Learning Tai Chi Chuan

I've studied at Tung Kai Ying's school. I also have some DVD's from his cousin, Alex Dong. It's a great taiji family that's done a lot of fine work in teaching and promoting taiji all over the world.Kai Ying is a great person, and it's a fine school with a fine lineage.The book is very well done in terms of its physical appearance, and there is some useful information.I wouldn't particuarly recommend it, though, except for those with an interest in or connection to the Tung (Dong) family.Almost half the book is pictures and family trees of the Yang and Tung taiji families. Then there's the obligatory section on the long Yang form with pictures of Kai Ying, and then there is some exposition that contains some useful information. The problem is, the pictures aren't really the way to go anymore, now that we have video. There must be dozens, maybe hundreds, of YouTube videos and DVD's on the long Yang form, as well as other Yang forms, the Tung family fast set, and of course vast numbers of other martial arts videos, available. You can see Kai Ying do the long form on YouTube.For me, the pictures are not that helpful; maybe they could be, with a considerably more detailed exposition of each move, and the text is somewhat useful, but again, I'd like much more detail. And anyway, pictures are just not the best, or even a good, way to learn taiji; a teacher is essential, which of course is acknowledged in the book. These days, video makes a much better adjunct, or poor substitute. I appreciate that the main intention of the book is to honor the Tung family lineage, but for me, the sheer number of posed pictures of taiji teachers and students from the early 20th century is excessive. The book's not really cheap. It's an artistic success, could be a good coffee table book.As a taiji textbook, it's not the one I would recommend.

I treasure Master Tungs's book. The text and photos provide a reference to concentrate on all the corrections of the form I received from Master Tung and David Block and Betty Dong. I suppose that we are all teachers and students of teachers. "Practice."

Very helpful after tai ci chuan class when the move may have been difficult or memory doesn't quite get it.

My friend is deeply involved in tai chi so this was the perfect gift for him to add to his library of tai chi books.

excellent book, highly recommend it for beginners in Tai Chi yang style. Just a well written and illustrated book. period.

First LearnTai Chi ChuanSlow setCivillyOnce masteredMarriageTo martialTakes placeUnder guidanceOf Master

If you want to know the style and understand it, this is a simple view of its origins, history and current style. This is very well presented.

Kia Ying Tung is a great lineage.