Tai Chi Connections-advancing your tai chi experience

by John Loupos

2005

Library's review

Tai chi connectins--a path to balance, integration and sheer joy in your life

Tai chi offers the prospect of better health, vitality, peace of mind, and increased personal energy. The essence of t'ai chi is contained in subtle, yet profound qualities, which when nurtured with regular and correct
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practice, will result in significant personal gain. Filled with insightful guidance and step-by-step instructions, Tai Chi Connections digs deep to explore the nuances and technical intricacies of these qualities, and how to bring them together to advance our practice, John Loupos, a skilled teacher and an expert martial artist, offers his guidance in an inspiring, personable tone to help you along the way.

Some of the subjects covered:

Opportunity within slowness
Attention and intention as dynamic ingedients
Tai chi as a path to congruence
Tapping into 'earth' force
Putting the brakes on momentum
The unspoken nuances of tai chi stepping
Training tips to optimize your tai chi experience
Moral and ethical mandates of being a teacher

'Heaven and earth are both embodied in word and spirit in this book. A remarkable work.'-Mark Mincolla, Ph.D., author

'Loupos' depth of experience, drived from over three decades of practice and teaching, is abundantly clear...His love for the discipline of t'ai chi streams from the page.'-D. Kate Jewell, Reviewer, NAPRA ReView magazine

'His work is solid and extensive.'-Mary Lukas, Reviewer, Taijiquan Journal

'Practical guidance for students and teachers alike.'-Roger Jahnke, O.M.D., author

'Loupos takes readers on a rich and multi-layered journey to the inner structure of Tai Chi...so that we can open to the innate wisdom within our Tai Chi training.'-Jampa Mackenzie Stewart, author/editor

John Loupos is an accomplished martial artist, author and teacher. He takes great joy in encouraging and motivationg Tai Chi students everywhere to advance their practice and move forward on a path of personal growth and development.

John has practiced and taught martial arts since 1966. He has an extensive background in internal and external styles. When not writing, he can be found teaching at his school, Jade Forest Kung Fu/Tai Chi, in Cohasset, Mass. His other books include Inside Tai Chi and Exploring Tai Chi (both available from YMAA Publication Center).

Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
Romanization of Chinese words
Prelude
Part 1 Points to ponder
Chapter 1 Opportunities in slowness
Balance
Proprioceptioin
Rooting
Stress
Chi
Momentum
Breathing
Fitness
Critical thinking
Chapter 2 The benefits of group vs. individual practice
Chapter 3 Loose ends
Be fluid, be rosolved
Three reasons to get loose
Keep your mind loose too
Loose ends beget loose ends
Chapter 4 T'ai chi as a path to congruence & congruence as a path to t'ai chi
What does it mean to be congruent?
Let's get congruent
Why is congruence so elusisve?
More impediments to congruence
Why is congruence important to t'ai chi?
the connection between process and congruence
Wkhat steps can yo take to become more congruent?
Part 2 Arranging your body in a tai chi way: Miscellaneous connections
Chapter 5 Transitiions & connections
There are no transitins in t'ai chi
Stylistic differences aside
Your initial connection
Your guy wire connection
Follow the money
Wave hands like clouds, but you still gotta step right
Your knee: turn it or torque it?
A shortcut that makes sense: the t'ai chi punch
Feeing your ward off connection
How to develop spiraling force-or the world is our screwdriver
Chapter 6 Moving force from your earth root
Tootedness as a foundation for issuing force
Geting startedz: Part 1
The return trip Part 2
Putting it al together
Possible problems
Chapter 7 The role of momentum in t'ai chi
Momentum is unavoidable
Momentum in lieu of
Rid your form of momentum
Momentum in class
Momentum in your mind
Chapter 8 The three-treasures guide to proper stepping in t'ai chi
Turn your foot in open the door
Aligning your knee
Opening our kua to pass through the door
Your most elusive kua connection
Part 3 Other topics and lectures
Chapter 9 Optimizing your t'ai chi practice
Size counts
Move slow, move fast
Be soft
Bring your power to the surface
Shake to your root
External variables
Chapter 10 Other lectues
Integrating t'ai chi into other martial arts programs
Discernment
Trick or skill?
Extend, but don't reach
Sink back and relax while we discuss sung
Forget yoiurself
Quantitative vs. qualitative
Auxiliary practice
Cross associations
Mining your t'ai chi for gold
Affecting the mastery you fancy
The t'ai chi learning curve
What might you be a champion of?
Simple ordinary learning or 'transmission'?
The value of t'ai chi weapons practice
Pregnancy, low back pain, and t'ai chi
The nature of intention
Chapter 11 Thoughts and musings on being a teacher
To do or not to do
Guiding, providing for, and educating students
A survey
In summation
References (bibliography)
Resources
Glossary
Index
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ISBN

1594390320 / 9781594390326

Publication

YMAA Publication Center Boston, Massachusetts
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