The Intrinsic Energies of T'ai chi Ch'uan

Stuart Alve Olson's landmark translation of t'ai chi's most profound text-the Yang family's secret training journals on the nature and practical applications of intrinsic energy. Olson's commentary brilliantly explicates a work that will be an essential reference for any t'ai chi practitioner.

'An

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excellent and extremely informative translation of an important body of work, that includes many principles and techniques not found in popular t'ai chi manuals. Olson has written an accurate and lucid translation of a broad treatise, which, flavored by insights from his own experience of the oral teachings, renders an invaluable service in bridging the gap between theory and practice, enriching the understanding and practice of t'ai chi players at all levels.'-Terry Dunn, author of T'ai Chi For Health: The Yang Long Form

'Every student of the art will find inspiration and guidance in this translation. Olson is to be commended for his dedication and tenacity in producing it. This helps to fill a real gap in the available literature.'-Paul Crompton, author of The T'ai Chi Workbook and Elements of T'ai Chi

'This book is a very good document for both t'ai chi players and instructors. Nowadays, no one has completely reached the high levels described here. Therefore this book really provided important goals to work towards attaining. If a dedicatd t'ai chi player can master these different 'energies', they will help promote the art to a very high level.-Master Jou, Tsung Hwa, author of The Tao of T'ai Chi Ch'uan

'I predict that this will be one of the most improtant works on t'ai chi yet to be published in English. while the text itself is enlightening, the real pearls of knowledge contained in this book are to be found in Olson's commentary. Concepts and ideas typically mystified by practitioners are masterfully presented in a clear, direct manner.'-Dan Miller, editor of Pa Kua Chang Journal

Contents

Acknowledgements
Foreword by Paul A. Crompton
Translator's introduction
Discourse on intrinsic energies
Introduction (by Chen Kung)
Adhering and sticking energy
Listening energy
Interpreting energy
Receiving energy
Neutralizing energy
Enticing energy
Seizing energy
Issuing energy
Borrowing energy
Opening energy
Closing energy
Rising energy
Sinking energy
Ward-off energy
Roll-back energy
Press energy
Push energy
Pull energy
Split energy
Elbow-stroke energy
Shoulder-stroke energy
Long energy
Intercepting energy
Drilling energy
Lofty towering energy
An explanation of restraining, seizing, grasping and closing
Principles and essential roots of t'ai chi ch'uan
Suggested reading (bibliography)
Indexc

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