Tai Chi for Beginners and the 24 Forms PDF
Preview Tai Chi for Beginners and the 24 Forms
Contents Foreword How to use this book PART 1 For the beginner CHAPTER 1 What can tai chi do for you? CHAPTER 2 Getting ready CHAPTER 3 The Six Easy Steps CHAPTER 4 What’s next? PART 2 The 24 Forms CHAPTER 5 What you want to know about tai chi CHAPTER 6 The 24, 48, 42 and other sets of forms CHAPTER 7 Learning the 24 Forms PART 3 Beyond the 24 Forms CHAPTER 8 How to improve your tai chi PART 4 Resources References Appendix Acknowledgements Copyright Page Foreword One could call us “The Odd Couple”. He’s Australian–Chinese; she’s American. He lives in Sydney; she lives in California. He’s a number (maths) person; she’s a word (language) person. What made us get together to write a book? Our common dedication to tai chi and our determination to share the love of the art with others. We could say that this book and its contents were all our idea. In a way, that’s true. But it’s the numerous tai chi beginners and enthusiasts we’ve talked to who have shown us the way. They’ve helped us decide what this book should be and what should be included. For example, they wanted a book that was easy and enjoyable to read. They wanted it to teach them authentic tai chi through simple instructions that work. Rather than learn tai chi as a martial art, they preferred to focus on the health benefits. Lastly, they wanted a reference book. We’ve tried to offer beginners all of the above and more. In Tai Chi for Beginners and the 24 Forms, we’ve made a conscientious effort to help the reader build a solid foundation right from the start, as well as giving him or her a taste of higher level tai chi. And perhaps most important, we’ve done our best to make tai chi fun to learn. Our main goal with this book is to get you, the reader, “hooked” on tai chi so that the art will become part of your life. We couldn’t wish you anything more beneficial, fulfilling—or enjoyable. Dr Paul Lam and Nancy Kaye How to use this book First and foremost, you should know that we have organized this book by layers, just the way you, as beginners, would progress. We have given you three steps or stages: beginning, intermediate and ideas for progress. And that’s the way we all learn best, in progressive steps. You’ll find, for example, that in Chapter 4, we add to your understanding of things you learned in Chapter 3. From experience, we’ve learned that teaching step by step enables beginners to gain the necessary knowledge and skill in the easiest and most effective way. If knowing the background of tai chi is very important to you, you can read through all the chapters first (especially Part 2). But if you lean more towards “doing” rather than reading, you can simply read the introductions to Chapters 1 and 2 and then go straight into the exercises in Chapter 3. Later on, you can go back to more in-depth reading. As a tai chi beginner and beyond, you can use this book by itself or in conjunction with classes and/or the instructional DVDs Tai Chi for Beginners and The 24 Forms. If you don’t have an instructor, please be sure to make adjustments according to your own ability and requirements, and follow the instructions carefully. In Chapter 3, there’s a suggested lesson plan with detailed instructions for each step. For tai chi instructors The book is useful as a reference for advanced practitioners as well as tai chi instructors. Instructors can use Dr Lam’s Six Easy Steps for classes without applying for permission to do so. However, be aware that it is your responsibility to teach safely. We provide a guide to safe practice in Chapter 2.
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