Bagua and Tai Chi: Exploring the Potential of Chi, Martial Arts, Meditation and the I Ching

Very interesting reading. I've been in the CMA's since 1959, and rarely have I read a more interesting, as well as enjoyable book.I'm aware that the "technique junkies" will bray on into the night about the books lack of "How to do it." . But for those who have been around long enough to know that a simple single palm change is all you need..the book will enjoy a prominent place on the bookshelf.

I like this book a lot! This book delves somewhat deeply into the theory of the forms and techniques to enlighten even the novice practioner, revealing the healing side of Tai Chi as well as the martial applications. The only thing I would change about the book is maybe adding a few more descriptive photos to go along with the what is being described in the text. Other than that, great book!

Great beginners book to help a person continue to his next path.

I practice tai chi and ba gua, so this book was very informative. Principles introduced helped me deepen my practice. So many positive things to say. When you read a book by a master like Bruce Frantzis, you can't go wrong. The information on the single palm change was very informative and inspiring.

What impressed me most about this book is the author's pride in his self-creation of his part of the lineage and his prolific advertising of his many books and DVDs which he proudly flaunts to the reader. Besides that, the rest is fluff. There is no real logical organization of any meaning. I'm embarrassed for his lack of humility.

Mostly a story book

a must have.nothing like it.bruce does it again.fantastic writer as always. he explains things maybe not found in any other book,and as always he explains things very well

This is more of a philosophy book than martial art manual. Great for chi/ I ching thinking.This was not what I was looking for.Look elsewhere for applications.

A very Interesting book written with much respect and a clear way of explaining things. It is quite autobiographical, but not overly so.

another good insightful book from bruce

This book on taiji and bagua seeks to place these two martial arts in the context of taoist energy and meditation work. I've read a lot of Bruce Frantzis's books and have to say that this is one of my favourites as it looks at health and meditation aspects. It gives context on taoism, taoist energy work and the I Ching. It has chapters each on bagua and taiji and then another one on their health benefits. The last two chapters look at how the two practices can be used as meditation. If you are interested in how the internal martial arts can be used as or to support a spiritual practice then this book is definitely worth reading.

Ich bin ein Fan von Bruce F. und seinen Büchern bzw. Thesen. Jedoch enttäuschte mich dies Werk hier sehr. Der Autor schreibt und schreibt schreibt und kommt nicht bzw. kaum zu Aussagen. Der umworbene Vergleich von TJQ und BZ bleibt außen vor und der geneigte Leser wartet bis zur letzten Seite auf wesentliche Inhalte.Beispiel, Seite 74:Der Autor vergleicht die einfache Peitsche in vier TJQ-Stilen. ABER der eigentliche Vergleich bleibt aus und auf der Seite finden sich lediglich vier Bilder dieser Formfigur. WARUM hier unterschiedliche Formausführungen zu Grunde liegen und was deren Einsatz in Sachen SV oder Gesundheit sind, wird nicht erörtert.In Sachen BZ wird nicht auf die Form(en) eingegangen. Nicht eine Formfigur nebst Erläuterung findet sich im Werk - Ausnahme bildet der Single-Palm-Change. Doch auch hier fragt sich der Leser bzw. die Leserin, was ich denn nun an neuen Inputs mit nach Hause nehme. Gar keine!Solch Szenen ziehen sich durch das gesamte Buch: Es werden Thesen gestellt und große Themen angeschnitten, jedoch nurmehr an der Peripherie analysiert - wenn überhaupt. Ein großes Drumherumgerede nicht mehr und nicht weniger.Das ist mir persönlich zu wenig!Fazit:Platzfüller im Regal...schade.

Excellent book. Good explanation of the roots of internal martial arts and a very lucid explanation of internal energy. Good review of the differences between bagua zhang and tai chi.