian Cookman
Rated by buyers -
I couldn't wait to buy this book. What a disappointment!! Sure enough Mr. Frantzis would make a great politician: he managed to fill over 200 pages with ... nothing.
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