Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Volume One English

( Hunyuantaiji Academy )

Price: $39.99

This is a long waited book. The author of the book, grandmaster Hong Junsheng studied from grandmaster Chen Fake for 15 years and was the only disciple who lived with the grandmaster from time to time. Hong spent his entire life practicing and writing this book on the Chen Style Taijiquan. Many of his views, opinions and experiences are rare, authentic and traditional. There simply is not another master who could compare.

His disciple Chen Zhonghua did an excellent job of translating this book. An English teacher and translator in Canada by profession, Chen rendered this book in both loyalty to the original and in readability for the Western readers.

This is definitely a book that all martial artists must have.

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Customer Reviews:

Academy Staff (Friday, 28 September 2007)
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Part 1
Review by Michael A. DeMarco, M.A. Seton Hall University.
Anyone can mimic the sequence of movements representing any standardized Chen Style taijiquan practice routine, but unless the movements embody the principles found in the early taijiquan writings, the routine cannot legitimately be called taijiquan. What exactly are these principles and how does one put them into practice? This is the main theme in Hong Junsheng's (1907-1996) book, Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method, Volume 1.

Mr. Hong completed his manuscript in Chinese in 1998, and Chen Zhonghua published the authorized English tranlation in 2006. Of the writings by early taijiquan masters, the most influential for the Chen lineage has been the text by Chen Xin (1849-1929), a 16th-generation Chen Style grandmaster who was also fond of philosophy. Many texts dealing with traijiquan theory and practice are not early understood by novices to the art. The specialized vocabulary is more easily grasped by high level taiji practitioners. Likewise, Hong's book is not an easy read, but offers insights and some clarification.

Mr. Chen Zhonghua, a Chen Style master as well as a professional tranlator, writes that "Hong's book is profoundly difficult to tranlate" (p.xix). Chen possess unique credentials to tranlate this work and has done so with resounding success.

Academy Staff (Friday, 28 September 2007)
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I really like this book. It's very difficult to read but there is something there for me. It's very deep, I think.

Michelle Bryson (Saturday, 16 September 2006)
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I found this translation an easy read in terms of style and language. The theory itself, however, will need much contemplation along with careful practice to understand. I'm sure that I will return to this book many times.

Fortunately, both the paper and binding seem to be very high grade. I've had many textbooks that have been of much lesser quality.

I'm happy to have this book.

Gary Liu (Thursday, 14 September 2006)
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Master Hong Junsheng dispels the ambiguity around Chen Taiji through objective analysis and practical experience. The reasons why Taiji practices are the way they are, are discussed in detail.

For example, this is the first book that (finally) explains succinctly the positioning of the coccyx in Chen Taiji relative to other styles. I have spent months trying to get decent explanations from both practitioners and books with not much success!

The translation by Chen Zhonghua is very clear and it is a smooth read.

I particularly liked Master Hong's notes and interpretation of the (classic) Taijiquan Treatise by Wang Zongyue. A lot of confusing and vague theories and meanings have been sorted out, explained, and confirmed by Master Hong's own experimentation. His high level of achievement in Taiji is proof of the validity of his thoughts.

The book will be most beneficial to a practitioner with some Chen Taiji experience (ie. can relate to the techniques and some form names in the book). Practitioners of other Taiji styles will also find this book beneficial as much of the content is applicable to all Taiji styles.

I am looking forward to the next two volumes!!