Master Cheng's New Method of Taichi Ch'uan Self-Cultivation

by Cheng Man-ch'ing and Cheng Man-ch'ing á

Cheng Man-ch'ing, the famed master of t'ai chi, is regarded as an enormously influential figure in codifying the most widely practiced form of the ancient martial art. This volume, developed by the martial arts master and scholar, details the way that students arrive at a posture -- from beginning movements to the end pose. Master Cheng provides practitioners with a complete and concise guide to the Short Form, enabling them to make rapid progress.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1883319927
• ISBN13: 9781883319922
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: Blue Snake Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Great Reference Material

This is the book my teacher used for reference. Great little book, I still use it every once in a while to review. Overall, it gives a clear definition of the postures, however, some of the transitions are not clearly defined. Since you can't really learn all the intricacies of Taijiquan from a book anyway, that's not really a big deal. Weight distribution and foot placement diagrams are a big help. If you don't have access to an instructor, and want to learn the CMC form, this is the book I would recommend.

A Main Resource for Taichi Ch'uan

This book was recommended to me by my Taichi teacher, Garrett Chin, of the San Francisco Community College. It may be early for me to give a book review in the traditional sense. But what I have to offer may be helpful to others. I am a beginner in an outreach class away from the college. Currently the posture we are working on is the eleventh out of thirty-seven. I haven't read the book cover to cover. What I am using it for is a resource for me for where I am in the postures right now and for where I hope to be as I go along in the classes. Master Cheng was my teacher's master, so I am confident that this book provides the kind of resource I need as I progress.

Hennessey Translation

I practiced this method of T'ai Chi for 2 years, until my teacher became ill. Then I found the Hennessey translation, which I find to be excellent. The best I have found for Master Cheng's method. I have no reputable teacher in my area, but can continue to practice with this book. Even if you don't practice, Master Cheng is enjoyable reading.

CMC's New Method (translated by Mark Hennessy).

A great book, with superb introduction and CMC Tai Chi Chuan form content. Form is discussed in a non-martial context (as opposed to Man-Ching's 13 Treatises), and there are foot diagrams as well. This is *the* book to learn the Simplified 37 Posture form from!

Master Cheng at his best

This is the last of Cheng Man-Ching's Chinese books, untranslated until now. Any Short Yang Form practitioner will find this text invaluable, and will find its detailed instructions very helpful for polishing their form practice. Also, Master Cheng provides a number of essays on martial virtue and the avoidance of mistakes in ones practice, as well as exerpts from the classics of Chinese philosophy. Mark Hennessy's translation skills are known to be excellent, so one can trust the veracity of the text.